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Posts Tagged ‘Dark Rum’

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Rum Review: Diplomatico Reserva 8 Anos

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 20, 2010

Many months ago I opened my blog with 16 rum reviews which I had written as mad ramblings on the Ministry of Rum.  At the time I had no intention of ever being a spirits writer, I was just sharing my thoughts on various rums using my own unique system of scoring and basically having fun.  Included in those sixteen reviews were my early reviews of  Diplomatico Anejo, and Diplomatico Exclusiva Reserva.  Although the reviews were in many ways cursory, and lacking depth, they nonetheless were noticed by the importers of Diplomatico in my home province, (PB Beverages) and a solid friendly relationship was established. Then recently, I was given a bottle of Diplomatico Reserva, and asked to provide a review such that all three of the major Diplomatico products would be present on my Blog.  There is no point denying my pleasure at this request.  Diplomatico is one of my most favoured spirits companies when it comes to deep rich flavourful rum.  So I accepted the rum sample with no hesitation, and after spending some time getting to know the Reserva, I am happy to share the results of my review with you.

You may read my full review here:

Rum Review: Diplomatico Reserva 8 Anos

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

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

Rum Review: Ron Bermudez Anniversario

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 14, 2010

This is the third review I am publishing with respect to the rums of Ron Bermudez . I previously reviewed the Ron Anejo Bermudez 5 Anos and the Bermudez 1852 Ron Anejo 10 Anos Don Armando based upon sample bottles provided to my by Westway L. LTD. My sample bottle of the Ron Bermudez Anniversario rum was also supplied by Westway L. Limited, as they are introducing the Bermudez rums into my home Province of Alberta. The Anniverario is a well aged rum full of character and oak flavour.  It was a delight to cap off my reviews of the Bermudez range with this outstanding rum.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…Toffee and caramel sit in the background  supporting  the spicier flavour of the oak. There is also a firm  leathery smoke in the rum which is full of the flavours of dried fruits (raisins, dates, and prunes). When I sampled the younger 5 year old Bermudez rum, I had a vague impression that there was a metallic taste in the rum; but now, in the older Ron Bermudez Anniversario, this metallic element is more identifiable…”

You may read the full review here:

Rum Review: Ron Bermudez Anniversario

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

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

Rum Review: Havana Club 7 Year Old Cuban Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 26, 2010

Havana Club 7 Year Old Cuban Rum

In most of the world,  Havana Club rum  is associated with the brand owned by Pernod Ricard who is currently embroiled in a battle with Bacardi over whom owns the rights to the Havana Club Trademark.  Suffice it to say, if you buy Havana Club outside of the US, it is probably the Pernod Ricard brand, and if you buy it within the borders of the US,  it will be the Bacardi brand.  In the end, after lots of lawyers have made a ton of money, the matter may finally be resolved…or not.

The subject of my review is Havana Club 7 Year Old. It is an authentic Cuban Rum.   This rum has become widely available in markets outside of the US, including where I live in Alberta, Canada.

Introduction:

Sometimes when I take the first sip of new rum, I close my eyes and let the it show me where it belongs.  This rum brought me to an old tavern, close to the docks.  The kind of place you see in old movies where the rum flows and stories get taller in the telling.  The place has an oily, tobacco stained floor. Cigarette smoke drifts up to the ceiling mingling here and there with the occasional smell of a Cuban cigar.   A girl sits on a boardwalk stage, singing slightly out of key, as the patrons in the tavern pay more attention to their stories than to her.  A burly bartender, who looks like he can handle whatever trouble comes his way, wipes the sweat from his brow, and then with the same towel wipes the bar-top.  He glances at me playing solitaire in the corner of the room and sipping the rum he served me.  I had told him I would stay and pay him well if the rum was good.   He served me a soft oily, smoky rum called Havana Club.  I smile… the tip will be generous tonight.

You may read my full review here:

Review: Havana Club 7 Year Old Cuban Rum

As usual I have included a couple of recipes for your enjoyment.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Havana Club 7 Year Old Cuban Rum

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