The Rum Howler Blog

Cinco de Mayo Cocktail: A Fancy Paloma

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 5, 2019

For Cinco de Mayo here is a fancy take on the Paloma Cocktail. In this cocktail, fresh Grapefruit and Lime juice are mixed with Boston Bittahs and Triple Sec. Adding ice and soda results a tall refreshing mixed drink. I brought the serving up a further notch by mixing with Herradura’s premium Herradura Ultra Tequila Anejo.

Fancy Paloma

2 oz Herradura Ultra Tequila Anejo
2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
3/8 oz Bols Triple Sec
dash Bittermens Boston Bittahs
Ice
Sparkling Soda

Add plenty of ice to a tall glass
Add the first five ingredients and stir
Complete with soda
Enjoy Responsibly

Note: If you are interested in more of my cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

Chimo!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes | Tagged: Cinco de Mayo, Cocktail, Facy Paloma, Recipe | Comments Off on Cinco de Mayo Cocktail: A Fancy Paloma

Review: Templeton 6 Year Old Rye

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 3, 2019

Templeton Rye is a product of Templeton Rye Spirits based in Iowa. The whiskey was distilled in Indiana by MGP which is a distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, that produce spirits for private label sale (formerly Lawrenceburg Distillers of Indiana). Although the current bottled whiskey is produced by MGP, this past August, Templeton Rye celebrated the grand opening of the organization’s new new 34,500 square-foot distillery which has the ability to produce up to 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually. This means that in 2022 Templeton will be able to bottle and sell their own grain to glass whiskey.

The new Templeton Rye 6 Year Old (released in 2016), is apparently based upon a family recipe which dates back to the Prohibition era. The Whiskey was aged in new American oak barrels before being bottled at 45.75% Alcohol by volume.

Review: Templeton 6 Year Old Rye

“… The flavour is robust with rye grain and wood spices melded into complimentary flavours of butterscotch, vanilla and almond. Malted milk chocolate, maple dipped graham wafers, and crusty sourdough rye flavours seem to ooze out as well …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a few serving suggestions for your enjoyment.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Review, Rye Whiskey, Templeton 6 Year Old | Comments Off on Review: Templeton 6 Year Old Rye

Review: Gin Twenty-One (Last Straw Distillery)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 1, 2019

The Last Straw Distillery is Ontario’s smallest production micro-distillery located at 40 Pippin Rd. in Vaughan, Ontario (a wee bit north of Toronto) just off Highway 400 and around the corner from Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre. Several months ago I contacted Mike Hook (one of the Distillery owners) to inquire about their new juniper spirit Gin Twenty-One. Mike asked me if I would be interested in receiving a bottle, and when I answered in the positive it was not too long before I was sent a bottle from the most current batch (Batch No. 3). Incidentally a bottle from Batch No. 2 was sent to the 2018 Canadian Artisianal Spirits Competition where it won a gold medal.

According to the Last Straw Distillery website (and the label on the bottle) Gin Twenty-One is the world’s first crowd-sourced gin. The guys at the distillery wanted to create a gin with just the right balance of citrus, juniper and aromatics; so they went public to find the best combination. This was an exercise in patience with many variations of the chosen botanicals created for the experiment. It was the twenty-first recipe which was selected as the crowd favourite, which is of course how Gin Twenty-One received its name.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Gin Twenty-One

“… The aroma from the glass is nice with juniper and licorice/fennel leading out in front of light citrus spice (impressions lemon, grapefruit and orange peel). This is a very traditional gin profile no doubt reflecting the preferences of the gin enthusiasts who helped select the recipe …”

Please enjoy my latest gin review which includes a few recipe suggestions including the Gin Gimlet Vesper.

Chimo!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: Gin, Gin Twenty-One, Last Straw Distillery, Review | 1 Comment »

Bitter Review: Dillon’s Black Currant Bitters

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 29, 2019

Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers is a small craft producer of spirits located in Beamsville Ontario. They currently produce Vodka and gin (both distilled from Ontario grown Niagara Grapes), as well as both White Rye and Rye Whisky grown from 100% Ontario Rye Grain. The distillery also produces a number of specialty spirits such as Absinthe and Limoncello as well as a line-up of Cocktail Bitters.

It is the Cocktail Bitters which interest me in this review, specifically Dillon’s Black Currant Bitters.

Here is a link to my full review which include two cocktail suggestions:

Bitter Review: Dillon’s Black Currant Bitters

“… I found the bitters had a sharp somewhat tannic taste which represented a flavour of bitter black currants with more than a hint of green grape alongside. Despite the bitterness, a light sweetness comes through as well as does a light backbite of citrus zest and peppery spice …”

Please enjoy the review and do try the cocktails.

Chimo!

Posted in Bitters | Tagged: Dillon's Black Currant Bitters, Dillon's Small Batch Distillers, Review | Comments Off on Bitter Review: Dillon’s Black Currant Bitters

Review: Herradura Ultra Anejo Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 25, 2019

The Herradura Tequila brand is owned by Brown-Froman. It is produced thirty miles from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, in the town of Amatitan, at Brown – Forman Tequila Distillery Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. which is also referred to as Hacienda Herradura. The Herradura spirit produced here uses agave cooked in traditional old stone ovens, and distilled on old copper pot stills.

The subject of this review, the Herradura Ultra Anejo is a true 100% Weber Blue agave tequila. According to the Brown-Foreman website:

With the perfect blend of our premium Añejo and Extra Añejo barrels, ULTRA is a crystal-clear tequila. A subtle hint of agave nectar offers a superior taste that will transport tequila connoisseurs beyond smoothness.

Although the spirit is produced from aged tequila, a clear colour is achieved via a filtering process through activated charcoal that softens and crystallizes the blend of Añejo and extra Añejo tequila. Prior to filtering, a dab of pure agave nectar is added giving Ultra a light sweetness with hints of caramel and cooked agave.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Herradura Ultra Anejo Tequila

“… The breezes above the glass seemed muted as the filtering has muted much of the oak and wood spice to the point that all I can decipher (of the woody notes) is the light scent of sandalwood. The typically strong earthy note of agave is severely tempered as well. Within these muted scents of oak and agave are additional mild notes of vanilla and hints of caramel …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a couple of nice cocktail suggestions.

Chimo!

Posted in Anejo Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: Anejo, Herradura, Review, Tequila, Ultra | Comments Off on Review: Herradura Ultra Anejo Tequila

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