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Rum Renaissance 2011 Opens With The ‘Zombie Jamboree’

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 29, 2011

The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival 2011 kicks off with the Zombie Jamboree at the Mai Kai Polynesian Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale on Monday, April 25 from 5 to 7pm . This event will be hosted by author, and celebrated Tiki Cocktail authority, Jeff  “Beachbum” Berry. (Mr. Berry’s published books include Beachbum Berry Remixed, Sippin’ Safari, Grog Log, Intoxica and Taboo Table.)

‘Beachbum’ Berry  will host a discussion on the origin (and the evolution) of the Zombie cocktail. His seminar will feature samples of Don the Beachcomber’s classic 1934 and 1956 Zombie recipes. The fun will continue as several other noted mixologists will present their own variations of the Zombie Cocktail to serve as examples of how this wonderful cocktail continues to evolve.  (Please click on the Zombie Jamboree banner at the top of this posting for more information, and to learn how to RSVP your reservation for this great opening event.)

And that is just the first evening of the festival. From there, the events include nine VIP Parties, a three-day RumXP International Tasting Competition, various ancillary competitive events including The International Tiki Face Off Competition and the Baritt’s Ginger Beer Cocktail Competition. Finally, it all wraps up with 2 days at the Grand Tasting Finale where there will be seminars, cocktail competitions, and a Island Lifestyle Showcase.

Last year I was invited to act as one of the International Judges at the 2010 RumXP International Tasting Competition which was held in conjunction with Rum Renaissance 2010. I spent five days soaking up the atmosphere of the festival, and of the city. I must have done a decent job as a Rum Judge as this year I have been invited back to reprise my role as the an International Judge once again. This year I want to extend a bit of an invitation to those who read and follow my blog to come to Miami this year to join in the festivities of the Largest Rum Festival in the World. The festival promises to be even better than last year. It has grown from three fun filled days in 2009; to five days last year in 2010; to a full seven days of fun and frolic in 2011.

Let me quote Robert Burr, the organizer and prime motivating force behind the Festival:

“Rum is experiencing a Renaissance of appreciation as more savvy consumers discover a truly remarkable range of fine rums from the Caribbean region, North, Central and South America, and around the world.

The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is one of the world’s premier international rum events, presenting a unique and exciting celebration of the fine arts of distillation, maturing and blending fine cane spirits.

Enjoy a full week of exclusive VIP parties at Miami’s most notable venues, a grand two-day exhibition of the best rum brands, the excitement of the Island Lifestyle Showcase, celebrity seminars, workshops and cocktail competitions, the annual RumXP competition and awards, an opportunity to rub shoulders with dignitaries and notable experts, and more.”

You can purchase tickets for either day (or both) of the Grand Tasting Finale, or you can enjoy the full experience and obtain a VIP Pass and join in the fun of all of the VIP events all week-long. And of course everyone who attends can enjoy beautiful Miami Beach.

Posted in Howls, Rum | Tagged: | Comments Off on Rum Renaissance 2011 Opens With The ‘Zombie Jamboree’

Review: Canadian Club 20 YR Old Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 27, 2011

I have been wandering through the Canadian Club Whisky line-up for a few months now reviewing the portfolio of whiskies in no particular order. As far as the brand goes, the Canadian Club 20 Year Old is the premier production whisky in the line-up, being the oldest offering that Canadian Club produces on a yearly basis.

The whisky is a mixture of rye, rye malt, corn, and barley malt spirits. (These same base spirits are used in varying quantities throughout the brand line-up) The spirits are blended prior to oak aging in a process which the company calls “blended at birth“.  The 20-year-old whisky is apparently from the same stocks which produced the Canadian Club Premium (6-year-old) but aged for an additional 14 years.

Here an excerpt from my review:

“…I poured my glass and was greeted with the full aroma of an assertive, wonderful spirit.  Toffee and caramel poured out of the nose with deep oaky accents of baking spices. Rye scents followed as did that full dank corn aroma which is so typical of the Canadian Club line-up….”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Canadian Club 20 YR Old Whisky

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Canadian Club 20 YR Old Whisky

Review: Wyborowa Exquisite (Wodka)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 24, 2011

It is speculated that Poland was the first country to have produced the spirit which we now call Vodka (or Wodka as it is pronounced in Poland). The name translates from Polish literally as “little water”, and in support of the claim that Poland is the origin of this spirit are documents referencing the word ‘vodka’ from the Palatinate of Sandomierz (an administrative unit of local  government) in Poland from 1405. As well, the first written usage of the word Vodka in the Russian language appears to be from 1533 in reference to a medicinal drink which was being brought to Russia from Poland by Kiev Merchants. The Etymology is far from certain, but is certain is that we can place vodka firmly into the traditions of Slavic culture up to five hundred years ago.

