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

    • 15,528,859 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Review’

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Review: Plantation Jamaica (2002) Vintage Edition

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 6, 2018

Cognac Ferrand has long had a special relationship with a variety of Caribbean rum producers which is based upon the rum producer’s need for quality oak casks to age their rum. Based upon this relationship, Cognac Ferrand is able to acquire certain old and unique batches of rum from various Caribbean sources, which they bring back to France and finish in their own warehouses and of course their own Cognac Casks.

Plantation Jamaica (2002) Vintage Edition was first aged in bourbon casks in tropical Jamaica after which it was transported to the Chateau de Bonbonnet in France, where it was aged for 3 more years in used 350 litre Pierre Ferrand Cognac casks to enhance the rum before it was bottled as part of Cognac Ferrand’s growing line-up of Vintage Plantation Rums.

Here is a link to my recently published review:

Review: Plantation Jamaica (2002) Vintage Edition

“… When I bring my glass to my nose I notice the characteristic aromatic esters and funk of the Jamaican Pot Still. I decide to wait a few minutes to let the air above the glass settle and then I begin again. The breezes are teaming with scents of butterscotch and peppery baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of nutmeg) …”

Please enjoy my review which now includes a wonderful mixed drink suggestion, 1878 Rum Cocktail.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: J.P. Wiser’s 35 Years Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 5, 2018

This past fall, I sampled and reviewed J.P. Wiser’s 35 Year Old Whisky. Unfortunately, within my bottle, I found a light taint of mold which I did not enjoy which I discussed in the review. To the credit of the brand owner, Corby’s, they approached me and wanted to get to the bottom of the problem. I was sent lab samples, a new bottle to replace the bottle which had the moldy taint, and they took back the moldy bottle to examine it in their own lab.

I of course tasted everything they sent me, and when I was a juror for the 2018 Canadian Whisky Awards, I sampled the spirit once again; this time in a blind format. None of my subsequent encounters with the new samples showed me any hint of the mold I had tasted in my original bottle. So after careful consideration, I have decided that my original bottle was a one-off, and a new review for the 35 Year Old Whisky was appropriate.

Here is a link to that new review:

Review: J.P. Wiser’s 35 Years Old Canadian Whisky

” … Initially the breezes above the glass brought me a combination of fine oak spices melded with scents of both corn and rye grain. Then some lovely deep smells of maple began to build with vanilla and lush baking spices (cinnamon, brown sugar, with hints of both nutmeg and cloves.) Nutty almond impressions began to give way to marzipan and alongside were fruity smells of canned apricots and marmalade …”

Please enjoy my review, Chimo!

 

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: J.P. Wiser’s 35 Years Old Canadian Whisky

Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old) Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 4, 2018

Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon is distilled and bottled at the Wild Turkey Distillery near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The company is a division of the Campari Group. Wild Turkey produces their bourbon from a mash bill which includes three grains: corn, barley, and rye. This mash bill is said to have a relatively high proportion of rye which gives the whiskey brand its signature spicy kick. Russell’s Reserve is an age stated bourbon brand produced by Wild Turkey. Like all Wild Turkey Bourbons the whiskey is aged in what the company refers to as their ‘famous #4 alligator char‘ American Oak barrels.

The Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume or 90 proof.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old)

“… The delivery brings a peppery bite of oak spice and alcohol along with it. As stated earlier, this is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume, so a bit of alcohol punch is not out of place. I taste bits of wood sap and oak spice. The initial sharpness is tempered by a light butterscotch as well as a firm flavour of vanilla and almond. Fruit flavours are present in the form of orange peel and canned apricots …”

I hope you enjoy my latest review.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old) Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Review: Corzo Anejo Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 2, 2018

Corzo is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila produced in Los Altos (the Highlands) of Jalisco, Mexico. Most tequila is double distilled however, Corzo Tequila is triple distilled with only a small center cut taken from each distillation. In fact this fine center cut requires the company to use twice as much agave to produce the tequila as would normally be used. After the second distillation, Corzo tequila is rested for 2 to 4 months in American white oak barrels. After the tequila has matured for this first amount of time the tequila is then distilled a third time. After the third distillation the tequila is then matured for a second period of time in French oak until it has reached the right properties to be bottled as Corzo Anejo Tequila.

Here is a link to my latest Tequila review:

Review: Corzo Anejo Tequila

“… The initial breezes above the glass brought me a nice mixture of light caramel, soft fruity agave, and spicy black pepper. Some herbal tones peaked through with a sense of mint and alfalfa hay. Some hints of chocolate and vanilla were apparent and a little oak spice and scattered tea leaves seem to swirl in the merry little breezes as well …”

Please enjoy my review.

Chimo!

Posted in Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Corzo Anejo Tequila

Review: Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 1, 2018

The 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 Prairie Cherry Whisky was launched in December 2014. It is produced by barrel aging the Last Mountain Wheat Whisky with organic sour cherries from Over The Hill Orchards in Lumsden Saskatchewan, and then lightly sweetened the spirit using organic sugar cane.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky

“… When I took my first sip, I found the spirit did not demonstrate nearly as much sweetness as the nose had indicated. The cherry flavour however, wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting the flavour of a nice ripe BC Cherry, whereas the Saskatchewan Prairie Cherry appears to have a somewhat different flavour. (The Saskatchewan Prairie Cherry were developed at the University of Saskatchewan to be suitably hardy for the cold Saskatchewan prairie winters. Although they are not necessarily sour as the name indicates,they do have a different taste characteristic than the BC Cherry.) I also felt that the underlying whisky seemed to be taking center stage with the flavour of the Saskatchewan Prairie Cherry playing a secondary role …”

Please enjoy my review, and my suggested recipe at the conclusion, the Prairie Cherry Cosmo.

Chimo!

Posted in Flavoured Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »