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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

Review: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 2, 2022

In 1795, Jose María Guadalupe de Cuervo began to commercially produce his Mexcal wine spirit based upon an official permit from the King of Spain. By 1812, he had established La Rojena, the distillery which to this day still produces Jose Cuervo Tequila.

By 1844, Cuervo Tequila was being distributed within Mexico, and in 1873 the earliest known documented export of the tequila outside of Mexico occurred when 3 bottles of Cuervo were transported across the United States border by donkey. Those exports have continued (although no longer by donkey), and in 2013 the Jose Cuervo brand was recognized as the best-selling tequila brand in the entire world. The brand has been owned by the Beckmann family of Mexico and has been in this family for 11 generations. The Brand is currently distributed in North America by Proximo Spirits.

Jose Cuervo Tradicional is marketed as the original Cuervo tequila. The Reposado version is produced from 100% blue agave, and aged (or rested) in oak barrels for a minimum of two months before being bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my recent review:

Review: Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado

“… Light fruity agave, hints of fine wood spices, peppery agave spice. As the glass breathes the earthy somewhat punky agave scents become more prominent and a light sweetness of honey and vanilla appear. Scents of grilled pineapple and baked squash add to the fruitiness. Some scattered tea leaves add a touch of complexity …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my recipe suggestion, the Cantarito.

Chimo!

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Review: Rupert’s Exceptional Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 29, 2022

The folks at Eau Claire pride themselves in sourcing locally farmed ingredients, including grains and potatoes from neighbouring farms. Each ingredient is secured from suppliers who are known and respected in Alberta’s agriculture profession. In addition to the direct from the farm suppliers, Eau Claire has a special connection to the land through its own, unique stable of plough horses. Horse farmed grain is a part of the Eau Claire story and culture. It was founder David Farran’s weekend pursuit of traditional horse farming that led him to establish Eau Claire in the first place. A number of the distillery’s products have been made with ‘horse farmed grain’ using agricultural methods dating back to the settlement of Alberta.

Here is a link to my full review of their Rupert’s Exceptional Canadian Whisky.

Review: Rupert’s Exceptional Canadian Whisky

“… Fine oak spices with hints of butterscotch, mild vanilla and almond.  Light baking spices in the form of ginger, nutmeg and orange peel begin to climb up, and perhaps we have a few indication of banana as well …”

I hope you enjoy my review, as well as the recipe suggestion which follows, the Canadian Cooler.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Rupert’s Exceptional Canadian Whisky

Review: Angostura 5 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 27, 2022

The House of Angostura traces its beginnings to 1824 when German doctor, Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, who was then a Surgeon-General in the Venezuelan Army, created a blend of aromatic herbs which he called “Amargo Aromatico” and which would become the world-famous Angostura Bitters. Although the company he created to manufacture these bitters was originally founded in the town known as Angostura (later to be renamed Bolivar City), the company was relocated by his successors (his younger brother and son), who  moved it to Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1876.

The Angostura 5 Year Old Rum is (like all of the Angostura Rums) produced from molasses on their five column still. Part of the rum is produced from a heavy distillate which is drawn from the multi-column still after passing through only one of the five columns. This heavily flavoured rum is aged and then blended with a more purely refined spirit which is distilled upon all five columns.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Angostura 5 Year Old Rum

“… Butterscotch, fine oak spice, almond and orange peel complimented by vanilla and light baking spices (ginger and cinnamon). There is also a light coconut impression; and as the glass breathes, the almond scent seems to mingle with the butterscotch and vanilla to bring about a very mild impression of marzipan …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my cocktail suggestion, the Railcar.

Chimo!

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Review:  Lot No. 40 Dark Oak 100 % Rye Whisky  

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 20, 2022

Last year Corby, owners of the J.P. Wiser’s Brand offered us a brand extension to their popular Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky line-up with the introduction of two new additions, Lot No. 40 Dark Oak and Lot No. 40 18 Year Old Cask Strength. Lot No. 40 was first released in the 1990’s as an upscale connoisseur’s whisky for the North American market. Alas, timing is everything, and according to Don Livermore (Master Blender for Corby and J.P. Wiser’s branded whiskies), the whisky never really caught on as the market wasn’t quite ready for this new style of Canadian Whisky. However, with an upsurge of interest in Canadian Whisky across North America (and in particular at the premium end of the market), Corby (the owner of the Wiser’s Brand), relaunched the whisky in 2012.

Lot No. 40 Dark Oak has apparently been released a bigger, bolder version of Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky. This is a 100% rye grain whisky, distilled upon a pot still, and aged first in new American Oak barrels and then finished in a second new oak barrel however this finishing barrel is this time heavily charred (Char No. 4) to add more flavour and colour.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Lot No. 40 Dark Oak

“… Woody notes filled with sap and tannin. Honeycomb and raisin with canned peaches and apricots clinging in the background. Allspice and nutmeg with hints of clove and cinnamon. Bitter vanillans, Macintosh Apples, bittersweet chocolate and wiffs of charcoal smoke …

I hope you enjoy my review. I will be visiting more of the Lot No. 40 Line-up in the coming weeks.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review:  Lot No. 40 Dark Oak 100 % Rye Whisky  

Review: Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 19, 2022

Ron Barceló was founded in 1930 under the name Barceló & Co in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The rum brand quickly grew in popularity growing into one of the largest in the Dominican, and the brand is now exported world-wide to over 25 countries.

According to the company’s website Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum is a blend of Dominican rums aged for up to six years in ex-Bourbon oak casks. This makes it a more premium rum that the previously reviewed Barcelo Anejo (see here). Although the Gran Anejo is reported to contain rums aged up to six years, I should point out that the spirit is sold without an age statement.  I think we can assume that the Gran Anejo Rum will have an average age somewhat less than the six years mentioned on the website.

In my locale (Edmonton, Alberta) the rum is sold at 40 % alcohol by volume in a 750 ml bottle, however I have also seen bottles sold at 37.5 % alcohol by volume in 700 ml bottles. This review is for the version sold at the 40 % bottling strength.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum

“… The Gran Anejo Rum does seem to be a step up from its younger sibling, Barcello Anejo. The initial aroma brings fine wood spices, hints of butterscotch and almond into the air. Accompanying notes of vanilla, orange and banana peel arrive as well as does a mild menthol grassiness. Perhaps I am noticing a light build up of baking spices (cinnamon and ginger) as well …”

Please enjoy the review as well as the suggested cocktail which follows, The Swift Turtle!

Chimo!

 

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