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Posts Tagged ‘10 Year Old’

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Review: Highland Park 10 Years Old (Viking Scars)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 5, 2021

Highland Park Distillery is located in the Highlands of Scotland on the Island of Orkney which is famous for its heather rich meadows, and its unique organic Orcadian peat. Their 10 Year Old Highland Park Whisky (Viking Scars) is part of the new core range of the distillery which includes the 12 Year Old Viking Honour and the 18 Year old Viking Pride.

According to the information provided to me, this Single Malt Whisky is aged predominantly in American Oak casks (Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks). The flavour is of course also driven by the hand cut aromatic peat from the Hobbister Moor which is used (by burning) to dry a portion of the malted barley.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Highland Park 10 Years Old (Viking Scars)

“… The Viking Scars surprised me with its mild approachable nose. The Orcadian peat is in the breezes, but it sits a little further back allowing notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and citrus fruit (orange peel) more prominence. The oak is spicy rather than woody and hints of almond seem to confirm the prevalence of American oak …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my serving suggestion, Blood and Sand.

Chimo!

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Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Highland Park 10 Years Old (Viking Scars)

Review: Rum Nation British Guyana 10 Year Old (Cask Strength)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 21, 2020

Rum Nation is an Italian company created by Fabio Rossi, who began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied winemaking). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum and in 1999 Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation. His company is headquartered in Italy; but Fabio purchases select rums from various distillers in the Caribbean and the Americas. As a result Rum Nation provides a rather unique assortment of rare limited edition rum bottlings.

One such bottling is Rum Nation British Guyana 10 Year Old (Cask Strength) bottled at 56.5 % alcohol by Volume. The Rum Nation British Guyana 10 Year Old (Cask Strength) rum is a blend of distillates from three different or the historic stills from the original DDL old distillation plant, the French Savalle still, the wooden Coffey still, and the double wooden pot still.

Here is a link to my full review of this outstanding bottling:

Review: Rum Nation British Guyana 10 Year Old (Cask Strength)

“… Wow! The rum kicks you in the tonsils and then makes a fair attempt to sear the throat. This is not a smooth easy going dram. This is a mouth clobbering rum!  But man oh man, does it pack in a lot of flavour! Molasses, licorice and treacle, heated orange peel, astringent oak sap even a bit of acidic bite. I taste sherry-like flavours of raisins and dates, with coffee and dark bitter cocoa …”

Please enjoy my review, and stay tuned for more selection from Rum Nation over the next several weeks!

Chimo!

 

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Review: J.P. Wiser’s Guy Lafleur Alumni Whisky 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 3, 2019

A couple years ago J.P. Wiser’s and the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA) got together to bring whisky fans something uniquely Canadian. Regionally marketed whiskies which were blended with the aim of mimicking characteristics of each region’s favourite Hockey Players.

J.P. Wiser’s Guy Lafleur Alumni Whisky is a pretty special whisky as it is one of only a few single grain 100 % corn whiskies released by J.P. Wiser’s to date. In keeping with the chosen alumni member it is meant to represent, the spirit has been aged 10 years (Guy Lafleur wore number 10 on his jersey), and the whisky is described as ‘Naturally Smooth” which is in keeping with how Guy’s playing style was often described. The spirit was matured in a unique manner being aged for 10 years in American Oak and then finished in Speyside, bourbon, and rum barrels.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: J.P. Wiser’s Guy Lafleur Alumni Whisky

“… The breezes bring initial impressions of oak spice and corn with light vanilla and butterscotch accents. Although this is a 100 % corn whisky there is nevertheless an impression of spicy rye grain in the air and as the glass breathes I also notice impressions of rich maple and marmalade with hints of marzipan …”

Please enjoy my review, and stay tuned for more on the J.P. Wiser’s Alumni Edition Whiskies.

Chimo!

Note: This whisky is a Canadian only release and is almost completely sold out across the country. Grab some while you still can if you are a collector.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: J.P. Wiser’s Guy Lafleur Alumni Whisky 

Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old) Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 4, 2018

Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon is distilled and bottled at the Wild Turkey Distillery near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The company is a division of the Campari Group. Wild Turkey produces their bourbon from a mash bill which includes three grains: corn, barley, and rye. This mash bill is said to have a relatively high proportion of rye which gives the whiskey brand its signature spicy kick. Russell’s Reserve is an age stated bourbon brand produced by Wild Turkey. Like all Wild Turkey Bourbons the whiskey is aged in what the company refers to as their ‘famous #4 alligator char‘ American Oak barrels.

The Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume or 90 proof.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old)

“… The delivery brings a peppery bite of oak spice and alcohol along with it. As stated earlier, this is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume, so a bit of alcohol punch is not out of place. I taste bits of wood sap and oak spice. The initial sharpness is tempered by a light butterscotch as well as a firm flavour of vanilla and almond. Fruit flavours are present in the form of orange peel and canned apricots …”

I hope you enjoy my latest review.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old) Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Review: English Harbour 10 Year Reserve Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 23, 2018

Two weeks ago I began examining the entire family of English Harbour Rum as I published my recently revised review of the 5 Year Old Rum. This week I step up the ladder so to speak and have a look at the more prestigious  English Harbour 10 Year Old Reserve Rum (next week I go to the top of the ladder and look at the 25 Year Old).

According to the Antigua Distillery Limited website all English Harbour Rum is aged in used American bourbon barrels which are charred on the inside. Interestingly, as each barrel is filled a handful of oak chips is added to enhance the interaction of oak and rum. The English Harbour 10 Year Rum is a genuine Caribbean rum. The rum is named for the Antiguan naval port of English Harbour which was the site of naval confrontations between the English and the French who were the two major naval powers of the 18th Century.

Here is a link to my recently revised review:

Review: English Harbour 10 Year Reserve Rum

“… The rum enters the mouth with a combination of dark (almost burnt) brown sugar with oak and baking spices (vanilla and cinnamon primarily) following quickly behind. I can taste hints of coconut and a light winding of orange peel in the background. The rum is lightly creamy which helps coat the palate allowing the flavours to mingle and linger which is very pleasant …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a nice cocktail suggestion, the Rum Old Fashioned.

Chimo!

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