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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

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Review: Saddleback Maple Bacon Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 13, 2018

Saddleback Maple Bacon Whisky is produced by Proof Brands. The company currently produces whisky, rum and vodka all of which are bottled in unique stubby 500 ml bottles. The brands and the spirits are the creation of Michael Riley, a veteran of the alcohol beverage industry. Michael spent 5 years as the Director of Spirits for the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). He has also has worked with such brands as Crown Royal, Absolut, Captain Morgan, Chivas Regal and Molson Canadian.

This Little Piggy!

Proof Brand’s Maple Bacon Whisky was released in 2017, marking the 50th Anniversary of the British Saddleback Pig, which they claim is the world’s best hog for bacon. Michael blends his Proof Canadian Whisky(a blend of Canadian prairie rye and wheat which is distilled with pristine water from the Rockies) with natural maple syrup and bacon flavours.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Saddleback Maple Bacon Whisky

“… The initial aroma speaks loudly to the presence of maple, however there is also a light backdrop of wood spice. As I give the glass time to breathe I begin to glimpse the presence of the smoky bacon aroma. It is somewhat smothered by the overt maple, but hints of a light smoky bacon are evident …”

I hope everyone enjoys this review of this interesting new flavoured Whisky! For your added enjoyment I have included a nice cocktail suggestion, This Little Piggy!

Chimo!

 

 

 

Posted in Flavoured Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Saddleback Maple Bacon Whisky

Review: Berry’s Finest Panama Rum (Aged 11 Years)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 11, 2018

Berry Bros. & Rudd is one of London’s oldest Wine and Spirits Merchant with over 300 years of experience and tradition from which to draw upon. The company began its operation at 3 – St. James’s Street (in London, UK) in 1698, and still operates from that same location today. Although they are primarily merchants of wine, the company has a strong presence in the sale of distilled spirits as well. And in fact, this presence within the spirits industry had its beginnings approximately 100 years ago. (The Cutty Sark brand was developed by Berry Bros & Rudd in 1923.)

Today Berry Bros & Rudd acts as an independent bottler of Whisky, Cognac, Armagnac, and of course Rum. A few of their rum offerings are available in my locale, and I was able to obtain a sample of the 11 Year Old – Berrys’ Finest Panama Rum.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Berry’s Finest Panama Rum (Aged 11 Years)

“… The first sip brings rich flavours of vanilla and butterscotch forward which are accompanied by marzipan and fine wood spices. Ginger pops into the mind immediately as does cinnamon and orange peel. There is a light bitterness underneath which seems to be part of the light flavour of oak sap which runs through the rum. A distinct fruitiness is evident and my mind conjures up images of canned apricots and orange marmalade …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice recipe suggestion, the Aztec Rum Old Fashioned.

Chimo!

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Review: Courvoisier Cognac (VS)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 10, 2018

Baby Doll

We can trace the origins of Courvoisier Cognac to 1809 when Emmanuel Courvoisier began a small wine and spirits company with the Mayor of Bercy, Louis Gallois in the French suburb of Bercy (Paris, France). The company and its Cognac was soon to achieve fame as in 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte visited Bercy, and it is said, that after visiting this small suburb, Napoleon insisted that he wanted to have available a ration of cognac for his artillery companies during the Napoleonic Wars. And in fact, later (in 1869) Napoleon’s heir, Napoleon III stated a preference for Courvoisier and bestowed the honourable title of “Official Supplier to the Imperial Court” to the company, and this title remains on display at the Courvoisier Museum in Jarnac, France today.

In 1828, the company moved from Bercy into the Cognac region of France in the town of Jarnac. In 1909, the business was acquired by the Simon family (from England) but remained headquarters in the Cognac region. Today Courvoisier is owned by Beam Suntory, and its main business operations remain in the Cognac region of France, in the town of Jarnac, located on the banks of the Charente River.

Here is a link to my review of Courvoisier VS:

Review: Courvoisier Cognac (VS)

“… The initial aroma displays a combination of fine oak spice with woody cedar accents, some butterscotch toffee, hints of maple, bits of dried raisins, and some sweet sticky orange marmalade in the breezes. As I allowed the glass to sit for a while, the wooded sap-like scents of cedar seemed to dissipate and were replaced by light baking spice aromas (brown sugar, vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, and clove) reminding me a bit of the scents and smells from a glass of aged Demerara rum …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a nice cocktail suggestion, Baby Doll.

Chimo!

Posted in Brandy and Cognac Reviews, Cognac Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Courvoisier Cognac (VS)

Review: Pike Creek 21 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 9, 2018

Pike Creek 21 Year Old is part of Corby’s Northern Border Collection Rare Release which features hand-picked selections from their rarest casks. How rare are these whiskies? Corby’s doesn’t actually tell us much; however, it is significant that this particular 21-year-old whisky doesn’t even rate a mention on the Corby’s Brands website.

This particular whisky was first matured in oak casks (probably refill bourbon barrels) and then finished in refill bourbon casks which had been used to age an unspecified Speyside (Scotch) malt whisky. The final spirit was bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume.

My experience with this particular whisky is quite limited. As part of my juror duties for the 2018 Canadian Whisky Awards, I was given about 75 blind samples and as I judged each whisky (over the course of 30 days), I tasted them each three times, writing down tasting notes and scores as I did so. It was only after the judging was complete, and the awards were presented, that the contents of each of the blind samples became know to me. I still has a small amount of each whisky remaining after judging, and so with that small amount remaining and from the tasting notes I already had produced I penned my review.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Pike Creek 21 Year Old (Finished in Speyside Single Malt Casks)

“… The notes indicate a well-balanced Canadian Whisky which shows us some development in the glass as it breathes. I will admit, that when I discovered that this was a 21-year-old whisky I was surprised that the spirit had not shown me more …”

Please enjoy my review, Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Pike Creek 21 Year Old

Review: Herradura Reposado Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 7, 2018

The Herradura Tequila brand is owned by Brown-Froman. It is produced thirty miles from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, in the town of Amatitan, at the Brown – Forman Tequila Distillery Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.. Herradura is produced from agave grown in the lowlands. This is important to know, because lowland agave will usually bring more earthy/punky flavours through the distillation than highland agave which tends to bring more earthy fruit flavours through the distillation. The lowland character of the Herradura tequila was obvious during my tasting sessions and dealing with the strong earthy flavours of the spirit was particularly significant during cocktail construction.

The subject of this review, the Herradura Anejo is a true 100% Weber Blue agave tequila.According to the Brown-Forman website:

Herradura Reposado ages in the barrels for eleven months,  far longer than the two months which is required by law for this category. This gives the tequila its deep copper color. The Reposado category was created by Tequila Herradura in 1974.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Herradura Reposado Tequila

“… once we pour Herradura Reposado, our nose is immediately greeted with an intense, earthy, agave scent. Getting past the intensity of that earthy agave is difficult, but letting the glass rest for a few moments allows us to catch sweeter tones of caramel and to a lesser extent vanilla. The spiciness of red chili peppers and a hint of citrus seem to forward as well …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my cocktail recommendation, El Tranvia (the Mexican Sidecar).

Chimo!

 

Posted in Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Herradura Reposado Tequila

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