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

    • 15,526,663 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Review’

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #8 – Last Mountain Single Cask 100 % Wheat Whisky 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 15, 2019

The Last Mountain Distillery is Saskatchewan’s first micro distillery. It is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Colin and Meredith Schmidt. I have been following the Distillery ever since it opened in 2010. Last Mountain was in fact one of the very first Micro Distilleries to open its doors in Canada, and right from the very beginning the whisky they crafted caught my attention.

In my opinion their Single Cask 100 % Wheat whisky is one of the best spirits they have crafted to date. Wheat has a soft smooth flavour when distilled, and this characteristic make it an ideal grain for an overproof bottling where its subtle flavours can be given more expression.

Alas the Last Mountain spirits do not see much exposure outside of Saskatchewan, which is a real pity because the rest of the Country is missing out.

Review: Last Mountain Single Cask 100 % Wheat Whisky

“… The whisky brings all that flavour that the nose implied with lush butterscotch and milk chocolate flavours oozing out of the oak spice. The whisky was aged in a bourbon barrel and their certainly is a nice ribbon of corn whisky running through the spirit. Vanilla, baking spices, honeycomb and orange peel (and orange marmalade) join in the onrush …”

Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #8 – Last Mountain Single Cask 100 % Wheat Whisky 

24 Days of Rum (#15) – XM Royal 10 Years Rum (Trinidad)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 15, 2019

On the fifteenth day of my Advent, the navigation panel for my 24 Days Of Rum journey went bonkers, and it is hard to know exactly where I have landed. The plan was to go to Trinidad, yet I discovered that XM Royal 10 Years Rum which I was given is produced by DIH Banks who are located not in Trinidad, but in Georgetown, Guyana.

I guess an explanation is in order. You see, DIH Banks are better known for their beer than their rum, and part of the reason for this is that they do not actually distill rum, rather they source all of their spirit from outside Caribbean suppliers.

When I was sent a sample of the XM Royal 10 Years Rum by 1423 World Class Spirits as part of their 24 Days of Rum advent calendar, the information presented to me was that the rum was ultimately produced in Trinidad. However further research indicates that while Trinidad may be DIH Banks main source for rum, cane spirits from other localities (Barbados in particular) may also be within their rum blends. So I guess you could say we are getting a grand tour of the Caribbean as we sip on the XM Royal Spirit.

Here is a link to my tasting notes and scores for the No. 15 spirit in the 24 Days of Rum – The Original Rum Tasting Box:

Review: XM Royal 10 Years Rum (Trinidad)

“… The rum remains consistent with primary flavours of oak spice, butterscotch, vanilla and almond although perhaps I taste a hint of mustiness as the spirit breathes …”

Chimo!

Note: 24 Days of Rum – The Original Rum Tasting Box produced by 1423 World Class Spirits contains 24 handpicked rums from 24 different countries all over the world. It features an extraordinary opportunity to sample a wide variety of premium rums allowing you to hone in on the particular style which suits your palate. As indicated in my previously published review (here) This Rum Advent Calendar is a highly recommended gift for the rum enthusiast.

 

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on 24 Days of Rum (#15) – XM Royal 10 Years Rum (Trinidad)

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #9 – J.P. Wiser’s NHL Alumni Whiskies

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 14, 2019

A few years ago J.P. Wiser’s and the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA) got together to bring whisky fans something uniquely Canadian. One time edition Canadian whiskies which are each blended with the aim of containing characteristic links to specific NHLAA members for whom the blend is named.

I was recently sent three of the 2019 – 20 Edition Alumni Whiskies to review on my website, J.P. Wiser’s Mark Messier, Dave Keon, and Yvan Cournoyer, and if you follow my blog you will know that those reviews are just recently published.

I really enjoyed each of the the J.P. Wisers NHL Alumni Whiskies that I was able to sample. Although each whisky is unique in its own way, I nevertheless found an underlying theme of quality running throughout the line-up.

Here are links to the reviews of the 2019 Captain’s Line-up.

Note: As part of the partnership with the NHL Alumni, a potion of the sales are be donated to NHLAA to support their philanthropic causes.

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #9 – J.P. Wiser’s NHL Alumni Whiskies

24 Days of Rum (#14) – Takamaka – St. Andre (Seychelles)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 14, 2019

The Republic of Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1500 kilometers from the coast of East Africa. It is here that Takamaka Rum is produced in Au Cap on the Island of Mahé by the d’Offay brothers at the family’s historical La Plaine St André homestead.

Takamaka St. Andre is premium end of Takamaka’s range, named for La Plaine St Andre, their distillery and plantation. It is an 8 year Old Spirit matured in American Oak barrels.

Here is a link to my tasting notes and scores for the No. 14 spirit in the 24 Days of Rum – The Original Rum Tasting Box:

Review: Takamaka – St. Andre (8 Year Old Rum)

“… Oak spice, vanilla and butterscotch melded with almond and orange peel. Obvious notes of chocolate and a light imprint of tobacco. Coffee notes are subtle and do not disturb the well structured rum …”

Chimo!

Note: 24 Days of Rum – The Original Rum Tasting Box produced by 1423 World Class Spirits contains 24 handpicked rums from 24 different countries all over the world. It features an extraordinary opportunity to sample a wide variety of premium rums allowing you to hone in on the particular style which suits your palate. As indicated in my previously published review (here) This Rum Advent Calendar is a highly recommended gift for the rum enthusiast.

 

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on 24 Days of Rum (#14) – Takamaka – St. Andre (Seychelles)

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #10 – Canadian Club 20 Yr Old Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 13, 2019

Canadian Club was, as advertised, my father’s favourite whisky. He loved the brand, and whenever we had some sort of important occasion he insisted that the only whisky we could serve was Canadian Club. So when I began to review spirits, and began to earn my reputation, the one person I could never win over with my reviews was my Dad. He didn’t care what I wrote, or how popular my reviews were, if I didn’t say that Canadian Club was the best whisky in Canada, then I obviously didn’t know what I was talking about.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Canadian Club Whisky, In fact I like their entire range. But, I just didn’t share my Dad’s passion for the brand. Fortunately though, we did manage find some common ground. I brought him a bottle of the Canadian Club 20 Year Old. He loved it, and I loved it too. When we would have a glass together, he would mix his dram with ginger ale, and, just to make sure he didn’t think that I was trying to put on airs, I mixed my dram with ginger-ale too.

That summer, whenever I would pop over, we would share a glass together in the evening, mixed with ginger-ale of course. The memories I have of sharing that bottle with my Dad has placed the Canadian Club 20 Year Old well into my list of favourite Canadian Whiskies. And although Dad passed away several yeas ago, I still keep a bottle on hand. When the occasion suits me I have a small dram in the evening, sometimes neat, but usually mixed with ginger-ale to honour my Dad.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Canadian Club 20 Year Old Whisky

The whisky is smooth with oak spice and hints of sap melded nicely into the other flavours. There is also a smoky quality with dry fruit flavours of raisins and prunes holding the whisky together. A peppery rye note bobs up to the surface, and somewhere in the mix, and I taste dabs of nutmeg and cinnamon as well as a dash of Apricot Brandy. 

Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #10 – Canadian Club 20 Yr Old Whisky

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »