Posts Tagged ‘Review’

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#30 – #26)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 28, 2016

rum-howler-top-50-2016 Today I feature the last of the 5 whisky groupings in my 2016 countdown. Beginning on November 30th, I slow the pace and reveal each Canadian Whisky individually one per day until Christmas Even when the best Canadian Whisky of 2016 will be revealed. If you are interested in how the Countdown has progressed so far, here is a link to the growing list:

The Rum Howler – Top 50 Canadian Whiskies of 2016

The five whiskies revealed today feature none which are priced over $40.00, and in fact two of these spirits, Windsor Canadian, and Alberta Premium, can be found for under $25.00 here in Alberta while the Mt. Logan 5 Year Old (a new whisky brand) and the Centennial brands each check in just under the $30.00 mark. All of this reinforces one of the major reasons why I love Canadian Whisky so much; the spirit offers outstanding quality at prices which are much more affordable than other whisky styles. Perhaps this is why the spirit is seeing such a resurgence in sales across Canada and indeed throughout North America.

Here are the next five spirits in my Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#30 – #26):

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Please enjoy my Countdown of the Best Canadian Whiskies of 2016. Stay tuned as the countdown continues on November 30 with the number 25 Canadian Whisky, Chimo!

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: 2016 Rum Howler Canadian Whisky Countdown, 2016 Rum Howler Top 50, 5 Year Old, Alberta Premium, Canadian Whisky, Centennial Rye Whisky, Crown Royal Black, Mt. Logan, Review, Windsor Canadian | Comments Off on The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#30 – #26)

Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#35 – #31)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 27, 2016

2016rum_howler_badge When I decided to switch things around this year and publish a countdown of the best mixing rums, I was expecting some push back from my regular readers who look forward to my annual review of the very best rums each year. So far however, my mixing rums list has been met with great enthusiasm. I suspect that everyone was ready for a change this year and a list which is new and fresh is much more exciting than a list which was perhaps getting a little stale which essentially the same information upon it each year.

I will admit though that this year’s list was much harder to put together. Rather than spending a few weeks at the end of the year re-tasting my favourites, I spent most of the year sourcing rums and building cocktails. By my count, I built, tasted and rated almost 160 cocktails as I constructed my overall rankings.

I trust the fruits of my labour were worth the effort. Here are the next five spirits in my Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown:

#35 Plantation Original Dark 73 % Overproof Rum

“… I decided to mix a more complex cocktail which I created call, the Hart Breaker. This cocktail combines an overproof rum with lime, agave syrup, and a heavy dose of crushed ice. It is really a great recipe, and with the Plantation Overproof, it was extremely tasty. I followed this up (the next day) with a true tiki recipe, the Zombie (see recipe below). The zombie kicked my tonsils hard; but again it was just plain tasty with the Plantation rum …”

#34 Rum Nation Demerara Solera N° 14

“… What we have is exactly what the nose implied, a funky ‘navy’ style rum. If you like rums like Pusser’s Navy Rum, then you will like the Demerara No. 14. (Although this is a little less spicy than Pusser’s.) I did a little mixing and found that the rum really shines in cocktails. The rum has the ability to push its funky navy flavour through the mixed drink, even when mixing with cola …”

#33 Pusser’s Spiced Rum

I mixed putting in equal amounts of spiced rum and cola. I felt this ratio of spiced rum to cola was much more to my liking. Having found a suitable ratio for my rum and cola, I next set out to make a more complicated bar drink. Using a brandy recipe which I favoured, I tweaked the ingredients and came up with a new cocktail I call, Bitter Blood and Spice. This mixed drink quickly became my preferred serving for the Pusser’s Spiced Rum.

#32 Smuggler’s Cove Dark Rum

” … Of course rums such as this are practically destined from birth to be mixed with cola, and my review would be remiss if it did not involve a nice rum and coke. The resulting bar drink is very nice. The Smuggler’s Cove seems to be particularly well suited as a cola mixer. I am pretty sure that the agreeable flavour of Smuggler’s Cove and Cola will ensure the rum will disappear quickly at my next deck party …”

# 31 Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum

“… The rum mixes very easily into all manner of cocktails. I did a little experimentation, and I found the rum mixes easily with ginger ale, cola, all manner of fruit juices, and even with iced tea. I even tried a little mixed with egg nog (it is almost Christmas Season after all), and I really enjoyed the results …”

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Stay tuned for more mixing rum revelations as I will be adding five more rums to this list shortly.

