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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

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Review: North of 7 Canadian Whisky (95 % Rye)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 6, 2018

Greg Lipin and Jody Miall are both avid rock climbers who regularly travel to Kentucky on climbing trips. It was there that the two friends developed a passion for ‘brown spirits’ which led them to opening their own Micro-distillery (North of 7) in Ottawa, Ontario. They currently produce several styles of Canadian Whisky, two versions of dark rum, as well as both gin and vodka.

The subject of this review is the North of 7 Single Barrel Canadian Whisky from Barrel Number 10, which is produced from a 95 % Rye Mashbill. The whisky was aged in for a minimum of 3 years in a specially toasted 53 gallon oak barrels from Independent Stave Company.

This is a true locally produced whisky as all of the grain used by the distillery is sourced locally from the  Moulin St.-Georges Mill (corn from the Alexandria area) and the Against the Grain farm in Winchester.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: North of 7 Canadian Whisky (95 % Rye)

“… The breezes above the glass brought me a nice mixture of maple, cedar, and rye grain the combination of which reminded me of graham wafers. As I let the glass breathe, baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon and hints of nutmeg) and tobacco seemed to unravel themselves from the oak and cedar spices. I notice some fruitiness in the air in the form of marmalade and canned apricots. Hints of marzipan rounds out the nose …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with recipe suggestion which combines North of 7’s Single Barrel Whisky with their wonderful Leatherback Rum.

Chimo!

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Review: Mezcal Jaral de Berrio Review:

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 4, 2018

Mezcal Jaral de Berrio is produced at the Hacienda del Jaral de Berrio. The Hacienda is located in the historic borough of San Felipe Torres Mochas, Guanajuato with origins that date back to the late 16th century. According to bibliographic data and historical stock inventories, production of mezcal at the site can be dated to 1764 when it was then known as aguardiente criollo del Jaral.

According to the Jaral de Berrio website:

The family of Mezcales de la Hacienda de Jaral de Berrio is one of the most emblematic among the Mezcal world due to its historical background.

Mezcal Jaral de Berrio is bottled with no aging and is classified (according to the company website) as a Joven spirit (see here for information about Mescal Categories and Classifications).

You may read my full review here:

Review: Mezcal Jaral de Berrio (Joven)

“… When the glass is given some time to breathe, the lightly vegetal agave notes become more distinctive. The breezes bring me impressions of mushy banana, grilled pineapple and a growing impression of white pepper and cilantro. Although I said the impressions were more distinctive, it would be true to say that the overall effect is mild …”

Please enjoy my review and cocktail suggestion, Pompadour.

Chimo!

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Review: Canadian Club 40 Year Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 3, 2018

This past holiday season, a new Canadian whisky was on the wish lists of Canadian Club fans. After 40 years of resting in American oak barrels in Windsor, Ontario, Canadian Club released Canadian Club 40 Year Old, its oldest age expression released to date, and possibly the oldest in Canadian whisky history.

According to Rob Tucker, Senior Brand Manager, Canadian & American Whiskies at Beam Suntory:

“With 160 years of great whisky making, Canadian Club’s numerous gold medal awards won in recent spirit competitions, and with our storied past as the preeminent club whisky in speakeasies which were known for stylish, stirring times, and a little mischief in mixed company, it only makes sense that a historic brand like Canadian Club gets to treat Canadians with such a delicious one-of-a-kind whisky like Canadian Club 40 Year Old,”

 

According to my sources, Canadian Club 40 Year Old was produced from a selection of American Oak barrels which contained 100% corn whisky. These barrels had been consolidated many times over the course of 40 years to minimize the oxidation of the spirit during its lengthy maturation period. The whisky has been released in part to commemorate Canada’s 150 Anniversary, and was available with full distribution across Canada as of Mid November in limited quantities.

According to my sources, the whisky is still available at select locations across Canada.

Here is a link to my recent review:

Review: Canadian Club 40 Year Canadian Whisky 

” … The aroma in the breezes above the glass offers no disappointment. My immediate reaction was Yumm! The breezes brought forth a combination of butterscotch, oak and vanilla which was melded into a luscious toffee. After a few minutes I began to notice a welling up of fresh corn underlain with firm impressions of tobacco and hints of burlap …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

 

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Review: Ron Zacapa Ambar 12 Solera

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 1, 2018

Ron Zacapa rums are made from sugar cane harvested in southern Guatemala, which is pressed into virgin sugar cane honey. The fermentation process uses a yeast strain isolated from pineapples to transform sugars within the cane honey into alcohol. After fermentation, the fermented ‘wine’ is distilled in a single continuous column. (A distillation by-product called vinasse which contains the fermented must, yeast and other non-fermentable products which are rich in sugars and minerals is recycled and used to nourish and irrigate the Guatemalan sugar cane fields.)

Zacapa rums are matured using a complicated process they call ‘Sistema Solero’. The subject of my review, Ron Zacapa Ambar 12, is produced from rums which range in age from 4 years to 12 years. The combination of high altitude aging and the variety of reused oak barrels creates a complex rum with a rich aroma and flavour. This rum is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume, and available through the duty-free trade (at major airports).

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Ron Zacapa Ambar 12 Solera

“… The rum has a light mouthfeel with flavours of butterscotch and vanilla mingling with wood spices. Orange peel, almond and cinnamon round out the initial flavour impressions which are a firm reflection of the nose. I allowed the rum to breathe for several minutes to see if the flavour would develop further. I was rewarded with a deepening of the wood spices as well as a movement of the flavours of orange peel and almond towards marmalade and marzipan …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my suggested serving, the 8 P.M. Daiquiri.

Chimo!

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Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 30, 2018

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, distilled and bottled at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in  Versailles Kentucky. The folks at Woodford Reserve pride themselves in the manufacture of what they call ‘craft whiskeys’. The Kentucky distillery is apparently located over top of a deep limestone aquifer which contains mineral rich (iron free) limestone water. The fermentation tanks are constructed from cypress which (according to the folks at Woodford Reserve) helps to eliminate unwanted flavours which could arise in a stainless steel fermentation tank. The wash is distilled three times on copper pots stills to a full 158 proof, and the resulting new make is barreled in freshly charred new oak barrels prepared by the distillers own cooperage. The spirit is set down to mature in a temperature controlled warehouse where it is carefully monitored to be bottled when the right flavour characteristic has been achieved.

In the case of the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon undergoes a two barreled maturation process. The first portion of the maturation is in what the distillery calls a custom crafted barrel, and the second portion of the maturation is in a deeply toasted (but lightly charred) barrel which imparts a second amount of oak character to their whiskey.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

“… What began as orange peel and oak spice moves towards marmalade. Almond scents move with the vanilla to marzipan, and rich dark fruits (raisins and cherries) have come forward with obvious impressions of dark tobacco and less obvious impressions of bittersweet chocolate. The scents and smells are so good that it is hard to stop myself from stealing a sip (oops I just did) …”

Please enjoy the review and my cocktail suggestion at the conclusion.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

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