The Rum Howler Blog

(A Website for Spirited Reviews)

  • The Rum Howler Blog

  • Visit My Online Memorabilia Store

  • The Rum Howler Interview (Good Food Revolution)

    Click on the Image to see my interview on Good Food Revolution

  • Industry Interviews

    Interviews

    Click the Image for Great Interviews with the Movers of Industry

  • Cocktails and Recipes

    Click Image for Awesome Recipes

  • Follow Me on Twitter!

Posts Tagged ‘Trinidad Rum’

Review: Angostura Single Barrel Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 11, 2015

SAM_0296 Angostura Single BarrelThe Angostura Single Barrel Rum is aged in selected American oak (bourbon) barrels for a minimum of 5 years. According to the Angostura website, it is a blend of medium and heavy bodied rums hand drawn from their state-of the-art continuous five-column still. The blend is an authentic pure Trinidadian rum which is limited each year to only a certain number of batches.

I found my bottle for review while shopping at one of the Duty-Free liquor shops at the Trinidad International Airport. I was intrigued enough to pass over many more well-known brands of rum and whisky, and I have decided to give the rum a review here on my website. As always I shall begin with the bottle the rum is presented in.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Angostura Single Barrel Rum

” … I begin to notice a rich caramel building, and a strong indication of oak imparting fresh scents of honeycomb, vanilla, cedar and toffee into the breezes above the glass. As the glass breathes, the oak becomes firmer and a light smokiness of dried fruit aroma develops. Marmalade, oak, dried apricots and spicy toffee are all apparent in the fully decanted glass …”

Please enjoy this review!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Angostura Single Barrel Rum

Review: Angostura 1919 Aged Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 12, 2015

Angostura 1919 Orange Daiquiri SAM_1469

Angostura 1919 Orange Daiquiri

In 1973, the House of Angostura bought Fernandes Distillers Ltd, adding the accumulated expertise of that Trinidadian distilling company to their own. According to the Angostura website, their Angostura 1919 Aged Rum pays homage to a particular rum produced in the 1930s by the master blender of Fernandes Distillers, J.B. Fernandes. (In fact, that rum produced by Fernandes Distillers is now considered to be of historical significance to those who study the development of rum in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the rest of the Caribbean.)

This historic rum was the result of a fire which consumed the Government Rum Bond in 1932. Mr. Fernandes purchased the remaining charred casks (which still contained rum) and discovered that they had been filled in the year 1919. The purchased rum was blended and became known as “1919 Aged Rum”. This 1919 aged rum became so highly regarded, that the House of Angostura chose to keep its memory alive with their own Angostura 1919 Aged Rum.

My sample bottle for this review was provided to my by the Bacchus Group who distribute the Angostura spirit throughout Western Canada.

Alpaco

Varlhona Noir Alpaco

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Angostura 1919 Aged Rum

” … Oak spice underlain by dry grassy tobacco leads out upon the palate with impressions of butterscotch and orange peel zest quickly following in their wake. If you allow the rum to breathe in your glass for about ten minutes a dry grassy mustiness is revealed with indications of herbal menthol and dried flowers  …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my suggested cocktail, the Angostura 1919 Orange Daiquiri, which I found uses the spicy orange peel spiciness found within the Angostura 1919 Rum to great effect. I also included an indulgent chocolate pairing, Varlhona Noir Alpaco, which is a pure Dark Chocolate from Ecuador. (Read the review to learn more.)

Cheers Everyone!

 

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

Rum Howler 2014 # 17 Rum – Angostura 1824

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 8, 2014

rum_howler_badge-2014The House of Angostura traces its beginnings to 1824 when German doctor, Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, who was then a Surgeon-General in the Venezuelan Army, created a blend of aromatic herbs which he called “Amargo Aromatico” and which would become the world-famous Angostura Bitters. Although the company he created to manufacture these bitters was originally founded in the town known as Angostura (later to be renamed Bolivar City), the company was relocated by his successors (his younger brother and son), who  moved it to Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1876.

Angostura 1824 SAM_1380Of course the House of Angostura remains famous for its world-class bitters; however, it has also become well know for the rum which is produced by their five column still, under the direction of Master Distiller, John P. Georges. Angostura 1824 pays homage to the company’s humble beginnings in Angostura, Venezuela, and it is the #17 rum in my countdown of the best rums of 2014.

