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 1,091 other subscribers

  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,690,605 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Rum’

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Review: Travellers 3 Barrel Aged Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 29, 2011

A few weeks ago I published my review of the Travellers 1 Barrel Rum. I never mentioned it at the time but this review was actually the first of several which I plan to write as I work my way through the Traveller’s line-up. The rum which is the focus of my review today is a brand new rum in that line-up, Travellers 3 Barrel Rum. The 3 Barrel is only available (for now) in Alberta which is the first place the rum has been exported, and in Belize where the rum is produced.

Belize is the northernmost mainland country of Central America. it is a former British Colony and lies just south of Mexico with the Caribbean Sea to the east and Guatemala to the west and south. Travellers Liquors Limited has been involved in the production of  Rum in Belize since the early 1960s originally working with independent distillers. In 1989 Travellers acquired full control of their own distillery and has remained in full control of their 1 Barrel brand ever since.

I was given a bottle of 3 Barrel Rum by Blake Christensson of  Travellers’ Liquor Canada for the purpose of this review. Here is an excerpt:

“…The 3 Barrel Rum has much more to offer as a sipper than the 1 Barrel Rum. The flavour is smoother and richer as the oak has set its imprint into the rum in a delightful way. Butterscotch and baking spices lead out onto the palate with a nice marmalade accent from the oak. The vanilla and the light tobacco flavours are in ample evidence and everything is easy to sip and easy to appreciate…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Travellers 3 Barrel Aged Rum

As well I have included my recipe for 3 Barrel Punch.

Please enjoy the review and the recipe!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Pusser’s (Blue Label) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 29, 2011

Pusser’s Rum is advertised as the original rum of the British Royal Navy. And it is a fact that for over 300 years it was a tradition in the British Navy that each member of the crew was issued a daily ‘tot’ of rum. This tradition began in 1655, and by 1731, the tradition of the daily ‘tot’ was in general use throughout the British Navy. As it was the ship’s purser who was responsible for issuing the rum. The Rum became known as Pusser’s Rum in a sort of slang derivation of the term ‘Purser’s Rum’.

Although the naval tradition of the daily tot had ended, in 1979 Charles Tobias obtained the rights and the blending information for the British Naval Rum, and formed Pusser’s Ltd. on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. His company produces their Pusser’s Rum following the blending information and the traditions of the Admiralty, including producing the rum from wooden pot stills just as the had been the tradition for over 200 years.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…This is a little hot and spicy in the initial mouth feel. The rum has a fresh oaky flavour with tannins disguised as tangy orange zest. As well, a firm vanilla and a light toffee complement this spicy oak and serves to temper its bite. There are some caramel flavours and some baking spices which give the rum depth…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Pusser’s (Blue Label) Rum

As well I have included my cocktail suggestion for the Pusser’s Rum, The Pain Killer Cocktail.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail suggestion!!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Celebrating: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 24, 2011

Recently I was afforded a chance to revisit Appleton Estate Reserve Rum when  the media company representing the brand in Canada asked me if I would like to receive a bottle. Although I have already reviewed this rum, I was not about to turn down a rum bottle which would fit very nicely on the Appleton shelf of my liquor cabinet.

I have found that the Appleton Estate VX and the Appleton Estate Reserve are two of my favourite cocktail rums. The Appleton Estate Reserve has the same signature Appleton flavour and aroma which I noted in my review of the Appleton Estate VX a few weeks ago. However, things seem to be brought up a notch with a higher level of smoothness, and more complexity in the Reserve Rum. The high level of complexity in the Reserve arises because this Appleton Rum uses a large number of  rums in its blend, 20 in all, and because the rums which are used in the Reserve blend are aged for a longer period of time than for the Appleton VX Rum.

Of course, receiving a bottle of Appleton Estate Reserve deserves a Celebration:

The Appleton Celebration

2 oz Appleton Reserve Rum
2 oz  Fresh Squeezed and strained Pink Grapefruit Juice
3/4 oz  London Dry Gin
1/4 oz Sloe Gin
1 teaspoon Simple Sugar (or grenadine)

Combine ingredients into a metal shaker with ice.
Shake until the metal shaker chills.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with lemon slice

And sometimes I just cannot resist putting the ice from the shaker into the cocktail glass as well.  Sitting on the back deck in the shade with a Celebration Cocktail is one of the best ways I can think of to spend a Saturday afternoon.

For those who are interested, here is my review of Appleton Reserve Rum:

Review: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum

Cheers my friends!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Celebrating: Appleton Estate Reserve Rum

Review: Caroni 1997 (Aka Ron Sherbrooke Private Cask) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 22, 2011

The Ron Sherbrooke, “Drink Like a Pirate” Rum Festival is was held on September 19 at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta. Nineteen liquor agencies put up tables, and all told over sixty rums were poured. The event went off without a hitch, and everyone I saw left the evening happy, (and full of rum). And it wasn’t just the wide selection of rums which was impressive, it was also the quality of the selection that was special. Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva, Flor de Caña 18 Year Centenario Gold, and the Ron Zacapa 23 Solero were just a few of the Premium Rums available to be tasted. Ron Abuelo, Bacardi, and Mount Gay were all there. Of course, I cannot name everyone but you get the idea. The first ever full fledged rum festival in Edmonton, Alberta was a big success!

One rum really caught my eye at the festival, I guess you could call it the ‘signature rum’ of the event. A Single Cask Rum from the departed Ron Caroni Distillery of Trinidad and Tobago. This rum was bottled for a local collective of stores called, the Signature Group and at the festival it was labelled,  Ron Sherbrooke-Private Stock, Caroni 1997 – 13 year old Dark Rum.

I was intrigued enough that after the Rum Festival I decided I should provide a review of this signature rum. The kind folks at  Sherbrooke Liquor, provided me a sample and the review is now complete.

Here is an excerpt from that review:

“…Caramel toffee, baking spices, and a nice dollop of vanilla will join the oak and the orange peel, and you will experience a rum which is not only very different from any rum you have tried before, you will experience a rum with a rich flavour that matches the nose which I described earlier…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Caroni 1997  (Aka Ron Sherbrooke Private Cask) Rum

Please enjoy the review of what I consider to be a very special rum!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Revisiting: Appleton Estate VX Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 14, 2011

Appleton Estate VX Rum is the entry-level rum in the Appleton Estate family of rums.  It is a blend of up to fifteen Jamaican rums of various styles which have been aged in hand crafted oak.

I was afforded a chance to revisit Appleton Vx recently when the media company representing the brand sent me a bottle. Although I have already reviewed the rum, the company felt I should have some handy to use as a resource for my cocktail explorations.  Of course, the first thing I did when I opened my bottle was to sample a bit while I read my original review.

Here is an excerpt from that review:

” The rum displays an amber colour with orange flashes.  Surprisingly (to me) the rum when swirled left nice long skinny legs in my glass indicating a buttery oil present.  The aroma is very spicy, and full of oak tannin.  I smell a firm and distinct orange peel, and light brown sugar and molasses rising in the tangy oak spice….”

The rum of course has not changed and you may read the entire review here:

Review: Appleton Estate VX Rum

I was supposed to be using the rum for cocktails, and so the next thing I did was to make the original cocktail that I designed for the Appleton Vx called, the Traveller.  One Traveller led to another, and the 200 ml sample I was sent disappeared pretty quickly. Fortunately I have my own 750 ml bottle that will allow me to keep ‘travelling’ with my Appleton VX.

Here is a Link to that nice cocktail and a few nice variations:

The Traveller Cocktail

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 4 Comments »

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »