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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

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Review: Black Fox Cucumber Gin #7

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 6, 2020

Black Fox Distillery (located at 245 Valley Road Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) was founded by John Cote and Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote, two third generation farmers who have farmed, studied, consulted and participated in agriculture on five different continents.

John told me that their distillery is a bit different from most of the others in the area as John and Barb ferment, distill and age all of their spirits right there at the distillery. According to John, in Saskatchewan approximately 90% of craft distilled products are coming from NGS (nuetral grain spirit) purchased from large manufactures. Black Fox Distillery is trying to show the world that there should be a bit more craft in craft spirits.

One of their craft spirits is Black Fox Cucumber Gin #7.

According to John:

Once you open the bottle you will understand how many cucumbers we have to pick to create this product.  We wanted to create a unique product that was very cucumber forward. The recipe also includes a bit of caraway to accentuate the flavours.  I mixes best with soda or even ginger ale (also makes a nice mojito).

The Cucumber Gin is bottled at 42 % abv, and here is a link to my full review:

Review: Black Fox Cucumber Gin #7

“… The spirit has a nice gin forward aroma with both juniper and coriander spice apparent in the breezes. And of course there is a very real cucumber taint within the air as well …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with one of John Cote’s serving suggestions, Cucumber Gin and Ginger Ale.

Chimo!

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Review: Rum Nation Ilha da Madeira 3 Year Old 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 4, 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 Ilha da Madeira 3 Year Old bottled at 42 % alcohol by Volume.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Rum Nation Ilha da Madeira 3 Year Old 

“… As the rhum breathes, I notice light floral character developing which seems to be connected with the herbal notes within the spirit. Banana, more green grape a light winding mint, and hints ginger and cinnamon round out the nose which is quite delightful …”

Please enjoy my review of this light nuanced rhum from Madeira.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 2, 2020

In 2018, to celebrate the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones; Johnnie Walker began to introduce a series of Game of Thrones themed whiskies. Included in this series was a range of eight single malts whiskies each representing a different house faction from the television series. These 2018 releases been followed by more releases in 2019 including Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire and Johnny Walker A Song of Ice which were inspired by the two of the remaining powerful houses of Westeros, House Stark (A song of Ice) and House Targaryen (A Song of Fire).

Johnnie Walker, A Song of Fire features the subtle smoke of peated malts from the Caol Ila distillery. The smoky flavours within the malt are an homage to the Dragons of House Targaryen. The whisky is labeled as a blend which means that although the Caol Ila Distillery is the featured single malt within the whisky, other whiskies both grain and single malt will also be included in the blend.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire

“… The breezes bring me some moderate ashy smoke with bits of tar and meaty notes of bacon and roast beef (I’m not kidding, even my wife noticed the bacon). Leathery notes follow as some of the whisky smells start to break free of the peat, and these are followed by peppery baking spices and caramelized brown sugar …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my serving suggestion, the Black Goat.

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Review: Johnnie Walker – A Song of Ice

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 1, 2020

In 2018, to celebrate the final season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series, Game of Thrones; Johnnie Walker began to introduce a series of Game of Thrones themed whiskies. Included in this series was a range of eight single malts whiskies each representing a different house faction from the television series. These 2018 releases been followed by more releases in 2019 including Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire and Johnny Walker A Song of Ice which were inspired by the two of the remaining powerful houses of Westeros, House Stark (A song of Ice) and House Targaryen (A Song of Fire).

Johnnie Walker, A Song of Ice features single malts from Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most northern distilleries. The crisp blend and the bottle design which evokes an icy setting with frosted blue and gray colors inspired by the North, known for its cold winters and frozen landscapes, and also known as the home of House Stark.. The whisky is labeled as a blend which means that although the Clynelish is the featured single malt within the whisky, other whiskies both grain and single malt will also be included in the blend.

Review: Johnnie Walker – A Song of Ice

“… I noticed familiar scents of butterscotch, vanilla and hints of oak and grain spice. There is a light fruitiness in the air as well with orange peel, soft banana and hints of dry fruit and perhaps a smattering of tea leaves.  I am not sure about this bu my sense is that some but not all of of the blend is sherry cask, and perhaps I am getting a faint wiff of herbal peat as well …”

Enjoy the review which conclude with my cocktail recommendation, Brienne’s Cocktail.

 

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Review: Sheringham Seaside Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 30, 2020

Sheringham Distillery is located in Sooke B.C., a locale which overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Southern Vancouver Island. The name ‘Sheringham” is an homage to the name original name given to the area in 1846. When the first postal service arrived and the first Post Office was built, the name Sheringham was shortened to ‘Shirley’ so that it would fit properly on the postage stamp. (The Distillery was originally located at Shirley B.C which is about 20 minutes north of Sooke.)

Sheringham Seaside Gin is produced from B.C. grown white wheat and malted barley, natural botanicals and sustainable hand-harvested local winged kelp (Alaria marginata). Named botanicals on the back of the bottle also include, juniper, Coriander, Citrus, Rose, Anise and Lavender. The spirit has won a string of awards, a Silver Medal at the San Fransisco Spirit Awards in 2017, a CASC Gold medal in 2018, and in 2019 at the World Gin Awards the spirit was named World’s Best Contemporary Gin.

I served Sheringham Seaside Gin at a tasting event I held for my friends, and some of the commentary included in the review includes their thoughts as well as my own.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Sheringham Seaside Gin

“… The Seaside gin was bringing a beautifully balanced aroma of juniper accented with bright citrus and spicy coriander into the air. There was a nice floral flair accompanying those olfactory sensations, and meandering within all of that was a light breezy quality that reminded everyone of the seashore perhaps even with a hint of salt …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my serving suggestion, The Lady of the Empire.

Chimo!

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