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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

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Review: Compass Distillers Gin Wild

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 13, 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.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Prairie Organic (Handcrafted) Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 12, 2020

Prairie Organic Spirits are produced and bottled by Ed Phillips and Sons located in Princeton, Minnesota. Each batch is distilled to taste, not a prescribed number of times, in small batches at Phillips Distilling Company.  According to the company website:

Every batch of our farm-crafted spirits begins as single vintage organic yellow corn grown on family farms. Our farmers grow organically so that our spirits are free of harmful chemicals and GMOs. Growing without herbicides and pesticides requires more time in the field, and more regulations and standards to uphold, but we’re not ones to compromise. From knowing our farmers to distilling every batch until it tastes just right …

In the case of the Prairie Organic Gin, we are given a glimpse of what to expect in terms of flavour as the website tells us to expect;

Bursts of herbs, sage, juniper and exotic spices, complementing a dry and refreshing taste with a long, delicate finish. It’s smooth from the ground up and easy going down.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Prairie Organic (Handcrafted) Gin

“… When I took my first sip, I noticed that there was a stronger push of juniper in the delivery than which was revealed by the nose. This juniper push is accompanied by a soft earthy bitterness which hinted at the presence of angelica and perhaps sage as well. Some anise, citrus peel and hints of cinnamon spice work their way into the flavour profile …”

Please enjoy my review which includes the serving suggestion, Gin and Lime.

Chimo!

 

 

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Review: By the Dutch Batavia Arrack (Rum)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 10, 2020

By The Dutch is a spirits company formed in 2015 with the goal to broaden the international awareness of traditional handcrafted and premium spirits of Dutch heritage. Their Batavia Arrack is an Indonesian Rum distilled on Java Island. Their Bativia Arrack is a 100 % sugar-cane based spirit produced from of a range of Pot distilled spirits. Traditionally, Bativia Arrack uses a fermentation process includes the addition of local (red) rice. This sets it apart from traditional Rum, and some jurisdictions refuse to allow Bativia Arrack to be labeled as rum even though the spirit is derived from sugar-cane.

By The Dutch Bativia Arrack has been produced in the traditional method, however, for the purpose of this review, I may refer to the spirit as both Batavia Arrack and as Indonesian Rum.

Here is a link to my recently expanded review:

Review: By the Dutch Batavia Arrack (Rum)

“… The nose is filled with oak spice and straw mingling with butterscotch, orange peel, and almond. I sense a light wisp of something vegetal which reminds me of cachaca. Ginger, banana coconut and melon all seemed to have joined in and the result is quite pleasing …”

Please enjoy my review.

Chimo!

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Review: Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt – Peated Release No. 12

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 8, 2020

In 2009, the folks at Yukon Brewing decided that it was time to expand their horizons, and so they grabbed a still, formed the Yukon Spirits Company, and began to make whisky. When I first learned about this a few years ago I was a little surprised. The Yukon is quite a ways north and it is not a place where you would naturally think of folks making beer, let alone whisky. Then again it just might have been the perfect place for both the start-up beer and spirits companies. You see up in the North, they like to support one another, and it wasn’t long before Yukon Brewing and Yukon Spirits were doing a nice business supplying northern communities.

Their whisky is made in small batches which they release one at a time. Each release is made with a variety of malted roasted grains, using different fermentation techniques and a mixes of different barrels. The goal is that no two releases are the same, so that as each expression emerges, it is layered and complex and probably never to be repeated. Having said that the releases can normally be slotted to fit into one of four specific categories: Classic, Peated, Special Finishes, and Innovative.

A few years ago I reviewed  Yukon Brewers Peated Single Malt Release No. 3 (here). Today I am revisiting their Peated Releases by taking a look at their recent Peated Release No. 12.

Here is a link to my review:

Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt – Peated Release No. 12

“… The style of peat features an oily muskiness which almost reminds me of cod liver oil. A damp swamp is hinted at with boggy willow and herbal grass. It is nice that the malt whisky within the dram is able to break free and show us some of its grain spice and malt characteristics in the breezes as well …”

Please enjoy my review.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt – Peated Release No. 12

Review: Beefeater London Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 5, 2020

Beefeater London Dry Gin is currently produced in Kennington, a district of South East London, in the United Kingdom. The company has roots stretching back to 1820 when the Chelsea Distillery was constructed on Cale Street and served as the first home for Beefeater Gin. The founder of the company, James Burrough, was not born until 1835, and it was not until about 1876 that the Beefeater brand was created from gin produced at the Chelsea Distillery. Over time the brand has changed locations twice, first in 1908 to Hutton Road, and then in 1958 to its present location in Kennington.

The Beefeater Gin website lists nine ingredients which are used to flavour the gin: Juniper, Lemon Peel, Seville Orange Peel, Almonds, Orris Root, Coriander Seed, Angelica Seed, Angelica Root, and Licorice Root. The list classic ingredients for a typical London Dry Gin.

In Canada, the Beefeater spirit is sold at 40 % abv.. Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Beefeater London Dry Gin

“… As I sniff the glass I get the impression that I am going to find the Beefeater Gin to be a very laid back and gentle spirit. Soft piny notes of juniper and earthy notes of licorice arise beside fresh scents of orange and lemon zest. A touch of coriander spiciness is present as well …”

Please enjoy my fresh look at Beefeater London Dry Gin, which concluded with my suggested cocktail the Beefeater, Lime and Tonic (The BLT).

Chimo!

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