The Rum Howler Blog

Review: Pierre Ferrand Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 19, 2018

Pierre Ferrand Reserve Cognac is blended solely from aged eaux de vie produced within the 1st Cru de Cognac, specifically from the Ugni Blanc and Colombard grapes grown within the Grande Champagne Cognac appellation (region) of France. Although the final spirit has no age statement, this is because the spirit is blended to meet an age profile that represents a 20-year-old spirit. To maintain product consistency from year to year, the actual average age of the blended cognac will vary depending upon the cellar conditions during maturation and the interactions between the oak and the aging eaux de vie.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Pierre Ferrand Reserve

“… The aroma from the glass brings forward impressions of lightly musty leather and oak spice alongside indications of dry fruit and raisins. Some lighter aroma akin to Granny Smith apples and fresh green grape are apparent as well, but it is the darker fruit which is more dominant. Some honeycomb reaches up giving me an impression of light sweetness with touches of almond and crushed walnut shells rounding out the aroma …”

Oh yes, do try my recipe for Leo Engels’ 1878 Brandy Cocktail which is found at the end of the review!

Chimo!

Posted in Brandy and Cognac Reviews, Cognac Review | Tagged: Cognac, Grande Champagn Cognac, Pierre Ferrand, Reserve, Review | Comments Off on Review: Pierre Ferrand Reserve

Review: Gordon and MacPhail Caol Ila Distillery 2003

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 15, 2018

Caol Ila Distillery is an Islay Scotch whisky distillery near Port Askaig on the isle of Islay, Scotland. Built in 1846, the distillery is famous for its classic Islay style. Their whisky is made with a large percentage of peated malt and because of this the resulting spirit is full of aromatic phenols.

Gordon and MacPhail Caol Ila Distillery 2003 (Connoisseurs Choice) is a Single Malt Whisky which was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2016. The Spirit was bottled at 46 % abv.

Note: I was invited to a private Scotch Whisky Tasting where I sampled several expressions in the Gordon and Macphail Connoisseur’s Choice line-up including Inchgower 2005, Tomatin 2002, and Caol Isla 2003. As a guest at the tasting, I was given small 50 ml samples of some of the spirit to take home. At the tasting, I took brief tasting notes for some of the spirits and compiled this review based upon those tasting notes as well as from tasting sessions with my small sample of Caol Isla 2003.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Gordon and MacPhail Caol Ila Distillery 2003

“… The Whisky overtakes the peat which I find delightful. Too many times Peat is the central theme of an Islay whisky. I always say that peat should support the whisky, rather than it being the other way around. Heather and mint can be found, poplar and willow thicket, malt barley and light butterscotch …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my serving suggestion, an Old Fashioned Cocktail with Chocolate Bitters.

Chimo!

Posted in Howls | Tagged: 2003, Caol Ila, Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon and Macphail, Review, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Gordon and MacPhail Caol Ila Distillery 2003

The Anvil

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 13, 2018

While driving to work this morning I learned that Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart has passed away. The Anvil was one half of one the greatest Tag Teams in the history of Professional Wrestling, The Hart Foundation, which consisted of Jim ‘The Anvil” Neidhart who was the muscle and Brett “The Hitman” Hart, who provided the finesse.

Neidhart honed his talent while wrestling for the Stampede Wrestling Promotion based in Calgary Alberta Canada and has been followed by his daughter Natalya,who has become a World Champion in her own right currently performing for the Raw brand for World Wrestling Entertainment.

My thoughts and prayers are with all who have been saddened by this loss.

About a year ago I designed a cocktail inspired by Jim Neidhart, and I thought I would share it once again as my small tribute to the many hours of entertainment The Anvil provided for me as a wrestling fan.

The Anvil

2 1/2 oz Alberta Premium 100% Rye Whisky
1/2 tsp Raspberry-Beet(down) Jelly
2 dashes Fees Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters
Ice
Coil of (Lemon Peel)

Add the first three ingredients to a rocks glass over the ice cubes
Stir until the Raspberry-Beet Jelly is fully dissolved
Add Ice
Garnish with a Kiwi or Lemon Peel peel

Please Enjoy Responsibly!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes | Tagged: Alberta Premium, Cocktail, Jim Neidhart, Recipe, The Anvil | Comments Off on The Anvil

Review: Lot No. 40 Cask Strength Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 12, 2018

Lot No. 40 has received a bit of a makeover recently as the spirit which was previously branded, Lot No. 40 Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Whisky received a new label, and the whisky is now known simply as Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky. Lot No. 40 is of course the Corby branded whisky which was first released in the 1990’s as an upscale connoisseur’s whisky for the North American market. Alas, timing is everything, and according to Don Livermore (Master Blender for Corby and J.P. Wiser’s branded whiskies), the whisky never really caught on as the market wasn’t quite ready for such a new style of Canadian Whisky. However, with the new upsurge of interest in Canadian Whisky across North America (and in particular at the premium end of the market), Corby (the owner of the Wiser’s Brand), relaunched the whisky in 2012.

Last year, as part of Corby’s Northern Border Collection, a cask strength version of Lot No. 40 was released across Canada labeled simply as Lot No. 40 Cask Strength. It is a brute of a whisky bottled at 55 % alcohol by volume. According to the label on the bottle, the whisky is crafted in small batches using rye grain in a single copper pot still and aged for 12 years in oak barrels.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Lot No. 40 Cask Strength Rye Whisky

“… The flavour hits like a sledge-hammer with rough oak and cedar spice pushed by alcohol heat, dark chocolate and heavy rye bread. Add in Christmas fruitcake, and lots of peppery spice including black pepper and cloves and we are still only part way into describing the sheer volume of flavour …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: Canadian, Cask Strength, Lot 40, Mot No. 40, Review, Rye, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Lot No. 40 Cask Strength Rye Whisky

Review: Devine Spirits Quarter Cask Ancient Grains Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 9, 2018

The link is fixed now. Sorry about the glitch yesterday.

I had an opportunity to taste Devine Spirits Quarter Cask Ancient Grains when I acted as a juror for the 2018 Canadian Whisky Awards. While judging, I wrote up tasting notes for each dram as I scored them (in a blind tasting format). I also saved a wee bit of each sample such that I could revisit them after the judging when it was revealed to me which sample belonged to which whisky. From those tasting notes and from my last sampling session afterwards I wrote this review.

Devine Spirits Quarter Cask Ancient Grains is produced from locally grown BC grains (malted barley and eirloom wheat grains. The eirloom wheat includes varietal of einkorn which is a wild wheat, kamut (khorasan wheat), spelt (dinkel wheat), and emmer (farro/hulled wheat). The spirit was aged in new American oak quarter casks and bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a Link to my review:

Review: Devine Spirits Quarter Cask Ancient Grains Whisky

“… Devine Spirits Quarter Cask Ancient Grains Whisky is a heated dram full of herbal flavours which lie alongside grain and wood spices. When I tasted the spirit in the blind format, I believed there was rye grain in the blend. This is not surprising as wheat, when distilled often brings very similar flavours forward …”

Please enjoy the review.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: Ancient Grains, Cabadian Whisky, Devine Spirits, Quarter Cask, Review, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Devine Spirits Quarter Cask Ancient Grains Whisky

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