And you can follow the rankings by bookmarking this page:

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: 2016 Rum Howler Top 50, Blue Chair Bay, Coconut Spiced Rum, Demerara No 14, Mixing Rum Countdown, Plantation Original Dark, Pusser's Spiced, Review, Rum howler, Rum Nation, Smuggler's Cove | Comments Off on Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#35 – #31)

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#40 – #36)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 25, 2016

2016rum_howler_badge Although I tried to compare all of the mixing rums in this countdown using similar cocktails, the truth is that occasionally I would go off the chart and construct servings which I felt suited a particular rum better than the standard cocktail for the category. This was the case with the #36 spirit, Gosling’s Black Seal. For those unfamiliar with Gosling’s, it is the standard rum for the Dark ‘n Stormy Cocktail. In fact if the serving is made with any other rum, it cannot properly be called a Dark ‘n Stormy.

Although Goslings Black Seal is a strange tasting rum which many people find difficult to mix, in the aforementioned cocktail it tastes so good, that I had to include the dark brooding rum on my list.

Along with the spirit from Goslings, here are the next 5 entries in my Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown.

#40 Cabot Tower 100 Proof Rum

“… Cabot Tower is not a well aged dark rum, rather it is young and brash; however, it is also full of the wonderful flavours of a full strength Demerara rum. The only reason my score isn’t higher is that a large swat of treacle-like bitterness follows all that flavour, and that bitterness, not the heat and the spice, seemed just a little out of place. This is no sipper, (unless you are into self punishment); but, after trying out a few bar drinks, I discovered that all that flavour (and even that bitterness) works really well in long tall cocktails …”

#39 Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

” … I like that this spiced rum dares to be different. Not that it is revolutionary, it’s just that I am pleasantly surprised that the company chose to work on the more pungent side of the spice path just a little to the left of the more trodden slopes of vanilla and caramel. We have a little of that here, but we also have welcome doses of ginger, allspice, mace and juniper which makes the path they chose a little more challenging for the palate but also make it much more fun. I did a little mixing with cola at first, and found that I liked the spicy rum and cola combination. I also tried a recipe from the Cruzan Rum Company website, the Cruzan 9 Punch which tasted really nice …”

#38 Bayou Spiced Rum

“… As I sip, the spiciness builds, and for me the obvious way to enjoy the spirit is with a well placed ice-cube. I am not saying the rum needs an ice-cube; it does not. However for myself, the addition of the ice-cube mutes the sweetness just a tad and gives the spices more expression. I am a Rum and Cola nut; so I decide that I should also try that combination in my mixing glass with the aforementioned ice. I am hooked pretty much on the first sip, as the laid back deck drink has just enough attitude to be enjoyable without being demanding in any way …”

#37 Last Mountain 306 Original Saskatchewan Rum

” … the standard, rum and cola cocktail (Cuba Libre’) is enhanced in a big way by the firm fine oak spice within the 306 Original Saskatchewan Rum. In Canada (and throughout most of North America) cola is the standard mixer for amber rums, and the enhanced flavour provided by the oak spice is definitely a huge positive for this spirit. Adding a few bitters makes the cocktail even better …”

#36 Gosling’s Black Seal

“… I smell burnt caramel apples, intense hyacinth, and wisps of cinnamon and nutmeg. Maybe even a little allspice. At the same time the smell is earthy. It makes no sense to my nostrils to get this earthy smell but it is there in spades. (I hate to admit this; but in my imaginings I actually think of an old graveyard with freshly upturned earth, hyacinth and hibiscus on nearby graves and pungent burnt smells coming from the glass.) I find myself grabbing a bit of lime and some ginger-beer and making a strong Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail. For myself anyway, this classic Gosling’s Rum cocktail is the best way to enjoy their Dark Rum …”

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Stay tuned for more mixing rum revelations as I will be adding five more rums to this list shortly.

