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 1,090 other subscribers

  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,491,457 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Vodka’

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Review: Last Mountain Hand Crafted Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 2, 2017

Last Mountain Hand Crafted Vodka is produced one batch at a time under the care and supervision of Saskatchewan distillers, Colin and Meredith Schmidt. The spirit is triple distilled and filtered three times through stone carbon before it is brought to 40% alcohol by volume and bottled.

I reviewed the Last Mountain Hand Crafted Vodka first in 2012, and then revisited the brand this year when I chose to compare four Vodkas in a small tasting competition (Smirnoff No. 21 Red, Reyka Small Batch, Skyy and Last Mountain Distillery Hand Crafted Vodkas). I tasted the spirits in pairs, and when I determined which vodka from each pair was my preferred spirit, then I tasted the winners of each of the previous tasting sessions went head to head in a final taste-off.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Last Mountain Hand Crafted Vodka

“… When I sipped the spirit, it had a clean mouth-feel. I noticed a mild rye-like spiciness across the palate, a light creamy of wheat flavour (porridge) and a cleansing lemon lime bite. However I could not discern any appreciable burn or discomfort even as the vodka warmed to room temperature …”

Please enjoy this review of Last Mountain Hand crafted Vodka 5 years removed from my original review.

Chimo!

Posted in Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Last Mountain Hand Crafted Vodka

Review: Reyka Small Batch Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 18, 2017

Reyka Small Batch Vodka is produced at Iceland’s first distillery (the Reyka Distillery) located 74km outside of Reykjavik in Borgarnes, Iceland. At the Reyka distillery they collect water from a spring that runs through a lava field. The water is naturally filtered by the lava rock and with that clean water they distill their spirit in one of the few Carter-Head Stills in the world. Each distillation takes about 6 hours and yields 255 preciously small cases. The final vodka contains only natural flavors and extracts. The final spirit is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

I sampled Reyka Small Batch Vodka for the first time when I chose to compare four Vodkas in a small tasting competition (Smirnoff No. 21 Red, Reyka, Skyy and Last Mountain Distillery Hand Crafted Vodkas) earlier this year. My review of Reyka Vodka is based upon the tasting notes from that Tasting Competition.

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Reyka Small Batch Vodka

“… As the spirit warmed the flavours came more into focus reminding me of lightly sweet lemon and lime balsam and white fruit pith. Grain spice and a few hints of mint completed the flavour profile …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a wonderful gimlet style cocktail, the Vodka Darby.

Posted in Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Reyka Small Batch Vodka

Review: Provincial Spiced Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 2, 2017

recliner-sam_2933Radouga Distilleries is a small distillery which began operations in Blaine Lake Saskatchewan (near Saskatoon) on November 20th 2014. Recently I met one of their sales reps (D’arcy Nemanishin) at the November Edmonton Food and Wine Show. We chatted briefly and I sampled the distillery’s 7-time distilled Provincial Vodka (review here). After the show D’arcy arranged for me to receive a few samples of their line-up of Paul’s Pies Liqueurs (Paul Riben is the Owner/CEO of the distillery), as well as the Provincial Spiced and Provincial Vodkas.

Paul Riben distills all of Radouga Distilleries products using grain that Paul grows himself. The operation is a true field to glass operation. I sampled all four spirits over the holidays, and I have decided to share my thoughts here on my website.

Here is a link to the review for Provincial Spiced Vodka.

Review: Provincial Spiced Vodka

“… The main flavours are a mixture of darkened caramel and some lightly bitter wood spice. I add an ice-cube and quickly decide that this was also a mistake as the light sweetness of the spirit is quelled allowing the bitterness within the wood spices free rein. There are perhaps a few toasted coconut flavours and some light almond-like flavours developing in my consciousness …”

 

Posted in Flavoured Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Provincial Spiced Vodka

Review: Grays Peak Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 20, 2017

vodka-darby-sam_3017Grays Peak Vodka is an American spirit produced in Minnesota apparently for the Prestige Wine Group. According to their website information, the spirit is distilled five times from corn using water that undergoes a proprietary reverse osmosis process to any trace minerals and trace elements. The resulting spirit is then filtered through charcoal for added smoothness and bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

The spirit is part of the Preferred Selection at the Western Canadian Liquor Depot chain of stores.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Grays Peak Vodka 

“… When I brought my full shot glass to my nose, I noticed very little in the breezes at first. However as the spirit warmed I began to sense a light hint of vanilla beside some grain spice with perhaps a touch of mint (or menthol) in the breezes as well …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice cocktail recommendation, the Vodka Darby.

Chimo!

Posted in Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Grays Peak Vodka

Review: Ketel One Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 13, 2017

ketel-martini-sam_3029Ketel One Vodka is a Dutch spirit distilled from European Wheat in copper pot stills. It is produced by the Nolet Distillery in Schiedam (the Netherlands). The Nolet Distillery was founded in 1691, has remained a family owned distillery to this day.

When the Ketel One brand was developed the name was chosen to recognize the coal-fired copper still that was originally used to distill it. In dutch that name is  Distilleerketel #1.  Although the brand was created by the Nolet family (in 1981) and is still produced at their facility in Schiedam, Ketel One Vodka is now sold world-wide by Diageo through an agreement reached with the distillery in 2008.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Ketel One Vodka

“… there was unanimous consent around the table that the vodka was extremely smooth going down. I could feel a bevy of clean peppery spice in my mouth, but there was no burn or discomfort after the swallow. There were light after flavours of vanilla, lemon zest and grain spice, but no metallic flavours nor any sign of vegetal aftertaste …”

Please enjoy my review.

Chimo!

Posted in Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ketel One Vodka

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »