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 1,093 other subscribers

  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,324,003 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Posts Tagged ‘Whiskey’

« Previous Entries

Review: Basil Hayden’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 16, 2023

Basil Hayden’s was originally promoted as part of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection. This collection is composed of Knob Creek, Booker’s, Baker’s  and Basil Hayden’s bourbon whiskies. Although Jim Beam Distillers no longer promotes the Small Batch Collection, I would like to suggest that this selection of premium bourbon played no small part in the explosion of popularity of the spirit for whiskey enthusiasts. (It certainly has a positive impact on me.)

Basil Hayden’s is unique in that it is produced from a distilling mash which has an especially high rye content, twice as much rye in fact as would normally be used in a Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey. The whiskey is aged in American white oak for 8 years, and then bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my review of this stellar whiskey:

Review: Basil Hayden’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon

“… The normally strong aroma of freshly fallen timbers which we usually find in bourbon is muted as if a light rain has fallen to dampen the effect.What is not muted is a firm presence of spicy rye grain which rises with oak spice and vanilla making this a bourbon aroma which has an immediate appeal for a Canadian like me who loves a rye forward whisky …”

I hope you enjoy this review which continues my look back at the original Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection. 

Chimo!

 

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Basil Hayden’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon

Whiskey Review: Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 2, 2023

I’ve been away for a while as I spent August with the family as we travelled to Langley BC to watch my son compete at the Canadian National Track Meet where he took home a bronze medal in the 100M wheelchair finals.

Now that September is here, I have lots to catch up on. I thought I would begin with a look at one of my favourite bourbon whiskeys.

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was originally promoted as part of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection. This collection is composed of Knob Creek, Booker’s, Baker’s  and Basil Hayden’s. Although Jim Beam Distillers no longer promotes the Small Batch Collection, I would like to suggest that this selection of premium bourbon played no small part in the explosion of popularity of the spirit for whiskey enthusiasts. (It certainly has a positive impact on me.)

Knob Creek is the oldest of these small batch whiskeys, and is aged a full nine years in newly charred oak barrels, then bottled at 100 proof or 50 % alcohol by volume. The whiskey brand is owned by Beam Global and is produced at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

I have recently began to revisit this collection of whiskies (see my review of Baker’s Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey here), and I continued this look back with sample of Knob Creek Straight Kentucky Bourbon. Here is a link to my recently revised review:

Review: Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey

“… As spicy as this is, there is also plenty of vanilla and brown sugary sweetness which gives the whiskey a rum-like feel as flavours of Demerara sugar, rich caramel, and sticky orange marmalade provide a firm counterbalance to the spicy heat and alcohol push. Tasty baking spices (nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves), hints of chocolate and toasted walnuts add to the rich flavour …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whiskey Review: Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey

Review: Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 7, 2023

Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an original member of  Jim Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection composed of Booker’s, Baker’s, Knob Creek,and Basil Hayden’s.  Although Jim Beam Distillers no longer promotes the Small Batch Collection, I would like to suggest that this selection of premium bourbon played no small part in the explosion of popularity of the spirit for whiskey enthusiasts. (It certainly has a positive impact on me.)

Baker’s Bourbon is named for Baker Beam, who was the grand-nephew of James Beauregard Beam (Jim Beam). Each bottle is poured from a single barrel. When that barrel is used up, the next bottles will come from a new barrel. This means that the overall flavour profile is unique to each barrel produced.

Baker’s Bourbon is bottled at 107 proof (53.5% alcohol by volume) and produced from whisky which was aged for a minimum of 7 years.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

“… The breezes above the glass were rich and enticing with the scents of sappy oak, rich vanilla and caramel chocolate. Honeycomb joins in with luscious baking spices (particularly cloves and cinnamon) drifting into the breezes …”

Please enjoy this review; hopefully I will get a chance to take another look at the other original members of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection in the coming months.

Chimo!

Posted in Howls | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #5 – Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 18, 2019

I struggled with myself as to whether or not I should include Mister Sam on this list of my favourite Canadian Whiskies. There are two good reasons why it doesn’t belong. The first being that it technically is not a Canadian Whisky. It is instead a blend of Canadian and American Whiskies (although it is named for a great Canadian, Sam Bronfman). The second reason is that it is really hard to find, and a whisky which I purport to call one of my favourites, shouldn’t be one that I have so little access to.

On the other side of the coin is that this was perhaps the best whiskey I tasted all year, and in fact the one I enjoyed the most. Ever since receiving my sample bottle from Sazarac earlier this year, it has become that special bottle which I would sip on special occasions, or on a day where I just wanted to treat myself to something really special.

In the end, I decided that since the original Mister Sam (Sam Bronfman) was a Canadian, I could for the purposes of my 2019 list, make the Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey and honorary Canadian Whisky. And since it appears the whisky is about to be released in Alberta, and will be going forward a yearly release that should be easier to find, maybe it does belong on my list of favourites. (It is my list, so I can bend the rules if I want to.)

Here is a link to my review of the best whisky I tasted in 2019:

Review: Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey

“… Upon the palate, Mister Sam arrives with the brute force of a sledge-hammer threatening to knock your tonsils down your throat with unabashed whiskey fury. The resulting belt to the mouth leaves you wondering what just happened, but at the same time hoping it will happen again. The whiskey might have rattled my taste buds, but the rich robust flavour is undeniable …”

I hope everyone enjoys the review as much I enjoyed the whiskey!

Chimo!

 

Posted in Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on 2019 Rum Howler Favourite 20 Canadian Whiskies: #5 – Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey

Review: Cascade Blonde American Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 14, 2019

Recently, I was sent a few samples of Diageo’s new ‘Blonde’ Whiskey which is currently being sold in Texas and Michigan. The Whiskey, Cascade Blonde American Whiskey, is produced in Tennessee at Diageo’s Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. (formerly the George Dickel Distillery). The spirit takes its name from it light colour which is a result of a double chill filtering process the whiskey undergoes prior to being brought down to bottling proof (40 % alcohol by volume) with Tennessee limestone filtered water.

This whiskey is made from a high-corn mash bill (corn usually provides a smoother lighter whiskey than barley or rye), and my take on the spirit is that Diageo is aiming for a mild whisky suitable for cocktails and sipping over ice.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Cascade Blonde American Whiskey 

“… Drifting into the breezes is a light indication of sandalwood and fine oak spice, and straw. Vanilla, almond and butterscotch are present as well as a light indication of corn and a light winding grass-like scent. A touch of sour fruit and very light baking spice (ginger and cinnamon) rounds out the aroma …”

Please njoy my review which includes a few cocktails for your enjoyment.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cascade Blonde American Whiskey

« Previous Entries