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Posts Tagged ‘Cocktails and Recipes’

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Let’s do some Appleton Cocktails

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 20, 2010

Today I decided to work on bring the rest of my Appleton Estate cocktails onto my cocktail menu.  Appleton Estate rums have that sharp oak and orange peel flavour that brings such a nice character to the cocktail experience. (For each recipe just click on the title and it will bring you to the recipe page for that cocktail.)

I think I will start with a recipe more so than a cocktail,  an Old-Fashioned Rum Punch.  This punch uses a combination of Appleton Overproof Rum and Appleton VX Rum, worked into an old-fashioned  style of punch constructed from a recipe from I found which was printed in the 1908 New York Times:

Old-Fashioned Jamaican Punch

Next I will move to another old style cocktail called the Celebration.  I found this cocktail in an old cocktail recipe book from 1937, Cafe Royal Cocktail Book, Coronation Edition, compiled by W.J. Tarling,  printed in Great Britain by The Sidney Press, London and Bedford.   I used the recipe when I wrote my review of Appleton Estate Reserve. Then I tweaked it and made a more modern version.  Here are the two cocktails:

Rum Cocktail: The Celebration

Now I noted in the beginning that Appleton has a nice oak and orange peel in its flavour profile.  When I reviewed the Appleton Estate Extra 12 Yr I used that particular characteristic to bring an extra depth and character to the rum swizzle. You can view the write-up here:

The Premium Swizzle

And I guess perhaps I should finish this posting with a nice recipe I use when that oak and orange peel becomes too much.  Sometimes, when I believe a rum perhaps has aged a little too long and the oak begins to dominate and turn the sweetness of a rum to a profile that for my palate is too bitter, then I will use Frangelico to massage the flavour profile.  This was the case with the Appleton Estate 21 YR. I call this gem of a recipe:

The Monk’s Uncle

And there you have it. My Appleton Estate rum cocktails and recipes.  I hope you enjoyed them.

And always remember the aim is not to drink more it is to drink better!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Let’s do some Appleton Cocktails

Whisky Review: Corby Royal Reserve Canadian Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 17, 2010


Henry Corby began his  involvement in the distilling industry in approximately 1841, buying and selling grain at a grist-mill on the banks of the Moira River.  By 1859, his  distillery operation had become as important as his milling operation and so the distillery was incorporated as a separate company.

In 1881, Henry’s son, Henry (Harry), took over, and through the next ten years the Company began to bottle their own brand of whisky and sold it under the name of Corby. From 1905 to 1935, the company experienced a series of mergers and acquisitions which first resulted in the assets of Corby, and Wiser’s being consolidated and then in 1935, Hiram Walker –  Gooderham & Worts Ltd. became the majority shareholder in the H. Corby Distillery Limited, acquiring 51% of the company’s equity.

Throughout the period of the 1960’s to the present, Corby established itself as a leading spirits company, expanding the distribution of its domestic portfolio and increasing its representation of internationally renowned spirits.  Acquisitions of leading worldwide brands and trademarks, and an expansion of the portfolio to include rum, gin,and vodka, as well as other spirits has allowed the company to enter the global stage with its portfolio of products. Currently Corby Royal Reserve, Hiram Walker Special Old Rye Whisky, and the Wiser’s family of whiskies are all produced by Corby Distilleries Limited.

I was presented with a bottle of Corby Royal Reserve Canadian Rye Whisky about eight weeks ago from the National Brand Ambassador for Corby and Wiser’s.  This was part of a larger allotment of samples which was provided when they learned I planned to do a series of reviews of their whiskies on my blog. The bottle is labeled as a Canadian rye spirit and is bottle at 40 % alcohol by volume. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…I taste a nice old-fashioned rye profile with a light dryness that goes for the tonsils.  The rye is crisp on the tongue with the dryness has the ability to slightly pucker the palate.  A good dose of caramel arrives with the rye, and the oak spices carry flavours of  fresh fruit and citrus peel… ”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Review: Corby Royal Reserve Canadian Rye Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Corby Royal Reserve Canadian Rye Whisky

Two Cocktails for Sharing

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 13, 2010

Today, I want to add two more cocktails to my recipes section that have been buried in my blog with no way for my readers to really find them.  The first recipe was a cocktail which I constructed for the Appleton Estate Reserve rum.  It’s a nice combination of light rum, lime juice and Cointreau, sweetened with just a dab of sugar syrup.

