The Rum Howler Blog

(A Website for Spirited Reviews)

  • Copyright

    Copyright is inherent when an original work is created. This means that the producer of original work is automatically granted copyright protection. This copyright protection not only exists in North America, but extends to other countries as well. Thus, all of the work produced on this blog is protected by copyright, including all of the pictures and all of the articles. These original works may not be copied or reused in any way whatsoever without the permission of the author, Chip Dykstra.

  • Cocktails and Recipes

    Click Image for Awesome Recipes

  • Industry Interviews

    Interviews

    Click the Image for Great Interviews with the Movers of Industry

  • The Rum Howler Interview (Good Food Revolution)

    Click on the Image to see my interview on Good Food Revolution

  • The Rum Howler Blog

    Unknown's avatar

  • Rum Reviews

  • Whisky Reviews

  • Gin Reviews

  • Tequila Reviews

  • Vodka Reviews

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 1,092 other subscribers

  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,518,104 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Review’

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 28, 2020

Johnnie Walker is one of the most iconic whisky brands in the world. With its unique square bottle, and the labels tilted off-center, the company has created a strong brand image and its spirit is considered by many to be the quintessential Scottish whisky. The company has been operating since 1820, and has grown steadily to become one of the most important Scottish whisky brands in the world today.

According to my research, Johnnie Walker Red Label has undergone a small change recently. When I published my last review in 2017 it was advertised as containing up to 35 grain and malt whiskies. Today (December 2020) the Johnnie Walker Website has this to say about its iconic blend:

Johnnie Walker Red Label is a powerful mix of up to 30 malts and grains. It’s a combination of light whiskies from Scotland’s East Coast and more peaty whiskies from the West, expertly balanced to create an extraordinary depth of flavour.

With up to 5 grain and malt whiskies no longer in the blend, it could be that we may notice some small changes in the flavour profile, so I thought an updated review might be appropriate.

Here is a link to the new review:

Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch Whisky

“… The initial aroma which rises into the breezes above the glass moderately complex with grain and fine oak spices accompanied by a light sweetness of butterscotch and hints of almond. There is a touch of boggy peat in the air and herbal notes which remind me of heather and menthol …”

Interestingly, my scoring indicates that I like the Red label blend just a little bit more than before.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Review: Dictador 12 Year Aged Solera Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 21, 2020

Dictador Rums are produced in Colombia on the Caribbean coast at Cartagena de Indias City. Rather than being produced from molasses, the rum is produced from the virgin honey of sugar cane which has been distilled upon a stainless steel alembic, and aged using Dicatador’s unique take on the solera-style aging system. Although the rum is produced upon a stainless steel alembic, the inner workings of this still contain more than enough copper such that it functions in basically the same manner as a copper pot still.

The Dictador 12 Year Old Rum, is a solera aged rum which is taken from the aging barrels at the point where the age of the rum within that solera row is at least 12 years of age.  Some older rum is certainly within those barrels as well.) This rum is bottle at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my updated review based upon my most recent tastings this December:

Review: Dictador 12 Year Aged Solera Rum

“… The nose is very pleasant, full of rich baking spices which include a brown sugary toffee rising from the glass as well as cinnamon, and vanilla. There is a light accent of marzipan which reminds me of toasted almonds and charred marshmallow. I also sense fresh and dry fruit and a complex oak profile …”

Please enjoy my updated review.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Dictador 12 Year Aged Solera Rum

Review: Rum Nation Demerara Solera N° 14

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 20, 2020

Rum Nation is an Italian company created by Fabio Rossi, who began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied winemaking). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum and in 1999 Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation. His company is headquartered in Italy; but Fabio purchases select rums from various distillers in the Caribbean and the Americas. As a result Rum Nation provides a rather unique assortment of rare limited edition rum bottlings.

One such bottling is Rum Nation Demerara Solera N° 14 which I first tasted and reviewed 2013. However, as this rum expression was part of the 2020 – 24 Days of Rum Advent Calendar, I was able to taste a sample from the newer 2017 release. So I have taken this opportunity to update the review with new bottle shots and tasting notes.

Here is a link to the updated review:

Review: Rum Nation Demerara Solera N° 14

“… Demerara Solera No. 14 is heated/spicy in the mouth with wood spices combined with baking spices (cinnamon and clove), tobacco and zesty orange peel. I taste hints of raw oak/wood as well.  Semi sweet molasses and vanilla temper the spicy flavour. As I sip a little more, I receive impressions of canned peaches and apricots as well …”

Please enjoy the updated review.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 4 Comments »

Review: Compass Distillers Gin Wild

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 19, 2020

Compass Distillers is located in Halifax Nova Scotia, where Graham, Josh, and David began their distilling journey with a belief that they could create world-class spirits locally. Their artisan Craft Spirits are not imported, they are not blended with generic ingredients, nor are they pumped out of a factory; Rather, they are made from scratch, with locally sourced ingredients.

Gin Wild is Compass Distillers version of a classic gin with a Nova Scotian twist. Constructed from a base spirit of 100% Nova Scotian wheat, the gin is distilled with a blend of classic gin botanicals,with wild Nova Scotian juniper given the starring role. This juniper is handpicked from the rocky barrens of the Nova Scotia coastline. The rugged shores and climate impart a strong character to the berry. Other botanicals include orange, lemon, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, cilantro & ginger.

Here is a link to my latest gin review:

Review: Compass Distillers Gin Wild

“… The nose translates extremely well across the palate as we do indeed have a bit of an edge on the juniper and with firm peppery spices (coriander and hints of ginger) chasing. Orange and lemon flavours play underneath softening the flavour just a little and bringing balance. Hill side florals trail merrily along …”

Please enjoy my review which includes two serving suggestion, the Red Lion, and the March Lion.

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Compass Distillers Gin Wild

Review: Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 19, 2020

Fabio Rossi began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied winemaking). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum and in 1999, Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation and a few years later Ron Millonario. The parent company of each brand (Rossi and Rossi S.R.I.) is headquartered in Italy. Although the parent company of the Ron Millonario brand is Italian, the rums of Ron Millonario are produced in Northern Peru.

The subject of this review, Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial, is produced from a 4 stage Solera process with the final stage bringing the oldest rum in the blend to 15 years. (Based upon the information sent to me by the brand owner, the youngest rum in the blend would 8 years.) The rum is bottled in Peru at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial 

“… Ron Millonario 15 is a full flavoured rum which features impressions of burnt caramel (treacle), licorice laced molasses, dry fruit, wood spice, marmalade, pungent baking spices (cinnamon, cloves and allspice), dribbles of coffee and chocolate and rich tobacco …”

Please enjoy the review which has been updated based upon a recent revisit to the brand.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum Reviews, Rum | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »