The Rum Howler Blog

(A Website for Spirited Reviews)

  • Copyright

    Copyright is inherent when an original work is created. This means that the producer of original work is automatically granted copyright protection. This copyright protection not only exists in North America, but extends to other countries as well. Thus, all of the work produced on this blog is protected by copyright, including all of the pictures and all of the articles. These original works may not be copied or reused in any way whatsoever without the permission of the author, Chip Dykstra.
  • Cocktails and Recipes

    Click Image for Awesome Recipes

  • Industry Interviews

    Interviews

    Click the Image for Great Interviews with the Movers of Industry

  • The Rum Howler Interview (Good Food Revolution)

    Click on the Image to see my interview on Good Food Revolution

  • The Rum Howler Blog

    Unknown's avatar

  • Rum Reviews

  • Whisky Reviews

  • Gin Reviews

  • Tequila Reviews

  • Vodka Reviews

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 1,092 other subscribers
  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,532,870 pageviews since inception
  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Review’

Beyond Islay: Part 6 – Talisker Distiller’s Edition (2015 Bottling)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 5, 2017

2015-de-talisker-bot-70cl-300dpi-a4This is the sixth Single Malt Whisky which I tasted at the Beyond Islay tasting event hosted by Ryan Engen who is the Director of Spirits, for Liquor Stores N.A. Inc. at the Edmonton Wine and Beyond McTagggert Ridge location. At the tasting I enjoyed 7 different Single Malts in what was termed the Beyond Islay Single Malt Whisky Tasting. The Whiskies at the tasting were selected to represent the diversity of Scotland’s Island Whiskies reaching beyond the popular Islay Whiskies to the malts produced on the lesser known Islands. Talisker Distiller’s Edition (2015) continues our exploration as we visit the Isle of Skye in which is the largest and the northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

Talisker Distiller’s Edition (2015) is produced from peated malted barley. The spirit was distilled in 2005 and prior to bottling was finished in Amoroso Sherry casks before being bottled at 45.8 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Talisker Distiller’s Edition (2015)

“… As the glass breathes I notice some nice butterscotch and caramel notes which seem to be lightly accented with smokey tones of dry fruit (dates and raisins). There are also sweet malty notes, and the peat has both a light briny quality and a mild herbal quality that reminds me of menthol and heather …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my serving suggestion, the Rob Roy Cocktail.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Beyond Islay: Part 6 – Talisker Distiller’s Edition (2015 Bottling)

Review: Lamb’s Palm Breeze Amber Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 3, 2017

spence-cocktail-sam_3037In my part of Canada, Lamb’s is one of the most popular rum brands. The brand is owned by Corby, and they trace the rum’s history all the way to 1849 when Alfred Lamb opened his wine and spirits business in London, England. Apparently Alfred stored his rum barrels (which had been imported from the Caribbean) in his underground cellars which were directly beneath the Thames River. The cool underground air which did not experience large seasonal fluctuations in temperature nor large fluctuations from day to night is reckoned to be one of the secrets behind the unexpectedly smooth taste of his rum.

Of course the rum no longer is aged under the Thames River in Britain; but it does maintain its Caribbean heritage as the Lamb’s blend is sourced from a variety of Caribbean rums which have been aged for a minimum of one year in oak casks. The final rum is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume and sold as Lamb’s Palm Breeze.

I recently received a new sample bottle of the Lamb’s Rum and decided to revisit my review of several ago to see if I noticed any changes. Here is a link to my revised review:

Review: Lamb’s Palm Breeze Amber Rum

“… I notice light smells of butterscotch, sandalwood and spice. It is the sandalwood and spice (rather than the butterscotch) which grows in the breezes as I let the glass breathe. I soon notice traces of white pepper and cinnamon as well as building citrus zest and banana peel …”

Please enjoy my review and the cocktail suggestion included, the Spence Cocktail.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Lamb’s Palm Breeze Amber Rum

Review: Caldera Hurricane 5 Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 1, 2017

northumberland-sam_3013

Northumberland Cocktail

Caldera Distilling is a new Canadian distillery located in the historical shipbuilding community of River John, in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Interestingly, on the distillery property, (inside a barn which has been standing since at least 1939) a curious handwritten notation was found on one of the old supporting beams of the structure. This notation reads, “October 18 1939 Storm”. When the official records for the area were inspected, it was discovered that this particular storm was recorded as Hurricane #5.

