Posts Tagged ‘Review’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 14, 2022
The Crown Royal Noble Collection is a series of whiskies that have been released on an annual basis since 2016. The Collection showcases Crown Royal whiskies with new flavour profiles by blending different components of the various whiskies that go into the Crown Royal blend and/or using different finishing techniques in maturing the company’s flagship whisky.
The Crown Royal Winter Wheat is the sixth expression of the Noble Collection. It is a limited-edition whisky with mash bill heavily influenced with hearty winter wheat (51%) combined with corn (39%), and malted barley 10%.
I first became aware of this newest edition to the Noble family when I encountered the spirit when serving as a juror for the recent 2022 Canadian Whisky Awards. This spirit, identified to me only as Sample Number 156 at the time, was one of those samples which caught my attention while I was judging the various spirits. It came as no surprise to me when that particular sample was identified by the other judges as something special, and the spirit subsequently was named Canada’s best whisky and Canadian Whisky of the Year 2022 at the twelfth annual Canadian Whisky Awards.
Here is a link to my review of this remarkable whisky:
“… Deep notes of rich oak and honeycomb with luscious toffee and toasted walnuts greet the nose. Robust corn notes join with the oak giving the glass a little bit of a bourbon quality. The winter wheat breaks through soon thereafter bringing notes reminiscent of burly rye grain …”
Please enjoy my review.
Chimo!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Crown Royal, Noble Collection, Review, Winter Wheat | Comments Off on Review: Crown Crown Winter Wheat
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 11, 2022
Arco Seco is a Panamanian rum brought to you by Rum Rats. a partnership of Shamus Hewitt & Jason Gardner based in Ontario Canada. To bring this rum to Canada, Shamus and Jason have collaborated with renowned Panamanian Master Blender, Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez and Carlos Esquivel of the Pilsa Rum Distillery in Panama.
According to the Rum Rats website, this first rum release from Rum Rats brings a distinct, authentic Panamanian flavour to the Canadian market. It is a single origin spirit aged for 5 years in previously used Bourbon barrels. The rum is column-distilled from black molasses rum processed, fermented, distilled and aged all in the Arco Seco region of Panama. It is non-chill filtered and bottled at 43 % alcohol by volume with with no sugar or additives.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… Mild butterscotch and honey combine with vanilla and almond. Orange peel is present as are fine oak spices. As the rum breathes the fine oak spices build up giving us a sort of dry and dusty impression of sandalwood and straw. There are hints of tropical fruit (banana and coconut) as well as vague impressions of baking spices …”
Please enjoy my first rum review in over a year. Hopefully this starts a trend.
Chimo!
Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Arco Seco, Panamanian Rum, Review, Rum, Rum Rats, The Perfect Barrel | 2 Comments »
Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 3, 2021
Highland Park Distillery is located in the Highlands of Scotland on the Island of Orkney which is famous for its heather rich meadows, and its unique organic Orcadian peat. The 18 Year Old Highland Park Whisky (Viking Pride) is the part of the new core range of the distillery, which includes as well the 10 Year Old (Viking Scars) and the 12 Year Old (Viking Honour).
According to the sell sheets provided to me, the 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky from Highland Park is produced using a high ratio of first-fill sherry seasoned European and American oak casks. The flavour is of course also driven by the hand cut aromatic peat from the Hobbister Moor which is used (by burning) to dry a portion of the malted barley.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… The complexity is ramped up in the 18 Year Old expression and the tasting notes I have put together do not really convey the impact of the flavour very well. The different impressions of flavour are all sort of mingled together. The fine oak spice and the sap pucker the mouth seemingly making me thirstier as I sip. And that boggy peat seems to run gently through everything …”
Please enjoy my review which concludes my walk through the Highland Park core range.
Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: 18 Year Old, Highland Park, Review, Scotch, Single Malt Whisky, Viking Pride, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Highland Park 18 Years Old (Viking Pride)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 19, 2021
Highland Park Distillery is located in the Highlands of Scotland on the Island of Orkney which is famous for its heather rich meadows, and its unique organic Orcadian peat. The 12 Year Old Highland Park Whisky (Viking Honour) is the part of the new core range of the distillery, which includes as well the 10 Year Old (Viking Scars) and the 18 Year Old (Viking Pride).
According to the sell sheets provided to me, the 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky’s flavour is predominantly driven by 1st fill European casks (Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks), providing a darker natural colour than the 10 Year old and a more mature fruity character. The flavour is of course also driven by the hand cut aromatic peat from the Hobbister Moor which is used (by burning) to dry a portion of the malted barley.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… Spicy with oak and grain spice as well as citrus zest. Slightly ashy peat smoke with herbal flavours of heather, menthol and lowland hay. Mild butterscotch and lightly sweet malt flavours underpinned by hints of almond/marzipan and canned fruit …”
Please enjoy my review which is concluded with a serving suggestion, the Highland Park Aztec Old Fashioned.
Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: 12 Year Old, Highland Park, Review, Scotch, Single Malt Whisky, Viking Honour, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Highland Park 12 Years Old (Viking Honour)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 5, 2021
Highland Park Distillery is located in the Highlands of Scotland on the Island of Orkney which is famous for its heather rich meadows, and its unique organic Orcadian peat. Their 10 Year Old Highland Park Whisky (Viking Scars) is part of the new core range of the distillery which includes the 12 Year Old Viking Honour and the 18 Year old Viking Pride.
According to the information provided to me, this Single Malt Whisky is aged predominantly in American Oak casks (Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks). The flavour is of course also driven by the hand cut aromatic peat from the Hobbister Moor which is used (by burning) to dry a portion of the malted barley.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… The Viking Scars surprised me with its mild approachable nose. The Orcadian peat is in the breezes, but it sits a little further back allowing notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and citrus fruit (orange peel) more prominence. The oak is spicy rather than woody and hints of almond seem to confirm the prevalence of American oak …”
Please enjoy my review which concludes with my serving suggestion, Blood and Sand.
Chimo!
Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: 10 Year Old, Highland Park, Review, Scotch, Single Malt Whisky, Vking Scars, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: Highland Park 10 Years Old (Viking Scars)
The Rum Howler Blog 