Here is a link to my new review:

# 17 Rum – Angostura 1824 (12 Years Old)

“… As the glass breathes, the breezes in the air begin to display a few more woody sap-like notes of cedar, a ripple of maple, and nice aromatic baking spices (brown sugar, cloves cinnamon and nutmeg). There are indications of tobacco and toasted walnut rising into the breezes as well a few hints of dry fruit and raisin, bits of licorice, and a tar-like scent …”

The Angostura 1824 is a magnificent rum. The flavours are rich and inviting, and although we taste a strong impression of oak and orange peel spice, the complimentary flavours of caramel and chocolate bring the rum into a wonderful balance making the spirit easy to sip and enjoy.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: You may follow my Countdown list of the 25 Best Rums of 2014 here:   The Rum Howler – Top 25 Rums of 2014

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Howler 2014 # 17 Rum – Angostura 1824

Review: Angostura Single Barrel Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 10, 2012

The Angostura Single Barrel Rum is aged in selected American oak (bourbon) barrels for a minimum of 5 years. According to the Angostura website, it is a blend of medium and heavy bodied rums hand drawn from their state-of the-art continuous five-column still. The blend is an authentic pure Trinidadian rum which is limited each year to only a certain number of batches.

I found my bottle for review while shopping at one of the Duty-Free liquor shops at the Trinidad International Airport. I was intrigued enough to pass over many more well-known brands of rum and whisky, and I have decided to give the rum a review here on my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…  I begin to notice a rich caramel building, and a strong indication of oak imparting fresh scents of honeycomb, vanilla, cedar and toffee into the breezes above the glass. As the glass breathes, the oak becomes firmer and a light smokiness of dried fruit aroma develops. Marmalade, oak, dried apricots and spicy toffee are all apparent in the fully decanted glass …”

You may read my full review here:

Review: Angostura Single Barrel Rum

Enjoy my reviews, but more importantly enjoy the spirits which have inspired them.

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Angostura Single Barrel Rum

Review: Plantation Trinidad 2000 (Old Reserve) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 17, 2012

The Plantation Trinidad Rum Old Reserve Rum is another unique rum from Cognac Ferrand’s  Plantation line-up. It is a well aged rum of Trinidadian origin which has been produced using the column still and a short fermentation period. The rum has been aged a minimum of nine years in used bourbon casks, and after this initial maturation, the rum was transported from Trinidad to France where it was finished for a short time in used Cognac casks to enhance the flavour.

Last May I was given eight sample bottles, each 200 ml in size, which represent a good portion of the Plantation Rum line-up. The Plantation Trinidad is the sixth of these sample bottles which I have chosen to review here on my blog.

Here is an excerpt from that review:

“…That herbaceous impression I received above the glass while nosing the rum has intensified as I taste it. This sensation softens the rum taking the edge off of the orange peel and oak spices. It also seems to dampen the sweetness a little. The result is a different sort of rum which carries flavours of orange peel, butterscotch, vanilla, marzipan, toasted coconut and oak spice…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Plantation Trinidad 2000  (Old Reserve) Rum

Although my sample was fairly small, I did try one cocktail which I enjoyed immensely, The Sloe Lime Daiquiri which I included in they review.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Plantation Trinidad 2000 (Old 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 »

Review: Angostura Royal Oak Select Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 21, 2011

Today I am re-posting another of my very early reviews. As with most of my early reviews, the commentary in the review is rather fragmentary; but (and this is the saving grace for the review) it is also honest. I wasn’t especially good at descriptors in my earliest reviews, but I was good at getting across what I liked. And as you read the review you will see that this is a rum I liked.  The review is somewhat nostalgic and for good reason. you see I discovered this rum on my honeymoon more than 20 tears ago. ….

More than twenty years ago, my wife and I spent three weeks in Tobago at the Turtle Beach Resort. At the time, I was a whisky drinker, and not a fan of rum at all. However, as the saying goes, when in Rome…

So at the hotel and on the beach I drank rum, and I discovered that I liked it. What they were serving me was a locally produced rum, and although more than 20 years have passed I do believe it was a product which was very reminiscent of Angostura Royal Oak Select. I went back to Canada with two 40 ounce bottles; but alas, they are long gone. I went back to drinking whisky, as the rums available in my locale just did not measure up. It was not until the rum explosion in my locale that my palate for rum was rekindled. Flor de Cana, Ron Matusalem, and El Dorado rums have helped to bring me back in the fold.

Then recently, I found 3 bottles of Royal Oak Select covered in dust in a local liquor store. The proprietor said they were new stock, the dust said otherwise, but I bought all three to see if that rum still tasted as good as 20 years ago.

Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“…The Royal Oak rum  has a nice sweet caramel flavour. If indeed caramel has been added it does not bother me. Taste is what counts and this tastes nice. I can taste that hint of coconut I smelled in the glass and a mellow spiciness. Everything is light, relaxed and this is an easy-going rum…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Angostura Royal Oak Select Rum

Please enjoy this very early review of mine!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Angostura Royal Oak Select Rum

 
%d bloggers like this: