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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

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Review: LMD Spiced Rum (Flavoured Alcohol Beverage)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 27, 2018

Last Mountain Distillery is part of a small wave of Micro-Distillers which have began to appear on the Canadian landscape over the last few years. These are small ‘mom and pop’ operations which make their spirits in small batches usually only a barrel or two at a time. This particular distillery is located in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, and it is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Colin and Meredith Schmidt.

Last Mountain Distillery’s LMD Spiced Rum Flavoured Alcohol Beverage is produced from a blend of both aged and an un-aged cane spirits. It is flavoured with 5 different natural spices and Madagascar Vanilla. Although it is labelled as a ‘Rum Flavoured’ beverage, I must point out that if the spirit was produced (or sold) in the USA it could accurately be labelled as Spiced Rum. However, because it is being sold in Canada where the regulations concerning rum labeling are more stringent than in the USA, the spirit cannot be labelled as a Rum.

I suggest that those reading my review should bear in mind that many of the more famous spiced rums sold in the USA may actually have less aged rum in their make-up than does the LMD Spiced Rum Flavoured Alcohol Beverage.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: LMD Spiced Rum Flavoured Alcohol Beverage

“… The first sip brings a beguiling smoothness forward as the LMD Spiced brings a pleasant but light sweetness forward. Light flavours of vanilla and butterscotch are complemented by a firm (but not aggressive) spicy thrust. There is a light sense of earthiness and I receive mild impressions of both licorice and angelica root as well as perhaps a hint of a mineral content in the dram …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my serving suggestions, the Flying Machine, and the LMD Box Car.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: LMD Spiced Rum (Flavoured Alcohol Beverage)

Review: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 26, 2018

Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula

Cognac Ferrand is the result of a rare opportunity offered to a young man (Alexandre Gabriel) in 1989 by one of the oldest wine growing families in the Cognac region of France. According to Mr. Gabriel,

” I met a small Cognac producer who needed help selling his products to finish off his stock. This was Cognac Ferrand. I fell in love with the product and with the region. It all reminded me of what I grew up around. So when I was invited to become a partner and told that no one was going to continue if I didn’t, I just said….yes.”

Although that beginning may have seemed rather precarious to those on the outside, Alexandre made the most of his opportunity, and now Cognac Ferrand a well-respected producer with sales in more than 40 countries world-wide.

For Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac, Alexandre collected old bottles of cognac that were bottled at a young age and designed his Cognac based upon a particular bottle from 1840 replicating a style of cognac which had heretofore been lost.

The Heretic

In 1840, the appeal for Cognac was much more broadly based. Rather than being an after dinner indulgence consumed in a brandy snifter, those who consumed Cognac regularly mixed it with Seltzer water, and it was even the distilled spirit of choice for cocktails. Mr. Gabriel is convinced that bringing people back to the origins of cocktail culture through an original style cognac is a winning idea.

You may click on the following excerpt to read the full review:

Review: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac

“… Even before I put my nose to the glass, I could sense the clean scent of fresh green grapes climbing into the air above the glass. When I did place my nose over the glass to inspect the breezes, I received enticing aromas of oak spices which gave me and impressions of freshly sanded oak  and sandalwood. Hints of cinnamon stained the oak spices …”

Of course I could not help but follow Alexandre Gabriel’s lead and constructed a somewhat heretical cocktail using not only his wonderful cognac, but also a 20-year-old brandy at the conclusion of my review.

Please enjoy the review, and my fantastic cocktail suggestion, the Heretic!

Posted in Brandy and Cognac Reviews, Cognac Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original Formula Cognac

Review: Hundred Volt Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 25, 2018

The Highwood Distillery is the only large locally (Albertan) owned distillery in Canada. It sits in the heart of the High River community, producing more than 300,000 cases of bottled spirits per year. Although the bulk of their production goes towards Vodka, Flavoured Vodka, and Premixes, they also produce a sizable (and growing) amount of Canadian Whisky each year. I consider the whisky produced at their distillery to be a unique product unlike anything else on the Canadian whisky landscape (I also find it very tasty). What is so original about the Highwood Whisky is the batch process they employ (see here).

Highwood’s  Hundred Volt Whisky is produced from prairie grains (corn and rye) in a batch style distillation (the grains are distilled and aged separately). The different styles of whisky are aged 3 to 5 years in charred American white oak barrels (without the addition of additives), and when they are mature, they is blended to produce that distinctive Canadian ‘rye’ flavour profile consistent with Canadian Whisky. The Hundred Volt Whisky is bottled at 50 % alcohol by volume, (One Hundred Proof).

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Hundred Volt Canadian Whisky

“… The nose is just a touch astringent as the high alcohol proof shows itself in the breezes. A nice combination of soft butterscotch, vanilla and almond scents reveal themselves along with some fine oak spices which gives the whisky a dusty dry appealing quality. Light accents of orange peel, ginger and cigarette tobacco can be found within the oak spice …”

Please enjoy my review of this new Canadian Whisky from Highwood Distillers.

Chimo

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Cabrito Blanco Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 23, 2018

Cabrito is a Tequila Brand owned by the Phillips Distilling Co.. The agave spirit is produced by Tequila Centinela, S.A. de C.V. (Nom 1140). (This is the same distillery which produces Centinela Tequila). The distillery is located in the Arandas, Jalisco which is the main tequila production center in the Los Altos highlands.

Cabrito Blanco is produced from 100 %agave grown in the Los Altos highlands. Tequila produced from agave grown in the highlands typically exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and have a little squeal of hot pepper in the finish. The harvested agave is cooked in a stone oven. The cooked agave is shredded with a roller mil and the extracted juice is double distilled. The blanco spirit is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Cabrito Blanco Tequila

“… The flavour starts out lightly sweet with punky agave which is quickly followed by a squeal of peppery spice. I taste sweet impressions of cotton candy and vanilla; vegetal impressions of impressions of baked squash, plantain, and musty burlap; and peppery impressions of lime zest and black pepper …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a very nice variation of the Margarita, a serving I have named, Lexi’s Cocktail.

Chimo!

Posted in Blanco Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cabrito Blanco Tequila

Review: Park Distillery Glacier Rye

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 22, 2018

Park Distillery  is located in the town of Banff, Alberta. The facility is not just a distillery, it is also a Restaurant and bar which opened in May of 2015 shortly after the Provincial government introduced new regulations which allowed for Craft distilleries to operate. Located high in the Mountains of Banff Provincial Park, the Distillery proudly serves regionally produced food in its restaurant, and local (sourced from high-altitude family farms in the Alberta foothills) grains to produce their spirits.

Park Distillery Glacial Rye is produced on the distillery’s 600L Kothe Pot – Twin Column Hybrid Still. It is made from 100% Alberta Rye and glacial water which originated at six high glaciers in the Rocky Mountains. This water gains minerality as it travels across rich limestone deposits.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Park Distillery Glacier Rye

“… The nose is very interesting with scents of mushy banana and plantain rising alongside zesty citrus notes and fresh spicy rye grain. I also notice hints of baked squash and a very light astringency (which is expected when one examines unaged spirits).  All in all I am quite pleased …”

Please enjoy my review which contains the suggested servings, Back Country Tea, and the Johnson Canyon Smash.

Chimo!

Posted in Moonshine and New-make | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Review: Park Distillery Glacier Rye

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