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Posts Tagged ‘Cocktails and Recipes’

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Rum Review: Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 28, 2010

In 1938 Industrias Pampero, C.A., a distillery in Venezuela was established.  This distillery is reputed  to be the first distillery in Venezuela to set the high standards for which Venezuelan Rum is now famous for.  The Pampero brand is now controlled by Diageo, one of the largest liquor companies in the world, and Diageo is responsible for marketing and selling the Pampero Rums Wordwide.

Here is an excerpt from my Review:

In the glass the rum is dark, rich and inviting.  A quick swirl reveals moderate legs trailing down the glass and brings scents of brown sugar (baking) spices to the fore. Heavy dark brown sugar, underlain with caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and spicy oak tannin present a luxurious bouquet to the nose. Hints of tobacco and unfinished leather seem to come and go, and even a few tea leaves seemed scattered in the breezes. This is heady stuff.

Click on the following Link to read the full review:

Review: Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva

As usual I have included a cocktail Suggestion or two.  Enjoy!!

And I must give a big thank you to the Rum Chums who provided me with the sample to review.   I really appreciate the help that the club has provided.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva

Rum Review: El Dorado 5 Yr Cask Aged Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 24, 2010

Demerara County (in Guyana) is popular across the world for its rich, three hundred year history of rum production. Using a combination of old wooden stills in conjunction with modern stills and distilling techniques, Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) has built a reputation for outstanding quality and consistent production.  DDL is the currently the largest supplier of bulk Caribbean rums to Europe and North America.

The Dark El Dorado 5 and the White Eldorado 3Here is an excerpt from my review:

“….instead of tasting like a typically sweet South American Rum, this has more of a Caribbean Island flavour profile with a hint of mildly bitter tobacco resting under the flavours and spices.  I taste toasted notes of spicy oak, dry fruits (dates, figs and coconut), as well as a caramelized brown sugar.  Although the rum is buttery, it is also  slightly dry with a tea like flavour that asserts itself with the dryness…”

You can read the full review here:

Review: El Dorado 5 Yr Cask Aged Rum.

As usual I have provided a nice cocktail of my own creation with the Review.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: El Dorado 5 Yr Cask Aged Rum

Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 19, 2010

The Earthquake which struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 has had, (and continues to have), a devastating impact on the Nation of Haiti as a whole.  Reports are very contradictory as far as the impacts towards the rum industry which is a major player in the overall economy of Haiti.  In fact it is believed that the rum industry must be one of the major driving forces to supply jobs and income to help the country rebuild.  With that in mind I decided to review the Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum such that anyone so inclined to support the rebuilding of Haiti by purchasing one of their export products would have an idea of whether such an idea would be solely an act of charity or whether the purchase would be worthwhile entirely on its own merit.

I am happy to report that the rhum is very nice and will in the future be a staple of my rum cabinet.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“Upon my tongue the rum feels mildly soft and buttery.  In fact I believe I can taste butter alongside the light brown sugar.  For spices there is only light hints of cinnamon and oak tannin which begins to taste like anise and orange peel as I let it sit in my mouth.  The spiciness is very mild.”

You can read the full review here:

Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum

 

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 17, 2010

I have completed my third review of the Crown Royal Family  of Canadian Whiskies.    With the Crown Royal Cask No. 16 we have one of the truly great Canadian Whiskies. A blend of over 50 individual whiskies, (all of them well aged), and the ‘piece de resistance’ , the final blend is refinished in french oak cognac casks.  While I was reviewing the cask No. 16 I found it to be a huge leap forward in the Crown Royal Family. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The first sensation in my mouth was of an incredible softness that this whisky presents.  It is almost chewy soft.  A mellow corn whisky is up front on the palate, but rich soft butterscotch and caramel and sweet brown sugar sit under the corn flavour supporting and enhancing the experience.  A nice spicy bite which has the hallmarks of pears and grapes grabs at the taste buds.   Carrying all of this flavour forward is a wonderful mild oak presence that never dominates.  The oak acts as it should, as a garnish which heightens the other flavours with its presence….”

You may read the full review and find my new cocktail recipe called  Sweet No. 16 here:

Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Rum Review: Appleton Estate Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 14, 2010

This is the second review in the series  I am completing of the Rums in the Appleton Estate family of Rums. The Appleton Reserve rum is constructed from a blend of 20 aged rums which have each been aged for approximately 8 years.   The rum is intended to be perfect for those who wish to be introduced to a complex rum style meant for sipping neat and for using in sophisticated cocktails.

One thing that I noticed which was missing from the newer bottles of Reserve, is the 8 year age statement.  I am not sure when the age statement was dropped but his seems to be a trend among major distillers of spirits worldwide.  These large distillers are increasingly more concerned with a signature taste profile than they are with adhering to a specified minimum age requirement for their spirits.  In the end, taste is what matters and my review will be concerned with the taste and character of the rum and not the age.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

This has a spicy zip on the tongue that is full of citrus peel, oak spice, candy apples, cloves, and cinnamon.    There is, (in spite of the softness of the rum on my tongue), a sharpness and intensity in these spicy flavours.  Underneath this spiciness are additional flavours of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla.  At the bottom of the  palate I find an earthiness which seems almost brooding to me.

You may read the full review here:

Review: Appleton Estate Reserve

Of course I could not resist adding a few cocktail suggestions to the review.  Enjoy!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Appleton Estate Reserve

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