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Posts Tagged ‘Rum Review’

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Review: Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 16, 2012

Rum Nation has recently invaded my home Province of Alberta with a very interesting assortment of aged rums from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The man behind this invasion is Fabio Rossi, who began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied winemaking). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum and in 1999 Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation. His company is headquartered in Italy; but Fabio purchases select rums from various distillers in the Caribbean and the Americas. As a result Rum Nation provides a rather unique assortment of rare limited edition rum bottlings.

One such Bottling is the Rum Nation Panama 21 Years.

According to the front of the bottle (translation provided by Fabio Rossi):

” Rum Nation Panama 21 years is a blend created from the expert hands of Don Francisco (Pancho) Fernández, Master Blender born in Cuba, with 40 years of experience in production of aged rums in central and south America. Rum Nation Panama 21 years is made from sugar cane molasses, distilled in continuous column and aged in American oak barrels (Quercus alba) for 21 years in Panama.”

Here is an excerpt from my review:

” …The rum leads out with the flavours of sweet candied fruit (apricot and peaches) and oak spices. I can also taste rich caramel and molasses which are mingled in nicely with underlying leather and tobacco flavours. Raisins, dates, prunes and chocolate give the rum a nice smokiness. Although the rum has apparently never seen the inside of a sherry cask, I cannot deny that sherry-like flavours abound in the taste profile… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)

Please enjoy my review of this excellent rum!

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)

Review: Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 10, 2012

The subject of this review: the Siesta Key Spiced Rum is an interesting spirit. Founder (and Distiller) of Drum Circle Distilling, Troy Roberts, begins with his award-winning Silver Rum. (Siesta Key Silver Rum took the Best in Class Gold Medal at the RumXP International Tasting Competition, earlier batches won a Silver Medal at the highly competitive New York International Spirits Competition and a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition). Then he adds a bit of his Siesta Gold Rum (reviewed here) to the mix. Finally, he spices the resulting blend using real spices. Troy literally weighs each of the spices and tosses them into a tank of rum to infuse. He uses no corn syrup or other industrial sweetener, instead Mr. Roberts uses honey to add sweetness (and flavor). The spices are primarily fall cooking spices with some exotic twists thrown in. Troy has told me that he is a strong believer that high quality real ingredients lead to a better rum.

I was sent a sample of the Siesta Key Spiced Rum for the purpose of a review upon my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… Here is a spiced rum that refuses to knock me over with vanilla. The sweetness which normally accompanies spiced rum is diminished as well. Instead it is those pumpkin spices which lead out onto my palate. The flavour is just aggressive enough to let you know that you are drinking a spiced rum, but not so aggressive that anything is uncomfortable. I am very pleased with my initial impression…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Of course I made a few recipe suggestions at the end of the review and I hope you get a chance to try my Spiced Rum Punch, and the Orange Push-Up.

Cheers Everyone!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Review: Siesta Key Dark Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 4, 2012

Drum Circle Distilling is a small artisan distillery located in Sarasota, Florida. Their distillation system was crafted for the distillery by Christian Carl, a German company which has been producing distillation systems for over 150 years. Working directly with Christian Carl, Drum Circle Distilling was able to custom design a small-batch copper still (which can be run as a simple pot still or with a side column) which they believe is perfect for making great tasting rum. This distillation system operates in a 6400 square foot work space which also includes barrel racks for aging, as well as labeling and bottling stations. At this Florida distillery the spirits are hand-crafted from beginning to end in a batch style production cycle from Florida grown sugar cane.

I was sent a sample of the Siesta Key Gold Rum for the purpose of a review upon my website. After a somewhat tortuous journey my sample arrived a few weeks ago.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The immediate nose brings forward sweet butterscotch, orange peel, almond and vanilla. I allowed the glass to breathe a few minutes, and noticed that a few oak spices had entered the breezes with a few scattered baking spices… “

Here is a link to the full review;

Review: Siesta Key Dark Rum

I have include a couple of recipes which work well with the rum, the Celebration Cocktail and my own Sloe Lime Daiquiri.

Please enjoy my review, and the cocktails that follow!

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Siesta Key Dark Rum

Review: Whistling Andy Hibiscus-Coconut Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 28, 2012

The Whistling Andy Distillery is a locally owned micro-distillery located in Bigfork, Montana. They advertise that they are Veteran owned, and are proud of utilizing American made equipment (a hand-made Vendome Cooper and Brassworks still from Louisville, Kentucky) and American only grown grains (all of the grains are from the Flathead Valley), fruits, and botanicals. Their rum by the way is made from molasses and cane from the South. The Distillery is named for Roger Anderson, father of Distiller, Brian Anderson, whose nickname in the Air Force was Whistling Andy.

The subject of this review, Whistling Andy Hibiscus-Coconut Rum, was apparently developed to pay homage to both the 1950′s surfer, and to Whistling Andy’s Hand Crafted Rum. It is flavoured with real hibiscus and coconut. I was provided with  375 ml review sample by the distillery, bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume. (This product is being brought into Canada by Purple Valley Imports.)

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“… The rum has a rich reddish brown colouration, and the immediate nose has a lightly sweet floral aroma which reminds me of cranberries and Nanking cherries. (This floral cherry-like aroma is I believe very similar to the aroma of the hibiscus flower.) The coconut is much more subdued, at times I seem to sense the coconut in the breezes above the glass combined with the impression of ripe banana; but I would say that the cherry-like hibiscus scent is more obvious… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Whistling Andy Hibiscus-Coconut Rum

Please enjoy the review, Cheers!

Posted in Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Whistling Andy Hibiscus-Coconut Rum

Review: Ron Zacapa XO (25 Year Solero) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 27, 2012

Ron Zacapa Rums are made from sugar cane harvested in southern Guatemala, which is pressed into virgin sugar cane honey, a process unique to the Guatemalan style of rum production. This liquid is then fermented, distilled and taken to the mountains for aging, where the flavor of the rums is further refined through the premium aging process known as Sistema Solera.

The Ron Zacapa Centenario XO is blended from these solera aged stocks which range in age from 6 years to 25 years.  These stocks were aged in special cellars more than 7000 feet above sea level. The solera barrels are a mixture of reused American Bourbon, Sherry, Pedro Ximenez wines, and Cognac barrels. The combination of solera aging and the wide variety of reused barrels creates a highly complex rum with a rich aroma and flavour.

I recently received a Ron Zacapa Tasting Kit in the mail which for me was the perfect excuse to revisit my previously published review for the Ron Zacapa XO (25 Year Solero) Rum.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“….Richness and luxury ooze from the nose of this sweet nectar. Scents of mild toffee and spice combined with a rich oak and vanilla aroma rise from the glass to the delight of my nostrils. There seems to be a light orange citrus weaving through the aroma. The spices I can identify by smell are vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg with just a hint of cloves…”

You may link to the full review here:

Review: Ron Zacapa XO (25 Year Solero) Rum

BTW:  The review includes a decadent cocktail called The Royal Batiste.

Cheers Everyone.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ron Zacapa XO (25 Year Solero) Rum

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