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Posts Tagged ‘Rum’

The 2nd Annual Edmonton Rum Festival

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 30, 2016

159736The folks at Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants (who have produced the very successful Edmonton Whisky Festival for the past 6 years) have teamed up with Lexus Edmonton and Capital FM 96.3 to bring you the Edmonton Rum Festival for the second year in a row!

All proceeds raised at the event will be donated to the MS Society of Canada – Alberta Division.

This is a great chance to taste a strong selection of rums produced from around the world as well as to meet and discuss the noble cane spirit with industry and distillery representatives.

Monies raised at the event will help those affected by MS in our community, as well as help to fund research towards a cure.

2015_Presenting-Sponsors-680x130

Where: Edmonton Delta South Hotel – Grand Ballroom
4404 Gateway Boulevard

When: Friday, September 30, 2016
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Ticket Price: $90.00 each: available online here
(Tickets are also available in-store at Riverbend Wine Merchants (780 434 9444 ))

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What do you receive for the price of a regular admission ticket?

A commemorative Glencairn glass, an event program, a gourmet buffet throughout the evening, over 75 rums to sample, a chance to win a bottle of rum a month for a year and an opportunity to bid on a number of rum themed silent auction items. The price of a ticket includes entrance and rum sampling (you do not have to buy additional sample tickets).

Will the Festival be as crowded as last year?

Based upon the overwhelming success of last year’s festival, the event has been moved to a larger ballroom venue; however the amount of tickets available for sale has not increased. This should ensure a relaxed atmosphere where you can spend time enjoying the noble spirit we call rum.

Are tickets available at the door?

Although tickets will be available at the door, it is strongly advised that you order your tickets in advance to ensure your attendance! Last Year’s event sold out!

Is there parking at the hotel?

The hotel has limited available free parking. However, it is encouraged that you use public transportation and cabs.

Can you get a preferred rate at the Delta as part of the Festival?

Yes! Stay at the Delta Edmonton South for the night at a rate of $165. Call the Delta Edmonton South at 780-434-6415 and ask to book in the Rum Festival open block.

How do you find the rums on the list that you want to sample?

The booklet you receive on entering is set out alphabetically by the local agent/importer responsible for each rum company. The tables in the ballroom follow that list in a clockwise direction. Each table is marked with the name of the agent/importer to help you find them easily.

Do you need to purchase drink tickets to be able to taste the rums?

Certainly not! Sampling is included in the admission price. However, you will require a stamp book for your samples which will be available at the door.

Should you wear perfume/after-shave?

One of the great joys of any spirit tasting event is nosing the glass to identify subtle nuances and delicate aromas. Unfortunately this experience can be compromised by perfume, cologne and after-shave worn on your own person or even by somebody else some distance away. So please refrain from wearing any perfumed scents for the duration of the Festival and advise your guests accordingly.

Should you keep your ticket stub?

Absolutely! Bring your stub into Vines Wine Merchants by the end of Nov. 2016 to receive a 10% discount or $10 off, whichever is the better deal on a rum purchase.

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VinesThe folks at Vines do a fantastic job every year with both the Annual Edmonton Whisky Festival and the Annual Edmonton Rum Festival.

I encourage you to attend and enjoy yourself. It is a great atmosphere with Rum Insiders, Brand Ambassadors, and Rum Enthusiasts from across Canada and around the World. You might even run into the Rum Howler, as I have my two tickets reserved already!

Note: All proceeds raised at this event are donated to the MS Society of Canada – Alberta Division.

For more information please contact:

Vines – Riverbend Wine Merchants (Edmonton)

Posted in Festivals, Festivals and Events | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 24, 2016

Plantation Rums Stiggins' Fancy btl RVB BD

Yesterday I introduced a flavoured rum from Alexander Gabriel (President and Owner, of Cognac Ferrand), Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum.

Cognac Ferrand for those who do not know is a Cognac House in France which produces the Plantation Rum brand. Plantation Rums are produced and aged in various part of the Caribbean, after which they are sent to France to be aged for a further length of time in the cellars at Cognac Ferrand in used cognac barrels.

Alexander Gabriel in collaboration with Dave Wondrich (cocktail guru and author of Imbibe) researched the original recipes of Pineapple Rum (which was quite a popular delicacy in the 19th century) and then set about to re-create this lost libation.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum

” … The aroma from the glass is very inviting. 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 …”

Please enjoy my review of this outstanding flavoured rum!

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Cocktail Hour: Fancy Pineapple & Lime Daiquiri

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 23, 2016

Pineapple Rum was quite a popular delicacy in the 19th century. In fact, in Charles Dickens first serialized 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, a man who staunchly preached of temperance while secretly enjoying his pineapple rum, usually mixed with hot tea.

In a research collaboration between Dave Wondrich (cocktail guru and author of Imbibe) and Alexander Gabriel (Alexandre Gabriel, President and Owner, of Cognac Ferrand), the spirit has been revived as Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum.

To make this new flavoured rum, Alexandre Gabriel began with flavourful Victorian Pineapples. These pineapples are peeled by hand, and the left over rinds are infused with Plantation 3 Stars Silver Rum (see review here) for one week. The resulting infused spirit is then distilled upon Cognac Ferrand’s copper alembic pot stills.

Fancy Autumn Pineapple SAM_2737The leftover pineapple fruit is infused with Plantation Original Dark Rum (see review here) for a full three months. Then the re-distilled Plantation 3 Star Rum (which had been infused with the pineapple rinds) is then combined with the pineapple fruit infused Plantation Original Dark Rum. The two spirits are allowed to marry, and then they are re-casked in oak barrels for three months.

I was sent a sample bottle a few months ago, and now that my Spiced Rum series of reviews is complete, I have had time to play with the new Plantation Pineapple Rum. Here is a nice fancy cocktail which pairs the infused pineapple flavour of Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum with fresh lime.

Fancy Pineapple & Lime Daiquiri

1 3/4 oz Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum
1/2 oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curacao
3/4 oz fresh Lime Juice
1/4 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 ratio)
dash or two Angostura Bitters
Ice
Orange Coil

Add the first five ingredients into a metal cocktail shaker with ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Strain into a cocktail glass
Add an orange peel coil with a lump of ice for garnish

Enjoy!

If  you are interested in more cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more mixed drink recipes!

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PS: My complete review of Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple Rum will publish tomorrow, Chimo!

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Review: Last Mountain 306 The Original Saskatchewan Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 17, 2016

sask-libre-sam_2771Colin Schmidt was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1992. After being drafted, he spent four years playing College Hockey and then signed his first pro contract in 1996. Colin’s pro experience was brief, cut off by a few shoulder injuries after a short spell of what Colin referred to as “playing left bench.” Fortunately, as far as we are concerned, Colin’s story did not end there.

A few years later, Colin, who was working in the mortgage industry, and his wife, Meredith, whose background was in banking, began to look for their own business opportunities in Saskatchewan. Colin had a friend who had started up a micro-distillery in Colorado, and the idea to begin a similar operation in Saskatchewan was very appealing to them. In August of 2010, Colin and Meredith’s hard work and perseverance paid off when they opened Saskatchewan’s first micro-distillery, in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, called the Last Mountain Distillery.

In 2012 Colin reached out to me and sent me samples of both his Vodka (see review here) and later his first whisky (see review here) for me to taste and review. I was surprised at the quality of each spirit and have kept tabs on the folks at Last Mountain ever since. Recently the distillery released a brand new rum distilled (in Saskatchewan) from molasses and aged for two years in once filled bourbon barrels. Colin sent me a bottle and asked me to provide feedback in the form of a review here on my website.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Last Mountain 306 The Original Saskatchewan Rum

“… The use of once used bourbon barrels has paid dividends as the rum immediately throws fine oak spice into the air accompanied by light aromas of vanilla, almond, butterscotch, orange peel and coconut. The fine oak spice is a little firmer than one would normally encounter in such a young rum; but it is appealing bringing very mild whisky-like scents, (rye, ginger and grain) into the air alongside the light rum aroma. The result is a spirit which displays nice complexity despite its young age …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a very nice Rum and Cola recipe, the Saskatchewan Libre’.

Chimo!

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Review: Dictador Orange 100 Month Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 12, 2016

Dictador Orange SAM_2680Recently Dictador Rum released what they call their 100 Month Series which includes four new rums all aged for 100 months. Unlike the more premium Dictador Solero Aged Rums, the 100 month series is meant to be a gateway series consisting of spirits which are meant to be embraced both as entry-level sipping rums as well as cocktail spirits.

The Dictador Orange 100 Month Aged Rum was created to be a discerning spirit for the cocktail enthusiast. The base rum within the flavoured spirit is a continuous column still rum which was aged (for 100 months) in ex-bourbon oak barrels. At maturity the rum was macerated with fresh Colombian orange peel. The flavoured rum is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Dictador Orange 100 Month Rum

“… The maturity of the rum is quite obvious as when we sip firm oak spices come forward combining with the orange flavour. Although the oak spice was hidden from view when I nosed the rum, it shows itself clearly across the palate. There is also a light  sweetness of caramel toffee and hints of baking spice which give the rum additional character …”

Please enjoy my review, chimo!

Posted in Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Dictador Orange 100 Month Rum