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Posts Tagged ‘Rum’

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Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 26, 2012

The Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum is a  pot distilled rum which is produced from molasses using a long fermentation period prior to distillation. The rum is first aged in Jamaica in used whisky and bourbon barrels after which it is transported from Jamaica to France by Cognac Ferrandto be finished in their own warehouses and of course their own Cognac Casks.

I had the opportunity to meet Guillaume Lamy, the Vice President – North America, for Cognac Ferrand in Miami last year where I was treated to a tasting of the Plantation line-up at a breakfast sponsored by Plantation Rum. I am not sure, but at that breakfast, I received the impression that the Plantation Jamaica Rum was one of Guillaume’s most favourite rums in the Plantation family. He spoke with particular passion about this rum and how, in his mind, it carried a certain extra appeal or ‘funkiness’ in the glass.

I have worked my way through seven of the eight Plantation Rum sample bottles which were given to me after that breakfast (each 200 ml in size), and I have finally arrived at the Plantation Jamaica. I hope to find the ‘funk’ that Mr. Lamy spoke so passionately of.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… As I let the glass breathe the smells are pleasant with spicy toffee mingling with pungent baking spices. The impressions of tobacco grow in the breezes above the glass and a nice marmalade sweetness seems to have developed as well. Under everything else I seem to catch glimpses of a certain ‘mustiness’ which strangely enough compliments the overall aroma of the glass… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Plantation Jamaica 2000 Rum

Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 19, 2012

Flor de Caña has a history of rum production which is dated to 1890 at the San Antonio Sugar Mill, in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. The company was founded by Francisco Alfredo Pellas and today, over 120 years later, the company is led headed by the fifth generation of the Pellas family. It has grown to be not only one of Central America’s leading brands of rum, it is also one of the most recognized rum brands in the world.

According to the company website all of the Flor de Caña rum is produced with molasses from sugar cane harvested in fields adjacent to the distillery in Chichigalpa. It is distilled five times in a continuous column still process, and then laid down to age in small American white oak barrels in traditional aging warehouses built without air conditioning in an undisturbed environment.

The subject of this review, the Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum is a clear aged rum meant for premium cocktails and mixed drinks. I was given a bottle for review by the local distributor, The Kirkwood Group.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial scents rising into the breezes above the glass reminded me of a very light caramel molasses. I gave the glass a bit of a swirl, and this brought up a rush of astringency into the air, but once this initial astringency passed, I noticed some very nice complex aromas which included banana peel and butterscotch were left behind… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

I have included a couple of nice cocktails recipes with the review, the Lemon Muddled Cuba Libra, and Red Sky at Night.

Please enjoy the review and the two cocktails provided!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 14, 2012

Here is a recipe to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day!

Raspberry Passion Cocktail

2 oz White Rum
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
3/4 oz Cranberry Juice
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1 barspoon Raspberry Syrup (sweeten to taste)
ice

Place the Rum, the Cointreau, the Fruit Juice, and the Raspberry Syrup into a metal shaker
Shake until the outside of the shaker frosts
Strain into another glass filled with ice

Garnish with a Lime slice or Frozen Raspberry and Enjoy!

Have a Great Valentines Day Everyone!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, White Rums | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Happy Valentine’s Day

Discovering the Finer Side of Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 7, 2012

Here is some nice news for those of you who may want to share a glass of rum with me.

I have been invited by the guys (and gals) at Vines in Riverbend to be the guest host for their “Discovering the Finer Side of Rum” Tasting Event.

We will begin with a a sample of Juan Santos Coffee Rum to serve as an appetizer, and then we will dive into a selection of rum which I have personally selected to be presented and tasted.

Cruzan Estate Single Barrel Rum from St Croix
Abuelo 12 Year Old Rum from Panama
Ron Millonario 15 Solera Rum from Peru
Diplomatico Exclusiva Rum from Venezuela
Mount Gay – 1703 Rum from Barbados
Dos Maderas 5+5 Px from the Caribbean (but finished in Pedro Jimenez Casks in Spain)

I think (although I admit I am biased because I selected the rums) that the line-up is solid, and represents a good cross section of geographical styles of rum production. You can experience the the rich flavour and diversity of rums from South America, from Central America, and the Caribbean Islands.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Day of the Tasting is:      Monday, February 13th, 2012  (at 7:00 PM)

The cost will be:                         $39.95 Prepaid

There will be only Limited  Seating Available so to make sure you get a seat please contact my friends at Vines.

Vines – Riverbend Wine Merchants (Edmonton)
Telephone: 434-9444
Email: info@vineswinemerchants.com

Posted in Festivals and Events | Tagged: , , | 10 Comments »

Review: 5 Barrel Rum (Travellers)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 29, 2012

Travellers’ 5 Barrel Rum is a premium aged rum brand produced in Belize, (the northernmost mainland country of Central America). Belize 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. The producer of 5 Barrel Rum, Travellers Liquors Limited has been involved in the production of  rum in Belize since the early 1960′s originally working with independent distillers. In 1989, Travellers acquired full control of their own distillery, and they have remained in full control of their own brands ever since.

The 5 Barrel Rum is made from locally grown Belize sugar cane. According to the Travellers website, this cane is cut and crushed in a manner which retains its natural flavors, and the all of the rum is aged in Kentucky oak barrels for a full 5 years. It is blended to be a full-bodied rum with the well-rounded taste which results from oak barrel aging.

Recently, I was given a bottle of 5 Barrel Rum by a representative of Travellers Liquor Canada for the purpose of this review. Here is an excerpt:

“…As I let the glass breathe, the tobacco and the oak scents deepened. They were joined by wonderful sweet baking spices filled with rich brown sugar, spicy cinnamon, light vanillans and hints of nutmeg.  This one of those rums that grows in the glass as it breathes. The aroma is rich and deep and wonderfully in balance…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: 5 Barrel Rum (Travellers)

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail suggestion that follows, The Rum Old Fashioned.

And please remember to drink responsibly, it is my aim to help you choose better spirits, not to help you to consume more spirits!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: 5 Barrel Rum (Travellers)

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