And you can follow the rankings by bookmarking this page:

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: 2016 Rum Howler Top 50, Bayou Spiced, Cabot Tower, Cruzan 9, Gosling's Black Seal, Last Mountain 306, Mixing Rum Countdown, Review, Rum, Rum howler | Comments Off on The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#40 – #36)

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#50 thru #46)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 21, 2016

2016rum_howler_badge Yesterday I began my Rum Howler Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown, and today I will begin my countdown of the Best Mixing Rums of 2016. During each of the past five years I have compiled a list of the Best Sipping Rums. And during each of those years, the list was dominated by premium rums whose prices were out of the reach of many of my readers. As a result, one of my readers requested that I change things up this year with a listing of the best non-premium rums.

I decided that compiling a listing of the best rums for mixing (aged less than five years) was the best way to approach this task. Of course this meant, the rums I would be analyzing and comparing would come from many different classes: White Rums, Amber and Anejo Rums, Spiced Rums, Dark Rums, and even Overproof Rums. Although these rum styles are quite dissimilar, there is one commonality that they all share. Each of these rum styles is normally enjoyed in a cocktail. Hence, my Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown.

And it is time to begin the reveal with Mixing Rums #50 thru 46:

# 50 Mount Gay Eclipse Silver

“… I made a simple daiquiri. Mixed with lime and simple syrup the Eclipse rum tasted much better (Very good!). The character of the Eclipse seemed to push through the daiquiri and made it more impressive. I will have to experiment a little more, but I can say with confidence that this rum is a very good daiquiri rum. I had a similar experience when I made a mojito …”

#49 Blackheart Spiced Rum

“… I should note that although the rum is stated to be 93 proof, it is quite smooth. There is just a touch of astringency, but the rum is still sippable with ice. The rum works even better as a mixer bringing just enough rum and spice forward to bring a little brash attitude to your spiced rum and cola mixed drink …”

#48 Tanduay Gold Asian Rum

“… I decided to add a splash of cola and some ice to the second pour. It was immediately apparent that I could easily relax with the Tanduay Gold in the evening mixed just this way. Next, I mixed the rum with some fruit juice (orange and lime) in a daiquiri style cocktail, and then I lengthened that cocktail with a splash of ginger-ale. Both variations of the mixed drink tasted very nice …”

#47 El Dorado Superior Dark Rum

“… For myself the rum is an obvious Rum and Cola mixer. In fact mixing 1 part rum with 2 parts of cola with a squeeze of lime juice results in a very tasty tall bar drink. I also mixed a few punch style recipes and was not disappointed in that format of cocktail either …”

# 46) Appleton Estate VX Rum

“… The spicy flavours within the rum make the spirit an excellent base for many cocktails. The Appleton VX adds a really nice bite to a Rum and Coke, and the tangy oak flavour profile really adds depth to fruity cocktails like the Daiquiri …”

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I hope everybody enjoys this years mixing rum countdown. You can follow the rankings by bookmarking this page which also provides some information regarding my ranking procedure:

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown

Posted in Awards, Extras | Tagged: 2016 Top 50, Appleton Estate VX, Blackheart Spiced Rum, El Dorao Superior Dark, Mixing Rums, Mount Gay Eclipse Silver, Review, Rum, Rum howler, Tanduay Gold Asian Rum | Comments Off on The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#50 thru #46)

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#50 – #46)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 20, 2016

rum-howler-top-50-2016

In compiling my list this year, I gathered as many of the newly bottled Canadian Whiskies as I could. This included both new brands as well as many of the whiskies which I had tasted and reviewed previously. I included all sample bottles I had received in 2015 and 2016 as well as many purchases from my private collection; however, I did not include any samples from brands which had been discontinued. I also re-scored and revised the tasting notes (and introductions when I felt the old information was no longer valid) for many of my published reviews.

This means that this year’s Top Canadian Whiskies of 2016 list and the reviews of each spirit accurately reflect how each of the various brands taste now, not how they may have scored and tasted several years ago. The list is also the most comprehensive year-end list I have ever completed for the Canadian Whisky category.

