Posts Tagged ‘Review’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 12, 2017
This is the third 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. Highland Park Dark Origins showcases the Island of Orkney in the north of Scotland.
Highland Park Dark Origins is the latest addition to the Core Expressions Range of Highland Park Whisky. It features a higher proportion of Sherry cask whisky than the other expressions in the range (twice the amount as is found in the Highland Park 12 Year Old). This give the Dark Origins a richer sherry influence than the other whiskies in the range.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… I taste an oily peat with both floral heather and willow thicket impacting its flavour. Some sherry-like raisins and prunes are merging into the peat as are some light baking spices honeyed oak and citrus spice. The overall result is a smokier, heavier version of Highland Park …”
Please enjoy my review which includes the cocktail suggestion, the Rusty Nail.
Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Beyond Islay, Dark Origins, Highland Park, Review, Rusty Nail, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky | Comments Off on Beyond Islay: Part 3 – Highland Park Dark Origins
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 10, 2017
Penny Blue Old Fashioned
Penny Blue XO Single Estate Mauritius Rum, is distributed in Western Canadian by Charton Hobbs. This spirit is produced by the Indian Ocean Rum Company which is a partnership between the local Medine Distillery on the Island of Mauritius and Berry Bros. & Rudd.
Penny Blue is a true Mauritian Rum, distilled from the locally produced molasses from the Medine Distillery’s home-grown sugar cane. According to the information provided to me, only 10,000 bottles of Batch #004 were produced. Thirty-four percent of the blended rum was matured in ex-bourbon casks, and sixty-six percent in ex-Whisky casks. The ages of those rums varied with the oldest being 11 years old. After blending, the rum is bottled at the Medine Estate.
Here is a link to my latest rum Review:
“… The initial breezes bring a yummy combination of butterscotch, vanilla, orange peel, oak spice, almond and leather. It is really quite nice especially as neither the sweetness of the butterscotch and vanilla, nor the sharpness of the oak and orange peel spice, nor the almond or leather dominate the breezes above the glass …”
Please enjoy the review which includes a nice cocktail suggestion, the Penny Blue Old Fashioned (pictured to the left).
Chimo!
Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Berry Bros. and Rudd, Mauritius, Medine Estate, Penny Blue, Review, Rum, Single Estate, XO | Comments Off on Review: Penny Blue XO Single Estate Mauritius Rum (Batch #004)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 8, 2017
Berry Bros. & Rudd is one of London’s oldest Wine and Spirits Merchant with over 300 years of experience and tradition from which to draw upon. The company began its operation at 3 – St. James’s Street (in London, UK) in 1698, and still operates from that same location today. Although they are primarily merchants of wine, the company has a strong presence in the sale of distilled spirits as well.
Their presence within the spirits industry had its beginnings approximately 100 years ago when Berry Bros. & Rudd developed the Cutty Sark brand in 1923. In 2010 Cutty Sark (the brand) was sold to The Edrington Group. As part of the arrangement Berry Bros. & Rudd acquired The Glenrothes Single Malt Whisky brand.
The Glenrothes Bourbon Cask Reserve was formerly known as Alba Reserve. It is a Kosher expression which has been matured entirely in ex-bourbon barrels. Here is a link to my full review:
“… I begin to notice new smells of roasted coconut, canned apricot, and interestingly some fresh-cut corrugated cardboard. The oak and sandalwood spice has brought a few willow trees into the breezes, and the almond and vanilla seem to have morphed into a plate of graham wafers …”
Please enjoy my review and the cocktail suggestion which follows (Alpine Meadows).
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: Bourbon Cask Reserve, Review, Scotch, Single Malt, The Glenrothes, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: The Glenrothes Bourbon Cask Reserve
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 6, 2017
‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund’s Cocktail
Sid’s Handcrafted Vodka is produced by Goodridge & Williams, an independent craft distilling company located in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). According to the company website, the Vodka is produced from a slow distillation using traditional copper pot-still. I should note that the label on the bottle clarifies this information stating that the distillation process includes distillation through 38 column plates. The spirit is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.
I sampled three other new vodkas in a tasting flight with Sid’s Handcrafted Vodka (Foothills, Tryst, and Provincial Vodka). I served each of the spirits chilled where I sipped them each neat, swallowed shots, and then sampled each with a variety of foods. I finished the tasting with some cocktails made from each spirit.
Here is a link to my newest Vodka Review:
“… I took a cautious sniff at the breezes above the glass and I noticed a touch of creme de fresh on the nose with vanilla pudding and cream of wheat porridge. The impression was subtle but it was quite pleasant. When I took a small sip, those aromatic impressions manifested upon the palate as light flavours of lemon and citrus zest melded with vanilla and some of that cream of wheat porridge …”
Please enjoy my review which includes a mixed drink suggestion, ‘Mean” Gene Okerlund’s Cocktail!
Chimo!
Posted in Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: Cocktail, Goodridge & Williams, Mean Gene, Okerlund, Review, Sid's Hancrafted, Vodka | Comments Off on Review: Sid’s Handcrafted Vodka
Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 5, 2017
The Arran 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky is a Single Malt produced from unpeated barley by Arran Distillers. I tasted the spirit at an 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. The Isle of Arran is of course showcased by this whisky.
Arran Distillers was founded by Harold Currie, former director of Chivas. Located in Lochranza, Scotland, it is the only distillery on the Isle of Arran. Their 18 year Old spirit is a blend of both aged ex-Sherry Cask and ex-Bourbon Cask whiskies.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… As I examined the dram I began to notice an increasing malty sweetness with apple and canned pear aromas developing. Some almond-like marzipan is hinted at in the breezes and as I enjoy myself grassy notes come forward and the fine oak spice builds. This is a whisky which grows in the glass …”
Please enjoy my review which includes a cocktail suggestion at the conclusion, the Old Fashioned Cocktail.
Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 18 Year Old, Beyond Islay, Review, Single Malt, The Arran, Whisky | Comments Off on Beyond Islay: Part 2 – The Arran 18 Year Old
The Rum Howler Blog 