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Posts Tagged ‘Dark Rum’

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Review: Smuggler’s Cove Dark Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 30, 2013

SAM_0724 Smuggler's CoveSmuggler’s Cove Dark Rum is a brand owned by Glenora Distillers Limited who are located in Glenville Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This dark rum is blended from Jamaican stocks which have been aged a minimum of two years. In fact, these stocks are the same stocks (although the proportions may be different) which are used to produce Famous Newfoundland Screech Rum. The connection with Screech Rum is quite strong as the company which produces Screech, Rock Spirits (a division of the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC)) is also the same company which packages the Smuggler’s Cove for Glenora Distillers. It would be fair to say however, that these stocks would be treated quite differently to produce the high-proof (45 % abv) dark rum, which is Smuggler’s Cove.

This brand is quite popular in Nova Scotia, and also has a strong presence in the provinces of Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

You may click on the following excerpt to read the full review:

Review: Smuggler’s Cove Dark Rum

The initial breezes above the glass are full of molasses and candied caramel. As well, dark liquorice, cinnamon and cloves all taint the air above the glass with their presence. Allowing the rum time to breathe reveals some nice accents of orange marmalade and rich vanilla …

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Smuggler’s Cove Dark Rum

Review: Rum Nation Jamaica 26 Year Old (Distilled 1986)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 23, 2013

Rum Nation Jamaica 26yo (1986-12) SL VI GBAbout a month ago, 60 bottles of a special rum from Rum Nation hit the store shelves here in my home province of Alberta. This small batch bottling (only 760 bottles per batch) was distilled upon a pot still at the Long Pond Estate in Jamaica in 1986 and was bottled in 2012 by Rum Nation. (In case you did not know, the Long Pond Distillery is the original home of Captain Morgan Rum.) The rum is apparently produced from locally grown Jamaican sugar cane molasses, and was originally aged in American Ex Bourbon Casks. However, after 18 years of aging in the Bourbon Cask, the rum was transferred to Oloroso Sherry butts where it aged for an additional 8 years.

I was sent a sample of this rum by Fabio Rossi, the owner of Rum Nation, and he advised me that he considers this a small batch rum made for primarily for connoisseurs. Crush Imports is handling the distribution here in Alberta.

You may click on the excerpt to read the full review:

Review: Rum Nation Jamaica 26 Year Old (Distilled 1986)

” … The dominant impression is fresh asphalt with the scents of the thick black paving oil and the fresh sand and gravel which lie within. (I worked on a paving crew for two years and you never forget that scent after two summers of being immersed in it.) Under that phenolic rubber-like smell is an impression of coarse brown sugar and orange marmalade. Dry fruit, cocoa and licorice add to the complexity of the aroma with impressions of tobacco, toffee, baking spices, and vanilla all residing within those breezes above the glass …”

Please enjoy my review of this remarkable rum!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Rum Nation Jamaica 26 Year Old (Distilled 1986)

Screech Wins Gold!

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 13, 2013

ScreechVindication is nice. Two years ago, when I reviewed The Famous Newfoundland Screech, I openly questioned the other online reviews which indicated the rum was harsh and unappealing because my own experience was the opposite. In fact I liked the Screech Rum so much that in my 2011 Rum Howler Awards, I declared it the Best Rum Bottled in North America! Then in 2012, I gave Screech the Runner Up Award in the same category (Rock Spirits other great rum George Street Spiced barely edged it out in 2012), and an honourable mention in the Best Amber Mixing Rum Category. For two years I have been howling about how good this rum is, (and for two years people have been openly questioning my sanity).

But, as I said, vindication is nice! A few days ago I received word from Greg Kerr of Rock Spirits that Screech won double gold at the 2013 San Fransisco Spirits Competition, and was declared the Best Gold Rum in the competition.

As my way of congratulating Rock Spirits (a subsidiary of the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation) for this recent success, I thought I would republish my original review from 21 months ago.

You may click on the following excerpt to read my original review!

Review: Famous Newfoundland Screech Rum

“…  As you fist sip the rum you will find that it full of molasses flavour with those typical Jamaican Rum flavours of banana and orange peel heating the palate alongside that molasses. As the rum sits in the glass, the heat subsides and you can notice charred caramel and baking spices beginning to build …”

Congratulations to all the folks at Rock Spirits!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Review: Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 4, 2013

SAM_0688 Rum DarbyKirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum is crafted in the Dominica for a company from Sonoma California called 35 Maple Street, which is the spirits division of The Other Guys (TOG). TOG is wine company led by August Sebastiani, a member of one of California’s oldest wine families. The Sabastiani family has been involved in the Californian wine industry since August’s great-grandfather, Samuele Sebastiani, opened his family run winery over 100 years ago.

According to the 35 Maple Street website, their rum has been named for a wooden schooner of the same name. This schooner, KIRK AND SWEENEY, was a rum running vessel which brought rum from the Caribbean to the Northeast Coast during Prohibition. The ship was apparently captured and seized off the coast of New York in 1924 where enforcement officials found an enormous cargo of rum aboard. The folks at 35 Maple Street like to use historical references in the naming of their brands (see Masterson’s Straight Rye Whiskey) and felt the Kirk and Sweeney was an ideal choice for their Dominican rum.

You may click on the following excerpt to read the full review:

Review: Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum

“… The initial aroma reminds me of butterscotch candies and sugar cane syrup (I am thinking Roger’s Golden Syrup). I allowed the glass to decant for several minutes, and the scents from the glass became richer and more complex with vanilla, oak spices and hints of tobacco rising into the breezes as well …”

Please enjoy the review which includes a delicious cocktail, the Rum Darby Daiquiri.

Cheers Everyone!

(Note: This spirit is being brought into my home Province of Alberta by Purple Valley Imports, who provided the sample for review.)

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Rum

Review: Whaler’s Dark Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 26, 2013

Whalers Original Dark bottle shotA few weeks back, I contacted the distributor for Blackheart Spiced Rum with a view towards providing a review here on my website. It turned out Heaven Hill Distilleries, who own Blackheart Rum, also own Whaler’s Rum and the local importer, Diamond Estates, was hoping I would taste some Whaler’s Rum along with the Blackheart Spiced. I didn’t really know a lot about Whaler’s rum so I agreed to sample this “Hawaiian” style Rum. I say Hawaiian style, because Whaler’s takes great pride in letting everyone know that Whaler’s Rums are blended from old Hawaiian recipes. Their line-up includes three traditional rums, and five flavoured rums.

There is quite an interesting story behind the name of the Whaler’s Rums, and you can read that story as well as my review by clicking on the following excerpt:

Review: Whaler’s Dark Rum

“”… Usually these young dark rums are full of molasses and caramel which gives the rum a thickened syrupy look. The Whaler’s seems to be traveling a different path from what I was expecting. The breezes above the glass carry a significant amount of vanilla with the molasses and licorice scents taking a back seat to that vanilla …”

Of course the review includes a nice recipe which particularly well suited for the Whaler’s Dark Rum called the Mandeville.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail provided!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Whaler’s Dark Rum

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