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Posts Tagged ‘Cocktails’

Review: Crown Royal Monarch 75th Anniversary Blend

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 24, 2015

Crown Royal Monarch 75th Anniv Blend_2In 2014, Crown Royal® Master Blender, Andrew MacKay created a limited edition whisky to commemorate the brand’s 75 year anniversary. According to Mr. MacKay:

“Crown Royal was originally created for royalty, crafted over time and the fact that the whisky is still being enjoyed 75 years later is really special to all of us at Crown Royal. We’re excited to share this special limited edition blend with consumers and look forward to celebrating many more years of unmatched whisky.”

Crown Royal Monarch 75th Anniversary Blend is perhaps a little more rye-forward in its approach than previous Crown Royal whiskies. This is because the Monarch is produced from a blend of whiskies which include rye whisky from the distillery’s Coffey rye still. As you will see from the review, the rye from this historic still makes a real impression upon the flavour profile of the Monarch Whisky.

Horse's Neck

Horse’s Neck

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Crown Royal Monarch 75th Anniversary Blend

“… The Crown Royal Monarch is an excellent whisky which features a nice melding of sweet maple and butterscotch flavours within a firm oaky character. Although the whisky features more rye than other Crown Royal Whiskies, the influence I taste is of an earthier stye of rye (almost like sourdough rye bread) which combines very well with the traditional punky corn forward flavour profile of Crown Royal …”

The added rye makes this Crown Royal Whisky a perfect candidate for the traditional tall Canadian Whisky cocktail, Rye and Ginger. which is also known by its more obscure name, a Horse’s Neck.

Please enjoy my review and my suggested cocktail recipe.

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: JP Wiser’s Spiced Whisky No. 9 (Torched Toffee)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 21, 2015

Torched Toffee Lemon SourA few years ago Wiser’s introduced Wiser’s Spiced Whisky (Vanilla) to the Canadian market. My understanding is that this new spiced whisky brand was very successful, and as a result, the company decided to further develop their spiced whisky portfolio. As part of this redevelopment, Wiser’s Spiced Whisky (Vanilla) was re-branded as JP Wiser’s Spiced Whisky No. 5 (Vanilla), and another flavoured/spiced whisky brand was introduced, JP Wiser’s Spiced Whisky No. 9 (Scorched Toffee).

I recently received bottles both new flavoured whiskies, and have decided to review each here on my website.

Here is a link to the review the review for JP Wiser’s Spiced Whisky No. 9 (Torched Toffee).

Review: JP Wiser’s Spiced Whisky No. 9 (Torched Toffee)

“… Butterscotch, maple and vanilla led out as the Torched Toffee whisky certainly rides on the sweeter side of the palate. There is a bit of bitter treacle riding along which I guess must be the torched toffee. There is a bit of spicy heat as well which reminds me of ginger and cinnamon …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice recipe, Torched Toffee Lemon Sour.

Enjoy Springtime folks, even it did not come in like a lamb this year. Cheers!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Spiced Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: JP Wiser’s Spiced Whisky No. 9 (Torched Toffee)

Review: Teeling Irish Whiskey (Small Batch)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 17, 2015

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIn 1988 John Teeling bought the Cooley Distillery (formerly a potato schnapps distillery) from the Irish Government essentially as a purchase of a facility meant for the scrap heap. The distillery however, was never scrapped. Instead John Teeling and his Master Distiller, Noel Sweeny, turned their perceptions of the facility around, rolled up their sleeves, and ten years later started making some of the most unique Irish whiskey in the Country. (Not that it was easy, Dr. Teeling tried unsuccessfully to sell the distillery five years into the process to rid himself of the bad investment. But… innovation and desire played their part, and the remarkable turn around of the Cooley Distillery is now the stuff of legend.)

Four major four major brands (Kilbeggan, Connemara, Greenore, and Tyrconnell) were produced by Cooley all of which were all acquired by Beam Global (now BeamSuntory) in January 2012. Jack Teeling, who was the managing director of Cooley, decided at this point to go on his own again and created the Teeling Whiskey Company. At this time the flagship whiskey of the Teeling brand is their small batch Teeling Irish Whiskey.

