Posts Tagged ‘Review’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 17, 2015
Monument Valley Distillers call themselves artisan distillers who craft small batches of bourbon, whiskey and brandy. The genesis for the company was a conversation over dinner between founders Ethan Wayne, (son of the epic movie actor, John Wayne) and Jayson Woodbridge and Chris Radomski (vintners of Hundred Acre Wines) in Calistoga, California. The company they created as a result of that conversation (Monument Valley Distillers) is based in California, and it spawned DUKE Spirits which is now tasked with preserving the legacy of Ethan’s father, John Wayne, by creating authentic products bearing his name.
DUKE* Kentucky Straight Bourbon is distilled in Lawrenceburg Kentucky, and (again according to the website information) is blended from small batches of hand crafted five to ten year old whiskeys which have been aged in new heavily charred American Oak barrels. The resulting bourbon whiskey is bottled at 44 % alcohol by volume.
You may read my full review here:
“… When I returned to the glass, light butterscotch aromas and bits of vanilla had revealed themselves; however, a sort of peppery grassy aroma of green tobacco was still dominating the breezes. There was also some spicy orange citrus peel and a few almond scents …”
Please enjoy the review!
Chimo!
Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Bourbon, Duke, DUKE Spirits, DUKE* Kentucky Straight Bourbon, John Wayne, Monument Valley Distillers, Review, Whiskey | Comments Off on Review: Duke* Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 14, 2015
Gilbey’s Gin is owned by spirits conglomerate Diageo; but it is produced and sold under its current license by Beam Suntory. The Beam Suntory website does not contain extensive information regarding Gilbey’s; however I did find this statement which describes its production:
“In making a fine London Dry Gin such as Gilbey’s, the fermentation process is similar to whiskey production. The fundamental difference is that the congeners, the natural taste elements that are so necessary to Bourbon and Scotch are absent. Instead, gin’s flavor is introduced to the alcohol when it is in a vaporous form and made to pass through a “filter” of juniper berries, herbs and spices.”
Here is a link to my full review:
“… I discovered a very traditional gin profile with firm juniper aromas leading out in front of lightly sweet citrus scents of orange and lemon. There are some fine spices in the breezes which remind me coriander, ginger and cardamon, as well as some floral accents resembling lilacs and white lilies …”
Please enjoy my review which includes two nice recipe suggestions, Gilbey’s and Tonic, and a Vesper Cocktail.
Chimo!
Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: Cocktails, Gilbey's, Gin, Gin and Tonic, London Dry Gin, Review, Vesper | 2 Comments »
Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 12, 2015
Centennial Limited Edition Canadian Whisky is produced by Alberta’s own Highwood Distillers. It has quietly replaced Highwood’s former Centennial 10 Year Old Canadian Whisky (see review here) as the flagship brand of their Centennial Lineup. The Centennial brand is unique in Canada as rather than using corn as the base grain for this whisky, Centennial uses soft Canadian winter wheat and rye This gives the Centennial brand a smooth and soft flavour profile which I have found is unlike any other Canadian whisky. In fact, using grains grown exclusively on the Canadian prairies, distilling the grain in their home Province of Alberta, and aging the spirit in the severe Western Canadian climate makes Centennial is a Whisky unlike any other in the world.
Centennial Limited Edition features no age statement which makes it different from the Centennial 10 Year Old Whisky which used to carry the flag for the brand. When I asked the folks at the distillery I was told that the Centennial brand had reached a point of popularity such that Highwood could no longer meet the demand for their 10 Year Old whisky across the country. This meant that the distiller was faced with two choices. They could either raise the price to temper demand (and annoy their loyal customers), or they could create a new flagship Centennial Whisky (the Limited Edition) which they could produce in sufficient quantity to meet the new demand across Canada. They chose the second course, although they are hoping this new blend is met with the same enthusiasm as the previous blend.
Here is a link to the full review:
“… I let the glass sit for a while, and noticed that the rye grain was joined by wood spices and these spicy accents seem to grow in the breezes. I also notice a light almost bitter astringency in the air which seems to be related to the building rye spice. As the glass continues to decant, some dry grassy tobacco comes to the fore and a light fruitiness is evolving from the rye which is also filling the air with light scents of ginger …”
Please enjoy the review which concludes with a nice recipe suggestion, the Canadian Whisky Splash!
Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Centennial, Highwood Distillers, Limited Edition, Review, Whisky, Whisky Splash | Comments Off on Review: Centennial Limited Edition Canadian Whisky (NAS)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 10, 2015
Satsuma Daiquiri
Louisiana Spirits was formed in 2011 with the stated aim to produce a world-class rum in Lacassine, Louisiana from Louisiana sugarcane. By 2013 their distillery located a few miles east of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was producing a craft rum in what they call the largest privately owned rum distillery in the USA. Currently three rums are produced (a spiced, a flavoured, and a white rum) which have made their way into the Alberta market via Lifford Wines who distribute and market the spirit here in my home Province of Alberta.
Their Satsuma Rum Liqueur is flavored with Satsuma juice. For those who do not know, the Satsuma orange is a Mandarin-style orange imported into the United States originally from the former Satsuma Province in Japan. According to the website information, the folks at Louisiana Spirits started mixing this Satsuma juice with their Bayou Rum during the last Satsuma harvest in Louisiana. Apparently the taste was so good that they decided to produce a Rum liqueur based upon the Satsuma Orange.
Here is a link to my full review:
“… When I bring the rum liqueur to my nose, the aroma drifting into the breezes reminds me of a mixture of fresh tangerines and orange Kool-aid. Those scents rise alongside a sweetness which is quite intense and I understand why the producers decided to call their spirit a ‘liqueur’ which implies more sweetness than a ‘flavoured rum’. …”
Please enjoy my review which includes my new recipe, the Satsuma Daiquiri.
Have a great day everyone!
Posted in Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Flavoured Rum, Liqueur, Review, Rum, Satsuma | Comments Off on Review: Satsuma Rum Liqueur
Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 27, 2015
Shellback Rum is a new brand developed by E & J Gallo (the California Winemaker), and it is sold in various North American Markets including here in Alberta. Although the back of my bottle says IMPORTED & BOTTLED BY GRANDE ANTILLES CANE SPIRITS, MODESTO, CA, I have learned that the rum inside the bottle was distilled at the West Indies Refinery at Brighton, Black Rock, St. Michael, Barbados. This distillery is today more commonly known as the West Indies Distillery, and is the same facility which produces both the Cockspur and the Malibu rum brands.
Shellback Caribbean Silver Rum has been aged for 12 months in American Oak barrels before being filtered clear and bottled.
You may read my full review which includes my new Trifecta cocktail here:
“… I noticed that it (Shellback Silver Rum) has a candy-like aroma filled with tropical fruit smells which lie alongside a rummy butterscotch, and firm vanilla scents. Underneath the more obvious rum-like scents is a mild mineral scent of sand and loose gravel …”
Please enjoy the new review and stay tuned on Friday when I reveal the Best Blanco Tequila for making Margaritas this summer.
Chimo!
Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: Bajan Rum, Black Rock Distillery, Cocktails, Review, Rum, Shellback, Silver Rum, Trifecta, West Indies Distillery, West indies Refinery, White Rum | Comments Off on Review: Shellback Caribbean Silver Rum
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