Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 13, 2013
Cabot Tower is situated on Signal Hill in St. John’s, which is of course the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador. Construction of this historic Canadian monument began in 1898 as the tower was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s discovery of Newfoundland, as well as to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Today, Cabot Tower is the feature attraction of the Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada, and if you travel to St. John’s you can visit the interpretive center therein and/or enjoy the scenic walking trails with a surrounding view which overlooks St. John’s Harbour.
Of course if you do happen to be in St. John’s (and you want to have a nice drink of rum) then you might also want take a stroll down George Street which is lined from top to bottom with Pubs and Restaurants where everyone’s drink of choice seems to be rum. One of the rum brands you are sure to encounter in those pubs and restaurants is the namesake of that famous tower, Newfoundland and Labrador’s own, Cabot Tower 100 Proof Rum Demerara Rum.
The Cabot Tower Rum is a 100% Demerara blended rum (distilled and aged in Guyana). This Guyanese rum is shipped in bulk to Canada where at the facilities of Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC), it is bottled at a full 50 % alcohol by volume (100 Proof) for Rocks Spirits, the brand owner.
You may click on the following excerpt to read my full review:
“… After I give the glass some time to relax, I notice the nose reflects the rum’s colour as obvious notes of rich Demerara sugar rise up with hints of red cinnamon, cloves and black licorice imbedded in the rum’s sweetness. As the glass sits even longer, impressions of expensive cigars and hints of a pungent leathery mustiness seem to be residing in the air alongside that spicy sweetness …”
Of course I could not resist suggesting a few cocktails at the end of the review including an overproof Cuba Libre’ and my new recipe, Zombie Apocalypse.
Cheers Everyone!
Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Overproof Rum, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Apocalypse, Cabot Tower, Cocktails, Cuba Libre, Dark Rum, Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation, Newfoundland Rum, Overproof Rum, Rum, Rum Review, Signal Hill, St. John's, Zombie | Comments Off on Review: Cabot Tower 100 Proof Demerara Rum
Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 2, 2013
Distillerie Reimonenq was founded in 1916 by the Reimonenq family. The distillery, like most others on Guadeloupe, produces Rhum Agricole from distilled sugar cane juice. The fresh-cut cane is crushed by electric mills and the resulting ‘honey’ undergoes a 24 to 48 hour fermentation in open air vessels. The fermented ‘wine’ is distilled in a stainless steel column in the traditional french manner.
I received two samples of Rhum Reimonenq (a 5yo and a 9yo) from Fabio Rossi (of Rum Nation). Mr Rossi personally choose the barrels for the “assemblage” at the distillery, and the bottling is done by the Reimonenq Distillery exclusively for his company. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, this particular bottling is only available in Italy, however my examinations hopefully will provide some insight into the taste profile of the Guadeloupe Rhum produced at the Reimonenq Distillery.
You may click the following excerpt to read my review of the Reimonenq Vieux 5 Year Old Rhum.
“… A firm must runs through the heart of the Rhum, and it carries an unusual brininess underneath as well. I taste menthol, juniper, lemon drops, and honey tea. The rhum is sweet; but that sweetness seems just right, as it helps to carry the plethora of flavours through the palate …”
Please enjoy my review of this French Style Rhum!
Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Guadaloupe Rhum, Reimonenq, Rhum, Rhum Agricole, Rhum Review, Rum Review | 3 Comments »
Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 25, 2013
Ron Matusalem prides itself on being a Cuban style of rum with a history in Cuba they trace back to 1872 when two brothers, Benjamin and Eduardo Camp, together with a partner, Evaristo Álvarez opened a distillery in Santiago de Cuba. According to the Matusalem website, the rum they were producing began to win acclaim by the first quarter of the 20th century. The distillery apparently operated until the 1960′s when due to the Cuban Revolution the Álvarez family was exiled, and the rum they made disappeared from the landscape.
The brand was resurrected by Claudio Álvarez Salazar, who is the great-grandson of Evaristo Álvarez. Of course, it was not possible given the political situation in Cuba to produce or bottle the rum in Cuba. Apparently, it is produced (presumably by a third-party as Ron Matusalem does not own a distillery) and bottled in the Dominican Republic.
I recently revisited this rum and you may read my newest review by clicking on the following excerpt:
“… The initial aroma carries more oak than I remember from my past experiences with the Matusalem Gran Reserva 15. It is a sort of honeyed oak scent full of spice and vanilla. As the glass sits, the oak spices build in the air and they are joined by scents of banana and orange peel …”
Please enjoy my revisitation to the Matusalem Gran Reserva, and of course my cocktail suggestion which follows, the Sloe Lime Daiquiri.
Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Cocktails, Dark Rum, Matusalem Rum, Rum, Rum Review, Sloe Lime Daiquiri | Comments Off on Review: Ron Matusalum Gran Reserva 15 Rum
Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 23, 2013
Bacardi Black is a traditional dark rum. As such it achieves a major portion of its flavour, aroma, and colour from the special ingredients (caramel colour for sure) which are added to the final blend prior to bottling. The Black is apparently blended from rums which have been aged up to four years; but, it would be a mistake to believe that the maturation of the rums in the blend have anything but a small role in the rich dark colour we see or the strong collection of aromas that we sense above the glass.
Bacardi Black appears to be disappearing from the shelves of the liquor stores in my locale, and even Bacardi has dropped any mention of the product on its US-based website. It appears to have been replaced by Bacardi Select, which is a similar style of rum although I do not know if it is actually the same blend as the Bacardi Black.
Although this review is perhaps a little belated, if you click on the following excerpt you can read my full opinion of Bacardi Black:
“… The initial aroma above the glass is full of butterscotch, molasses, vanilla, and candied caramels. There are hints of licorice, some noticeable maple, and sweet sticky canned fruit (apricots and peaches).
If I strain my senses, I also sense some dried fruit in the form of currants and dates and perhaps even a touch of cocoa. The aroma is not unpleasant, although there is very little evidence of oak aging in the breezes …”
Included in the review is a nice summertime deck drink, the Lemon Cola Cooler.
Enjoy the review!
Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Bacardi Rum, Black Rum, Cocktails, Dark Rum, Lemon Cola Cooler, Rum Review | Comments Off on Review: Bacardi Black
Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 13, 2013
A few weeks back, I received a bottle of Admiral Nelson’s Coconut Rum from the local importer here in Alberta, Diamond Estates. They were hoping I would taste the spirit, and perhaps write a review (if it was my inclination to do so). In doing my research I was not able to glean much information about how the Admiral Nelson’s Coconut Rum is produced. I understand that it is bottled in the U.S. by the Admiral Nelson Rum Company of Missouri (at 21 % alcohol by volume), and although the brand was previously controlled by Luxco, in 2011 Heaven Hill Distilleries acquired the rights to the entire Admiral Nelson Brand.
You may click on the following excerpt to read the full review:
“… The nose is lightly sweet with a mild coconut aroma. There also seems to be a touch of vanilla sitting in the background. A light alcohol astringency is rising from the glass which surprises me in such a low proof offering; but this astringency is quite mild and is probably just a reflection of a young rum which makes up the base of the spirit …”
Please enjoy my review which includes two nice recipes, A Day at the Beach, and the Chocolate Covered Banana.
Enjoy this fine Monday everyone!
Cheers!
Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Admiral Nelson's, Cocktails and Recipes, Coconut Rum, Falvoured Rum, Rum, Rum Review | Comments Off on Review: Admiral Nelson’s Coconut Rum
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