I call this recipe, The Reserved Gentleman. You can find the full recipe here:

Rum Cocktail: The Reserved Gentleman

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Second cocktail is one which I posted on Valentines Day, and for some reason I never added it to my recipe section.  So, today is a good day to correct that oversight. The cocktail was designed when I was sampling the El Dorado 3 Year cask Aged Rum is called, Trouble in Pink.  It’s a fruity concoction which uses white rum and Triple Sec in conjunction with three separate fruit juices (grapefruit, orange, and lime).  A healthy dash of grenadine give the cocktail its vivid pink color.

You can now find the recipe here:

Rum Cocktail: Trouble in Pink

So there you have it, two more cocktails added to my recipe section.

When I originally designed the mixed drinks I considered the first to be a masculine serving and the second much more feminine. However,  I will leave it up to you to make your own choices as to which you prefer.

After-all, the world is changing …

 

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Two Cocktails for Sharing

Whiskey Review: DownSlope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 10, 2010

DownSlope Distilling is the creation of three enterprising individuals, Mitch Abate, Matt Causey and Andy Causey. They began their experimentation and  passion for alcoholic spirits as home brewers. Andy dedicated himself to researching advanced wort production and home brewing techniques; Mitch traveled the country learning as much as he could about how whiskey was made: and Matt perfecting the art of grain mashing and fermentation.  Two years ago they decided to combine their talents and produce their brand of hand crafted spirits. Then they spent a year researching how this could be done, selecting the right facility, and acquiring the right equipment. Finally, they set out to establish Centennial Colorado’s first craft distillery.

Using their custom designed still and artisan wash production, Mitch Abate, Andy Causey, and Matt Causey are close to realizing their goal of producing spirits of  high quality.

Double Diamond Whisky

Pictured to the right is the Double Diamond Pot Still which is used to produce  Downslope Distilling’s whiskey.   The still was made by Copper Moonshine Stills in Arkansas, by Colonel Vaughn Wilson. The whiskey is produced in  the Irish tradition, being made primarily with malted barley.   One taste of it however, and you will realize  as well that a significant portion must be rye.  The whiskey is aged in very small experienced medium toast casks and then blended.

Here is an Excerpt from my review:

“…A light vegetal quality minces with the rye flavour in the mouth, and there is a gentle underlying sweetness which must stem from the malted barley.  Although the rye flavour carries  forward that typical ‘Canadian Whisky’ impression, we begin to taste an assertion of the ‘Irish Whiskey’ style as well….”

You may read the full review here:

Whiskey Review: DownSlope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

Posted in American Whiskey, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whiskey Review: DownSlope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

Review: Brugal Anejo

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 7, 2010

“I am sipping a little Brugal Ron Anejo closing my eyes and letting my imagination build a place where the rum takes me….  Its late afternoon, and I have I found myself at a road side cafe near the ocean, separated from, but within walking distance of a small Dominican Village.  I’m sitting on an old wooden cabana chair with the smells of the nearby village caught up in the canvas umbrella overhead.  Oils from the roadside, and saps from the trees overhead have speckled the umbrella, mixing with the canvas and leather only to be washed out by the rain every now and again.  Some large ceramic urns with banana trees stand on the patio nearby.  The table beside me has a bowl of dried  fruit and exotic looking nuts for me to chew on.   Inside the cafe they must be baking, as I can smell  banana bread and sticky cinnamon rolls whenever the door opens.

Across the road there is a path to the ocean.   I can see the roll of ocean surf in the distance as the waves break on a rock strewn coastline.  Occasionally a gust of wind brings a little of the ocean brine across my face…..”

You may read my review for Brugal Anejo here:

Review: Ron Brugal Anejo – Desde  1888

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Brugal Anejo

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