Posts Tagged ‘Rum howler’
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 17, 2017
Zaya Gran Reserva Rum is a brand currently owned by Infinium Spirits. This rum brand was originally distilled and aged in Guatemala, but in 2008, Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala entered into a distribution arrangement with the Diageo spirits conglomerate which elevated some local brands such as Zacapa Rum, but which left other Guatemalan brands like Zaya without a similar arrangement. Because the Zaya brand was gaining a lot of momentum as a luxury sipping rum, the manufacture of Zaya was moved to Trinidad and Tobago where it is now produced by Trinidad Distillers Ltd.
Zaya Gran Reserva is apparently constructed from a secret recipe of several well aged rums to meet a specific taste profile which is very similar to the original Guatemalan rum. All of the rums in the Zaya blend are aged for a minimum of 12 years in small oak casks.
Here is a link to my recently re-scored review of the number 66 rum of 2017:
“… rich vanilla, oak spice and pipe tobacco leading out into the air above the glass. Sweet caramel winds through the breezes, and I seem to catch accents of dry fruit, marmalade, marzipan and banana peel … “
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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.
Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:
The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.
Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: #Top100rums, 2017, Gran Reserva, Review, Rum, Rum howler, Top 100 Rums, Zaya | Comments Off on #Top100Rums of 2017: #66 Zaya Gran Reserva
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 16, 2017
Old Monk is an aged dark rum produced by Mohan Meakin Limited in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. According to the information I received from the importer, the Gold Reserve 12 Year Blended Rum is a molasses distilled rum, aged for a minimum of 12 years in oak casks (in the tropical climate of India) and then blended to be a smoother, more refined version of the flagship, Old Monk Very Old Vatted XXX Rum (7 Years Old Blended).
The brand receives very little attention from the press, and does not appear to be represented in any advertising campaigns which I have seen. Rather Old Monk appears to rely upon word of mouth and customer loyalty for its sales. Word of mouth must be good as the Old Monk brand is (again according to information I received) the second largest selling aged dark rum in the world.
Here is a link to the #67 Rum on my list of the Best 100:
“… the breezes also bring me indications of black pepper, cinnamon and cloves with a light, but firm vanilla accent. As the glass sits, the aroma deepens bringing forward dark brown sugary smells and rich baking spices with impressions of cigar tobacco and crushed walnuts …”
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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.
Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:
The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.
Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: #Top100rums, 12 Year Old, 2017, Gold Reserve, Old Monk, Review, Rum, Rum howler, Top 100 Rums | Comments Off on #Top100Rums of 2017: #67 Old Monk Gold Reserve
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 16, 2017
John & Cathy Windsor manage the family owned and operated de Vine Vineyards on Vancouver Island (near Victoria British Columbia). As well as growing grapes for wine making the vineyard houses a small still from which they distill both grapes and grains producing a variety of spirits including Vodka, Gin and Single Malt Whisky.
I had an opportunity to taste Glen Saanich Single Malt Whisky when I acted as a juror for the 2017 Canadian Whisky Awards. While judging, I wrote up tasting notes for each dram as I scored them (in a blind tasting format). I also saved a wee bit of each sample such that I could revisit them after the judging when it was revealed to me which sample belonged to which whisky. From those tasting notes and from my last sampling session afterwards I wrote this review.
Here is a link to the #69 Canadian Whisky on my 2017 List:
“… The whisky has a ribbon of corn-like bourbon in its profile which is melded into impressions of oak spice and barley malt. Sweet and sour fruit (apples pears and canned peaches come to mind) hang in the breezes with a nice wisp of vanilla as well as an herbal quality which is almost like a mixture of fresh clover and mint …”
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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.
To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:
The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.
Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: 2017, Canadian, Glen Saanich, Review, Rum howler, Single Malt, Top 100 Canadian Whisky, Top100CanadianWhisky, Whisky | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky of 2017 – #69 Glen Saanich Single Malt Whisky
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 14, 2017
Shelter Point Artisanal Single Malt Whiskies are distilled in small batches on Vancouver Island (British Columbia). The distillery uses a single grain approach, and the Canadian barley used for distillation is grown right on their own family farm (in Oyster River) and never blended with other grains. The water source is the spring water that comes from the mountain-fed aquifer directly beneath the Island. Perhaps the only things that aren’t sourced locally are the oak barrels, which were sourced from Kentucky bourbon distillers, and the massive copper pot stills which came from Scotland.
This Shelter Point Whisky was bottled at Cask Strength (58.4% alcohol by volume).
Here is a link to the review of the # 71 Canadian Whisky of 2017:
“… Intense heat and spice from high alcohol strength. Malt and Speyside spiciness and red licorice and raisin. Some sweet and sour fruit, and some spicy musty tobacco and leather …”
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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.
To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:
The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.
Posted in Books, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: 2017, Atisanal, Canadian, Cask Strenght, Review, Rum howler, Shelter Point, SinlgeMalt, Top 100 Canadian Whisky, Top100CanadianWhisky, Whisky | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky of 2017 – #71 Shelter Point Artisanal Cask Strength
Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 13, 2017
Pineapple Rum was quite a popular delicacy in the 19th century. In fact, in Charles Dickens first serial novel The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (published in 19 monthly magazine instalments, from March 1836 to October 1837), Pineapple Rum is the preferred tipple of the fictitious Reverend Stiggins, who while publicly preaching temperance, secretly enjoys his pineapple rum, usually mixed with hot tea.
Alexander Gabriel (President and Owner, of Cognac Ferrand) in collaboration with Dave Wondrich (cocktail guru and author of Imbibe) researched the original recipes of Pineapple Rum, and then set about to re-create this lost libation.
Here is a link to the Number 70 Rum of 2017:
“… Rum-like scents of butterscotch toffee, vanilla and baking spice (cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves) lead out with both orange peel and yummy citrus pineapple scents riding along. There are light accents of almond and a mild sweep of tobacco which complete the nose …”
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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.
Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:
The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.
Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: #Top100rums, 2017, Alexandre Gabriel, David Wondrich, Fancy Pineapple, Plantation, Review, Rum, Rum howler, Stiggins, Top 100 Rums | Comments Off on #Top100Rums of 2017 – Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum
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