As always, I present my year-end list in reverse order. The first 25 Whiskies (#50 thru to #26) will be revealed five at a time, and then #25 thru to #1 will be revealed individually throughout the month of December. Let the Countdown of the Best Canadian Whiskies begin:

#50 Canadian Mist

” …. the corn appears to have melded into the wood spice with ripe grain, orange peel and butterscotch providing a nice accent. There also a light mustiness weaving through the air which reminds me of the smell of dry con husks. As the glass breathes some more I also notice some light bourbon notes building along with a nice accent of vanilla and almond …”

#49 Canadian Club Premium Canadian Whisky

“… Canadian Club as a brand, has one the most aggressive flavour profiles in the Canadian Whisky Category. There is a dank, organic, sour mash flavour which runs through the whisky. As well, the whisky is full of damp tobacco and fermenting fruit flavours. The spirit is spicy too, with oak tannins disguised as orange peel zest and rye spices heating up the mouth. Caramel flavours seep in and out as does an impression of vanilla …”

# 48 Gibson’s Finest Sterling Whisky

“… The whisky leads out with rye spices and ginger but underneath those spices is that same light butterscotch I noticed in the aroma. If I let the glass decant, I begin to taste a light whisper of corn and a few baking spices working their way into the flavour profile. The spices are more firm across the palate than they were on the nose especially orange peel, ginger and cardamom …”

#47 J.P Wiser’s Double Still Rye

“… The scents above the glass bring me a nice menagerie of different whisky smells. Butterscotch is melded into oak spice with a light but firm impression of pot distilled rye lurking in the breezes as well. Bits of cocoa reveal themselves as do some baking spices in the form of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. There is also a light but firm astringency rising into the air warning me that the whisky may have a bit of youthful exuberance …”

#46 Revel Stoke Deluxe Canadian Whisky

“… The flavour of the whisky leads out with a lightly sweet impression of toffee alongside both bitter and spicy rye grain. The mouthfeel is soft, however the whisky has plenty of wood spice to both heat and pucker the palate between sips. This is a dusty dry whisky, and as I sip, impressions of ripened grain fields and dry grassy hay lands both find their way into my consciousness. There is a touch of vanilla and a hint of cinnamon in the flavour profile as well and perhaps also just a light indication of menthol …”

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Please enjoy my Countdown of the Best Canadian Whiskies of 2016. Stay Tuned for numbers 45 through 41, Chimo!

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* You may follow my Canadian Whisky Countdown by bookmarking this link:

The Rum Howler – Top 50 Canadian Whiskies of 2016

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 2016 Top 50, Canadian Club, Canadian Mist, Canadian Whisky, Gibson's Finest Sterling, J.P. Wiser's Double Still Rye, Revel Stoke Deluxe, Review, Rum howler, Whisky | Comments Off on The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#50 – #46)

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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#30 – #26)

The Rum Howler – Top 50 Canadian Whiskies of 2016

#30 Windsor Canadian

#29 Alberta Premium 100 % Rye Canadian Whisky

#28 Mt. Logan 5 Year Old Canadian Rye Whisky

#27) Centennial Rye Whisky (NAS)

#26 Crown Royal Black

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Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#35 – #31)

#35 Plantation Original Dark 73 % Overproof Rum

#34 Rum Nation Demerara Solera N° 14

#33 Pusser’s Spiced Rum

#32 Smuggler’s Cove Dark Rum

# 31 Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum

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The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#40 – #36)

#40 Cabot Tower 100 Proof Rum

#39 Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

#38 Bayou Spiced Rum

#37 Last Mountain 306 Original Saskatchewan Rum

#36 Gosling’s Black Seal

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The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Mixing Rums Countdown (#50 thru #46)

# 50 Mount Gay Eclipse Silver

#49 Blackheart Spiced Rum

#48 Tanduay Gold Asian Rum

#47 El Dorado Superior Dark Rum

# 46) Appleton Estate VX Rum

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The Rum Howler 2016 Top 50 Canadian Whisky Countdown (#50 – #46)

#50 Canadian Mist

#49 Canadian Club Premium Canadian Whisky

# 48 Gibson’s Finest Sterling Whisky

#47 J.P Wiser’s Double Still Rye

#46 Revel Stoke Deluxe Canadian Whisky

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