This is an extremely informative & highly stylised publication that provides a potted history of 10 drinks that changed the world.
They are – in order of appearance in the book;
Baijiu
Cognac
Vodka
Scottish & Irish Whiskies
Shochu
Tequila & Mezcal
Bourbon
Rum
Gin
Absinthe
Packed full of colourful stories, factual details, cocktail recipes & suggested bottle choices – the publication is an entertaining insight into the various worldwide spirits categories.
There’s only two I haven’t yet explored – Shochu & Absinthe.
This book makes me want to seek them out & give them a taste!
Celebrity spirits generally get a bad rap – mainly from those on the inside – but they generate increased sales – usually from the outside – & attract a new layer of drinkers for the producers involved.
The producer of this Dominican Republican rum isn’t stated – but it has benefited from an 8 year solera style ageing process.
I welcome celebrity spirits.
Especially one as tasty as this dark rum bearing the Motorhead motif.
There’s woodiness, oak, sweet molasses, & a lovely flair of tannic spice on the rear.
It satisfies my rum tendencies – as well as my heavy metal cravings.
Rock on!
I purchased my Motorhead Rum via Brands For Fans here.
For a list of rum distilleries in Dominican Republic visit here.
It always intrigued me that the gender mix at Whiskey Live Dublin was predominately male, yet that of Gin Live – organised by the same folks, often with exhibition stalls from the same distilleries & staffed by the same people – is overwhelmingly female.
Well Girly Drinks by Mallory O’Meara can unsolve that mystery.
A thoroughly researched book, packed with information presented in an entertainingly readable style tells the tale of how females have been systematically excluded from the drinking scene for centuries.
This results in genderised drinks whereby whiskey = male & gin = female – as played out in my Dublin experiences.
Things are changing for the better however.
But consider the first female Master Blender of any sprits category was as late as 1997 with the appointment of Joy Spence at Appleton Estate Rum Distillery in Jamaica.
There is still a long way to go.
A compulsory text for anyone serious about the gender divide in alcohol.
Red Eye Louie’s brand of blended spirits caught my eye.
They do a line of Vodquila, Whisquila & Rumquila which had me tempted.
Unlikely to appear in Ireland – I decided to make my own.
Rather than blending from the same spirit category – Red Eye Louie’s mix up the spirits creating something new & exciting. Not knowing the percentages used nor the original spirit donors – I simply went with what I had & settled on a 1 third to 2 thirds mix weighted towards tequila.
Pressing on the coloured highlights will take you to my original blogs on the liquids.
VodQuila
Not sure what to expect here – or if the spirits will ‘marry’ together – but no venture no gain!
Well the pungent agave nose survives! Shouldn’t have been too surprised. Vodka after all is a neutral spirit suitable for mixing. An oily mouthfeel, more agave notes warming to a pleasant peppery finish.
Could have easily confused this for an actual tequila!
I had to re-check with Azteca to get a comparison. If anything the agave notes were more pronounced with the original – but the vodka had provided a boost to the body of the mix.
I’ll take the Azteca nose, VodQuila body & Azteca finish with this one!
WhisQuila
This might be more of a challenge!
Both whiskey & tequila have distinctive characteristics – will they gel together?
In a word – yes!
The agave still came through – but with added vanilla, caramel & a touch of oak. All contributions from barrel ageing. The peppery spice still provided a flourish on the finish.
This blend strayed into reposado style tequila.
I must say I found it very entertaining!
RumQuila
The final push!
How will a funky Jamaican get on with a tasty Mexican?
It’s the funk that plays the nose on this one!
The fruitiness is somewhat subdued by an almost savoury agaviness on the palate & then it all comes alive on the finish. The funk just got peppered!
That’s a new experience for me!
Thoughts
I must say I’ve been mightily impressed with the results!
All 3 blends gave additional body, flavours and/or joie de vivre to the individual components – making for an entertaining & highly enjoyable tasting extravaganza!
I think Red Eye Louise’s are onto something with their pre-mixed drinks – but there’s nothing to stop yourself from experimenting at home.
Having previously arranged sample swaps from a number of sources – by the time of arrival I’ve often forgotten what’s been chosen from whom – rather than look up past correspondence I simply pour, taste & enjoy.
This frees me from any undue bias towards particular brands or styles.
Nor do I sit with them for long.
The samples are poured – 3 in this instance – viewed to compare colour – no noticeable difference here – sniffed, swallowed & immediate tasting notes scribbled.
A few minutes later Sample C was the clear winner.
Nice nose, soft, sweet, rum like, slight funk. Bit sharp. Bite on finish, prickly spice. High strength?
Bit of an experience!
Thoughts
Well that was an enjoyable tasting – 3 lovely rums with a clear winner!
The smooth delivery, rich flavours & gorgeous funkiness of Copeland’s Grand Cru instantly won me over.
The 2 Killowen’s funk just didn’t shine in comparison & sadly – I have to admit – the high strength of Dark Rum was a bigger defining feature than the subtle flavours within.
Their Peated Dark Rum however – despite being stronger at 58.1% – did excite & while I didn’t detect the peat presence it clearly influenced my choice. Nor did the high ABV deter.
Where would your palate have taken you?
Donaghadee is where I’m going to replenish my rums!
Using Jamaican Rum – a former British colony – is generally a given in these offerings which are usually a blend of Caribbean rums interpreting the original ‘tot’.
Pusser’s however stresses the use of pot still rum from Guyana blended with marks from Trinidad & Barbados to create their ‘Admiralty Rum’.
A very dark nose of rich molasses & treacly funk greeted me.
Smooth & sweet on the palate with dark muscovado sugars dominating.
A prickliness on the finish exhibiting a slight funk & departing with a drying experience.
Ship Inn, Elie c/oTheWhiskeyNut
Pusser’s made a suitable tipple to celebrate completing another section of the Fife Coastal Path in the nautically themed Ship Inn by the Firth Of Forth in Elie.
Despite being a 2014 publication this rip roaring action packed story set in 1920’s prohibition times of rum running reads like a 1930’s boys own story.
The clean cut hero thwarts a Bolshevik takeover of the US with the help of his trusted friends.
There’s a little background into the dark underworld prohibition spawned with mentions of Haig & Haig, The Real McCoy, Canadian Club & Bushmills too.
Could easily be the plot for a classic style of B Movie.
It’s great to welcome new innovation into the spirits category.
Irish Apple Rum c/othewhiskeynut
The Woodlab Distillery in Co Tyrone have released this Caribbean Rum infused with Irish Jonagold Apples grown in Co Armagh to create Symphonia Irish Apple Rum.
I picked one up in my local Aldi for appraisal.
Technically I suppose it’s a spiced rum – which as the fastest growing rum category is no bad thing.
Info c/othewhiskeynut
Initial nosing is full of sweet nutmeg & assorted spices – much like a liqueur – with a hint of apple purée.
Smooth on the palate. A lovely mixture of golden apples & a warming spiciness which grows to dominate the finish leaving a soft tingling caressed with baked apple.
I may not be the target audience – but it’s certainly an entertaining tipple.
Personally I’d have preferred experiencing the apple influence on it’s own – but as the spiced category is booming it’s fabulous to see a new Irish player on the scene.
Congratulations to The Woodland Lab & their Symphonia Irish Apple Rum.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 