Emerald Crusta

Emerald Crusta

The Teeling Whiskey Company website has this to say about Teeling (Small Batch) Irish Whisky:

“Our Flagship Irish whiskey and our attempt to create the most interesting Blended Irish whiskey. This small batch bottling consists of hand selected casks which are given further maturation in ex-rum barrels imparting extra character and smooth flavour unique to Irish whiskey. By bottling at 46% with no chill filtration completes an Irish whiskey of true character.”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Teeling Irish Whiskey (Small Batch)

“… The initial aroma from the glass brings forward a light candied sweetness which reminds me of malt scotch, butterscotch and a few wisps of cotton candy. As the glass breathes I also notice some dry lemongrass, bits of sandalwood and few dusty dry wood spices in the breezes along with impressions of almond, dusty grain and a light wafting of vanilla which tags along for the ride …”

Please enjoy the review which includes a nice Irish Whiskey cocktail, the Emerald Crusta.

Happy St. Patrick’s everyone!

 

Posted in Irish Whskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Teeling Irish Whiskey (Small Batch)

Review: Patrón Reposado Barrel Select Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 15, 2015

Arc to Arcturus

Arc to Arcturus

Several weeks ago (at my first Rum Chums Tequila Tasting of 2015), I asked each member to bring a special tequila for the group to share. One of my newer members, Val, brought a very interesting reposado from Patron. The Patrón Barrel Select Reposado is a single barrel bottling brought into Alberta by one of our new liquor store chains Wine and Beyond, who describe themselves as “Alberta’s newest premier destination liquor Super Center”. (They carry over 6000 wines, 2500 spirits and 1800 varieties of beers.)

I found this new tequila very exciting as single barrel vintages while quite common for Scotch Single Malt whisky, are almost unheard of in the world of tequila. Val allowed me to borrow her bottle after the tasting such that I could provide a review here on my website.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Patrón Reposado Barrel Select Tequila

“… When I brought the glass to my nose, firm scents of caramel and mildly earthy/punky agave fruit were rising from the glass. The agave fruit is lightly accented with white pepper and citrus zest. The impact of the breezes is to suggest a milder, smoother style of tequila than the regular Patron Reposado …”

Included at the conclusion of the review are two recipes which I developed as late evening cocktails suitable for consumption during an evening of stargazing, Arc to Arcturus, and Spin on to Spica.

Enjoy Responsibly!

Posted in Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Patrón Reposado Barrel Select Tequila

Review: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 14, 2015

SAM_0801 Oh Mai Mai

Heretic Cocktail

Cognac Ferrand is the result of a rare opportunity offered to a young man (Alexandre Gabriel) in 1989 by one of the oldest wine growing families in the Cognac region of France. According to Mr. Gabriel:

” I met a small Cognac producer who needed help selling his products to finish off his stock. This was Cognac Ferrand. I fell in love with the product and with the region. It all reminded me of what I grew up around. So when I was invited to become a partner and told that no one was going to continue if I didn’t, I just said….yes.”

Although that beginning may have seemed rather precarious to those on the outside, Alexandre Gabriel plunged headlong into the task of rebuilding what he described to me as:

“A run down business with no distribution network, with no real sales, good stocks but no organized production”

Alexandre Gabriel made the most of his opportunity, and now that run down business with no distribution network is s a well-respected producer with sales in more than 40 countries world-wide.

For Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac, Mr. Gabriel collected old bottles of cognac that were bottled at a young age and designed his Cognac based upon a particular bottle from 1840 thus replicating a style of cognac which had heretofore been lost to time.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac

“… I received enticing aromas of wood spices which gave me impressions of freshly sanded oak and sandalwood. Hints of cinnamon stained the oak spices; butterscotch and honey gave the breezes a hint of sweetness; and a fruity citrus zest  contributed to an effervescent quality which was apparent in the air …”

Because, some of my friends believe it is sacrilegious to mix brandy or cognac in bar drinks and cocktails, I decided to call my recommended cocktail which features both the 1840 Cognac and a well aged brandy, the Heretic. (And for the record, it is a thoroughly delicious cocktail!)

Posted in Brandy and Cognac Reviews, Cognac Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac