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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

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Review: No 3 London Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 6, 2020

Berry Bros. & Rudd is London’s oldest wine and spirits merchant with over 300 years of experience and tradition to draw on. Use this expertise and a team of spirits experts they created No. 3 London Dry Gin. The recipe is based upon three fruits and three spices, and to those I shall speak to in the review. However, I shall say as a bit of foreshadowing, that sometimes artistry can be found in simplicity.

I first sampled the No. 3 Gin at a store called Lacombe Park Spirits in St. Albert, Alberta. I had come to know the proprietors, Karim and his brother Jeff, quite well over the past couple of years, and when Karim discovered that I was about to venture into a series of Gin reviews he insisted that I try one of his favourites.

I was convinced after one sip that this was a gin which I wanted to review, and after contacting the website for No. 3 London Dry Gin, Berry Brothers & Rudd, arranged for me to receive a bottle sample. This was the start of my love affair with No. 3 London Dry Gin. It’s been about nine years since that original review and I have returned to No. 3 Gin a few times already to re-taste and update my findings.

The quality is always present and it remains one of the best gins I have tasted.

Review: No 3 London Dry Gin

“… Juniper leads out strongly into the mouth and can knock the taste-buds for a loop if you grab too much at a time. Although the juniper is firm and unrelenting upon the palate, the other botanicals each leave their mark as well. A lightly sweet orange flavour tends to soften the juniper. The angelica root gives the gin an earthy quality which is no doubt strengthened by an herbal and pungent cardamom. A peppery spiciness is carried forward by the grapefruit and orange peel and this spiciness is strengthened by the cardamom and coriander spices …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with two cocktail suggestions, Leo Engels’ 1878 Gin Cocktail. and the No. 3 Classic Martini.

Chimo!

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Review: Alberta Premium 20 Year Old Canadian Whisky 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 4, 2020

Alberta Premium is a brand of Canadian Whisky made in Calgary, by Alberta Distillers Ltd. (owned by Beam-Suntory). The Whisky was released in the fall of 2019 along with a companion release Alberta Premium Cask Strength (reviewed here). Alberta Distillers own the oldest distillery in Western Canada. The distillery is famous for its rich 100 % rye grain whiskies which are bottled under the Alberta Premium label. They also sell bulk 100 % rye whisky to other brand owners.

As indicated Alberta Premium is famous for its 100% rye grain whisky, although it should be pointed out that the brand has also featured releases such as Dark Horse which were not made from 100% rye grain. In the case of the Alberta Premium 20 Year Old, the grain blend is not disclosed on the label. Rather than stating unequivocally that the whisky is a 100 % rye grain whisky, the label instead makes the statement that the whisky is Canadian Rye Whisky, and the display box the whisky arrives in states that it is 100 % Canadian Rye Whisky. I might be splitting hairs here, but terminology is important. All Canadian whisky which features a rye forward flavour profile can properly be called Canadian Rye Whisky whether or not rye grain is the dominant grain, and stating that a whisky is 100 % Canadian Rye Whisky is not the same thing as stating that the whisky is 100% Rye Grain Canadian Whisky.

Unless it is specifically indicated in an unequivocal manner, I think it is best to assume that Alberta Premium 20 Year Old is a blended grain whisky.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Alberta Premium 20 Year Old Canadian Whisky 

“… I began to notice the rye and fine oak spice building now accompanied by lots of dusty grain and straw. Sour fruit and canned apricots begin to unravel from the rye and I also notice a lightly floral or perhaps herbal flair with hints of mint, licorice, and citrus followed by punky caramel corn, leather and pungent baking spices …”

Please enjoy my review of this new whisky from Alberta Premium.

Chimo!

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Review: Barceló Añejo Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 2, 2020

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 20 countries.

According to the USA Ron Barcelo website the anejo rum is:

A refined blend of superior rums patiently aged in oak barrels. A refined blend of superior rums patiently aged in oak barrels. Supreme quality worthy of the noblest Dominican tradition.

Ron Barceló rum is distilled from fermented molasses, and bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my full review with complete tasting notes:

Review: Barceló Añejo Rum

“… The rum is light bodied and lightly complex. A light butterscotch sweetness is wrapped in almond and vanilla with banana and orange peel and hints of treacle. There is also an overt grassy quality with hints of tobacco and menthol. There is a light bitterness running through the rum, which is offset by the light sweetness of butterscotch …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my new serving, The Runner.

Chimo!

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Review: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 30, 2020

The Botanist is the creation of Bruichladdich Master Distiller, Jim McEwan who in 2010 oversaw the installation of the lastauthentic Lomond still (recovered during the demolition of Inverleven distillery in Dumbarton) at Bruichladdich and, following modifications by McEwan, he began to produce his Islay dry gin in 2011.

The Botanist is produced upon the Lomond Still in a distillation process which lasts 17 hours. During the final distillation, the core botanicals are placed into the pot of the still in a particular order after the distillate has been raised to a hand hot temperature. These core botanicals (I believe there are 9 in all) are steeped in the hot distillate for 12 hours before distillation begins. Interestingly, in addition to the core botanicals, the gin also uses 22 unique Islay botanicals which have been gathered by hand from the hills and valleys which surround the distillery. These Island botanicals are placed in loosely woven muslin sacks and then into a casket within the lyne arm of the Lomond still where the vapours of the distillation will run through them near the end of the distillation process bringing a unique Islay character to the Botanist Gin.

It is now several years my initial review for The Botanist, and it is time for a fresh look at the spirit to see if it has maintained its high quality.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

“… Although the juniper is firm, as the glass rests, the breezes above the glass fill with the subtle nuances of the other botanicals. Ginger-like spices tickle the nose along with hints of spicy cinnamon and cardamom. A light impression of mojito mint weaves its way into the breezes …”

Please enjoy my review of this outstanding dry gin.

Chimo!

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Review: Gin Royal (Compass Distillers) 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 28, 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.

Compass Distillers Gin Royal gives recognition to the to the bees who are required to pollinate more than half of the botanicals used in gin. They make the point that without bees, there in fact would be no gin. Their royal blue spirit is distilled from Nova Scotian wheat with both classic and contemporary gin botanicals. The spirit derives its deep blue colour from an infusion of butterfly pea blossom. Before the gin is finished, it is given a light sweetness with local honey and royal jelly. Botanicals used to produce Gin Wild include juniper, orange, lemon, coriander, pepper, angelica root, orris root, cassia, local honey, royal jelly and butterfly pea blossom.

In order to protect the bees that make their gin possible, Compass Distillers promises that one dollar from every bottle sold will be donated to the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association to assist in their efforts to promote bee health and sustainable beekeeping.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Gin Royal (Compass Distillers) 

“… I notice a piny juniper aroma chased by somewhat peppery spices as well as coriander and citrus zest. There are hints of orange liqueur, lemon and honey in the air as well as very lightly perfumed florals (blue iris and violets). I am happy that the perfumed quality is kept in check, so as not to overpower the other botanicals …”

Please enjoy my review which includes two suggested servings, Gin and Elderflower Tonic and The Royal Lady.

Chimo!

 

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