Apparently this Atlantic storm was so severe that someone thought to make note of it in this particular place. I am only guessing, but perhaps the barn served as a refuge of sorts for someone, or perhaps a group of people who were seeking protection from the hurricane. Caldera Hurricane 5 Canadian Whisky serves as a link to this piece of history regarding the River John community and the storm known as Hurricane #5.

Here is a link to my latest Canadian Whisky Review:

Review: Caldera Hurricane 5 Canadian Whisky

“… The entry is smooth with an interesting combination of fruity rye and sweet corn. Flavours of butterscotch and vanilla mingle with fine wood spice, and soon impressions of baking spices develop as well (cinnamon and a touch of cloves and nutmeg). There is a little orange peel struggling to make the transition to marmalade, and a light winding of grassy tobacco and nutty almond flavours …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my latest cocktail creation, the Northumberland Cocktail.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Caldera Hurricane 5 Canadian Whisky

Beyond Islay: Part 5 – Jura Superstion

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 26, 2017

jura-superThis is the fifth Single Malt Whisky (in my seven part series) which I tasted at the Beyond Islay tasting event hosted by Ryan Engen who is the Director of Spirits, for Liquor Stores N.A. Inc. at the Edmonton Wine and Beyond McTagggert Ridge location. At the tasting I enjoyed 7 different Single Malts in what was termed the Beyond Islay Single Malt Whisky Tasting. The Whiskies at the tasting were selected to represent the diversity of Scotland’s Island Whiskies reaching beyond the popular Islay Whiskies to the malts produced on the lesser known Islands. Jura Superstition continues our exploration as we visit the Isle of Jura which is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, situated just a little north-east of Islay.

Jura Superstition is said to be  a union of two whisky styles, a bold peated whisky (about 13 % of the blend) and non-peated lighter more delicate whiskies. The spirit is meant to revel in the ancient superstitions which surround the Isle of Jura.

According to the Jura Single Malt Whisky website:

Jura is an island wrapped in Superstition with a litany of strange and bewildering customs. It is believed that pouring from this bottle with the Ankh cross in the centre of your palm is a ritual that will bring good health and good fortune.

The spirit has no age statement, but is priced similarly to the Isle of Jura 10 and 12 Year Old Whiskies which perhaps give us a hint at the age of the whiskies in the blend.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Jura Superstition Single Malt Whisky

“… If I closed my eyes and held the glencairn under my nose I could imagine I was in an evergreen forest with damp moss covering the ground. A boggy meadow must be nearby as I smell damp peat under the meadow grass, with lush ferns and willow bushes clinging to its edges. Sawgrass and timothy hay are growing in the meadow with summer flowers just beginning to bloom …”

Please enjoy my review which contains a cocktail suggestion for lightly peated whiskies, Blood and Sand.

Chimo!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Beyond Islay: Part 5 – Jura Superstion

Review: Chic Choc Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 24, 2017

the-mountain-climberChic Choc Spiced Rum was developed by Quebec based, Domaine Pinnacle to be the first-ever spiced rum produced with indigenous spices from the Chic-Choc Mountain region in northern Quebec. The spirit is made from blend of rums aged for 3 to 8 years and infused a unique mix of Quebec Nordic spices. These six indigenous plants grow naturally in Quebec’s Chic-Choc mountains on the Gaspé peninsula and include Peppery Green Alder, Pine Forest Spikenard, Witherod Berries, Lovage Root, Wild Angelica and Sweet Gale (aka Bog Myrtle). There may be other spices in the mix which compliment the nordic spices, however theme of the rum is natural flavours in a rum blended and spiced to be lightly sweet and lightly spicy.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Chic Choc Spiced Rum

“… There is a peppery spiciness which runs though the spirit which fortunately is tempered by a light sweetness of caramel toffee and dark brown sugar. I taste vanilla and baking spices (cloves, cinnamon,and nutmeg) but I also taste a firm piny element which is reminiscent of those spruce boughs and pine needles I recognized in the breezes above the glass …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a new cocktail for your enjoyment, the Mountain Climber.

 

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Chic Choc Spiced Rum