Wyborowa (pronounced Vee Bow Row Va) Vodka is an authentic Polish Vodka made from 100 per cent Rye grain. The grain is grown in the Pozan region of Poland, and it is initially distilled in small local agricultural distilleries into a raw spirit. This raw spirit is further refined at the Wyborowa modern rectification plant in Pozan where it is processed through a three column continuous still to reach the desired level of purity. Water from a deep ground aquifer is used to bring the spirit to 40 % abv.

Wyborowa Exquisite is the Premium version of Wyborowa Vodka and it is produced in Turew, which is a single estate distillery in Western Poland. It is distilled using 100 % Dankowslie Slote Rye Grain.  The Wyborowa Exquisite has been my Vodka of choice for several years now. However, now that I am beginning to experiment a little with Vodka spirits I thought I should put my favourite Wyborowa Vodka through the paces of my review methodology to see how it compares to the other Premium Vodka Samples I have recently received.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…A mellow rye-like heat is present in my throat after I swallow. I detected no bitterness, only a very light aftertaste which is of rye spice, and a delicate gin-like flavour of piny citrus. A nice beginning….”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Wyborowa Exquisite (Wodka)

Please enjoy the review, and the cocktail suggestion (The exquisite Blue lemon Martini) at the end. Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Wyborowa Exquisite (Wodka)

Review: Isla ñ Gold Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 20, 2011

Isla ñ Rum is a small boutique rum distillery based in Tucuman, Argentina which is in the middle of a major subtropical sugar-producing region of Argentina. The company was established to recover old distilling techniques in the production of artisan rum. Thus the company considers itself to be a boutique distilling company and produces all of their rum on copper stills in small batches. The copper stills have been designed to produce rum by a method which the company calls ‘slow distilling‘ which apparently allows the master distiller to have much more control over the process, and should enable the company to deliver a superior rum product.

Isla ñ Rum began appearing in the Alberta market about one year ago, and I thought that it would be interesting to review this rather unique rum from the sub tropics of Argentina. According to the company website all of the Isla ñ rums spend some time in french oak casks, and it states that large vat style casks are avoided in the maturation process. Further research indicates that the Gold rum which I am reviewing was aged for about 2 years, and that charred oak chips were added to the oak barrels to speed/enhance the maturation process.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The initial nose is very crisp with some astringent birch and poplar aromas accompanying lighter toffee and coconut rind. Wood spices and a reedy tobacco lurk in the breezes as well and the overall effect is a rum which is very unique and interesting…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Isla ñ Gold Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Isla ñ Gold Rum

Review: Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve Irish Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 17, 2011

Today is the day of St. Patrick, and in many places throughout the world, this is a day to revel in the Irish heritage which we either share by birth, or (on St. Patrick’s Day at least) we share by spirit. We wear green; we attend parades; and some of us even drink green beer in what has become more of a secular holiday which celebrates Irish culture, than a religious holiday which celebrates the Patron Saint after which the day was first named.

And celebrating Irish culture is not a bad thing; it was after all the Irish who first distilled “uisce beatha“, which translates from Irish into English as “the water of life“. I could go into a long and detailed etymology,  but suffice it to say that “uisce beatha” is probably very close to the original form of the word which would later become “whiskey”.  My blog is full of reviews of this wonderful spirit, but I must admit it is sorely lacking in content dedicated to the Irish variety.

Today, I will go a small way towards correcting this imbalance by reviewing a whiskey from the Emerald Isle which embodies the character and the class of spirits we call Irish Whiskey. And, one which bears a rather obscure link to St. Patrick’s Day.

Like St. Patrick, who was born (in 385 A.D.) of Scottish parentage, but found his calling (and fame) in Ireland, so to John Jameson was also born a Scotsman (in 1740 A.D.), and he also found his calling (and established his fame) in Ireland with the company that bears his name, Jameson Irish Whiskey.

And so in honour of the celebration of the Day of St. Patrick, I chose to review one of the most premium Irish Whiskeys which is available in my locale, the Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve Irish Whiskey.

Here is a link to my Review:

Review: Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve Irish Whiskey

And in the interests of celebrating Irish culture, here are two additional links to my other Irish Whiskey reviews which were previously published on my blog:

Posted in Irish Whskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Review: Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve Irish Whiskey

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