The Rum Howler Blog

Rum Review: Renegade Rum Company 2000 Jamaica Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 15, 2010

Its time for another review of those artisan cask rums from Renegade Rum Company. This time from the Hampden Distillery, The Renegade Rum Company 2000 Jamaica Rum.

.Jamaica’s Hampden Estate was created (coincidentally) by two Scottish families (The Stirlings and the Farquarsons) in 1753. The rums distilled there, are pot still rums, full of fruity flavour and character. The Renegade Rum 2000 Jamaica Rum was aged for eight in bourbon casks at the Jamaican Hampden Estate and then finished Scotland in white wine Chateau Climens Sauternes casks.

This unusual finish is what sets Renegade Rums apart from the crowd, Their rums are single vintage artisan rums made from hand selected stocks of some of the finest and most unique distilleries in the Caribbean. Renegade will hand pick the rum casks from the selected distilleries and ship the rums to Scotland to refinish or ‘Ace” them in hand selected finishing barrels at the Bruichladdich distillery.

The barrels chosen for refinishing are not second run whiskey barrels from the United States, but instead more exotic wine barrels from selected wineries in Europe. These rums are unique and quite unlike anything produced anywhere else in the world. They do not taste like traditional rums, rather they taste like new hybrid spirits with the influence from the finishing casks setting their imprint firmly into the rum.

Here is my review:

Review: Renegade Rum Company 2000 Jamaica Rum

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This review includes another ‘forrest approved cocktail“. This one is called, A Sloe Walk in the Jungle. The name of the cocktail highlights the myriad of scents and aromas which rise from the glass as this rum is poured. A veritable ‘Jungle’ of aroma.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Cocktails and Recipes, Dark Rum, Renegade Rum, Rum, Rum Review | 2 Comments »

Tequila: Herradura Reposado

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 12, 2010

HERRADURA Reposado

The first time I approached someone of knowledge about Tequila, I was a little apprehensive. My few experiences with Tequila in my youth had not inspired me to become an aficionado. In fact you could say that I avoided the Tequila section of the corner liquor store, certain from my youthful experiences that nothing good could come from those bottles. Songs about people “jumping on the tables and shooting out the lights” did not inspire me to take a second glance, and “wasting away again in Margarita ville” did not seem to me to be a good idea. But curiosity finally got the better of me, as it seemed certain that the drink must have some redeeming features. After all, people did buy and drink the stuff , did they not. So I approached the counter at a local boutique store and asked, “What would you suggest, if I wanted a good tequila to serve to friends.”

The bottle I was shown was Herradura Reposado. I bought it, and have never regretted the purchase. Here is a little background material about this Tequila and the company that makes it.

Thirty miles from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, in the town of Amatitan, is where the Herradura LDN is found. Herradura LDN makes a true 100% Weber Blue agave Tequila. The agave is cooked in old stone ovens, and distilled on old copper pot stills, and this tequila making tradition has won numerous awards and accolades for The Herradura company

As well, Herradura LDN is credited on more than one website as pioneering the movement towards aging tequila in oak and making Reposado and Anejo Tequila. Reposado means rested, and literally the implication is that this style of tequila ‘rests’ in oak. By law Reposado tequilas must spend more than two months and less than one year in oak to be considered “Reposado”. The Herradura Reposado stays in oak for eleven months.

Here is my review for Herradurra Reposado Tequila:

Tequila Review: Heradurra Reposado

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: Cocktails and Recipes, Herradura Tequila, Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | 2 Comments »

Howling Highlight: The Rum Chums (First Edmonton Chapter)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 11, 2010

Its great having blog all about rum and whisky. I get to meet all sorts of cool people. One of the coolest I have met lately is Bill Allan. He found my blog and wrote me a little comment in the contact section talking about his rum club, and would I be interested in meeting attending one of his meetings. Oh and by the way he wrote, we have about 200 different rums from all over the world, that we can talk about.

How does one say, “Yes!” fast enough.

Bill sent me his rum list, (245 rums and counting) and I attended the first meeting of 2010 for The Edmonton Chapter of the ‘Rum Chums’. I met the guys, 14 in all, and learned a little about the club.

It all started a few years back when Bill and a few friends wanted to start to explore good rum and enjoy themselves. They went to a few bars, but quickly discovered that in the local bars, the selection was not good, and the price for swill in these bars is pretty high. So they changed gears and went to a few rum tastings. Trouble was, the atmosphere was a little stuffy for their group, and the selection, even at these tastings was… shall we say… disappointing.

So they changed gears. Bill and his friends started meeting on their own. Every time someone went traveling somewhere in the world, they would bring back interesting rums which were not available locally. The Edmonton Chapter of the Rum Chums was born. Their stash of rums from all over the world grew!

Here are a few more cool things I learned about the club:

1) They have their own Flag:

2) They wear cool T shirts:

3) And, of course, they have their own Rum:

4) And some of their rum is really, really cool!

Now I am the fifteenth member of the group. My only problem is, how am I going to find time to review 245 different bottles of Rums?

Life is Good!

Posted in Howls | Tagged: Rum, Rum Chums | 5 Comments »

Rum Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 10, 2010

This is the last review I am doing on a series of new Colombian rums that are entering the North American marketplace via my home province of Alberta. Allow me to introduce Juan Santos Twenty One Year Old Rum. I found this to be a tremendous rum with unmatched smoothness, and a wonderful soft clean finish.

Juan Santos rums are a product of Casa Santana Liquors, the only privately held liquor company in Colombia which is specializing in the production of premium aged rum. Casa Santana was founded in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1995, by the Riascos family. Their rums have been developed by Cuban master blenders who began their craft in Cuba before leaving the island in 1994, bringing with them their rum making craft.

Casa Santana has two production plants which are located in Santa Marta, and in the Free Trade Zone of Barranquilla. These are located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia which provides access for shipping abroad.

Casa Santana claims their rum production is completely free of additives and artificial essences.

Here is my review:

Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Cocktails and Recipes, Colombian Rum, Dark Rum, Juan Santos Rum, Rum, Rum Review | Comments Off on Rum Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

Cocktail: The Manhattan

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 9, 2010

Today I want to talk a bit about what I consider to be a most versatile cocktail, the Manhattan. This is one of those cocktails whose origins stretch back in time to the late 1800s. Several stories are circulated as to the exact origin of the cocktail, suffice it to say that it appears the Manhattan appeared in New york perhaps (according to the San Francisco Chronicle) as early as 1860s made by a bartender named Black at a bar on Broadway.

The family of Manhattan cocktails. From left to right, the Cuban Manhattan, the perfect Manhattan, and the Manhattan.

The original recipe of course called for American Whiskey, Vermouth , and bitters. During and after the prohibition era, it became popular to serve the Manhattan with Canadian Rye Whisky. Now it seems to be served with any North American Whiskey including, in some locales, with Tennessee Whiskey.

My recipe calls for Canadian Whisky ( Me being a good Canadian after all) and has a few added features and garnishes, which suit my palate. I can also vary the recipe to suit the particular whisky I am serving. My most recent variations are for the new Portwood Reserve Whisky from Forty Creek, and even a a rum variation for Juan Santos 9 Year Old Rum.

Follow the link below to the page where I have provided the basic recipe, as well as the recipes for the two of the most common variations, The Perfect Manhattan, and the Cuban Manhattan. basic direction is provided as well for several other variations.

Find them all here:

Whiskey Cocktail: The Manhattan

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes | Tagged: Cocktails and Recipes, Rum, Whisky | Comments Off on Cocktail: The Manhattan

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