Monday 29 December 2014

Greetings from Nicaragua: rum Flor de Caňa

I bought the rum Flor de Caňa at the Miami airport, but it is produced in Nicaragua. To make the journey worth it, I chose a more expensive 18 year old bottle. It cost 40 USD, which means I saved about 10 USD when compared to the prices in Czech shops. Not mentioning the added value of knowing, that not a penny went to the Czech Ministry of Finance!  


So what is Flor de Caňa like?

Honestly, I don’t really know. I opened it all excited, I poured it into a glass and tried to find all the undertones that should be there. Caramel, roasted hazelnuts, oak, vanilla or dark chocolate… All that should be in this rum, but it all came out somewhat hazy. 

I don’t mean that the rum is bad though! It tastes great drinking it in the evening, just sitting on the porch. Compared to other types of rum from this region, it is not as sweet and heavy. Don’t get confused by the bottle – the picture shows new design. You can still find the old design on Czech web sites. 




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Sunday 14 December 2014

Rum from Trinidad and Tobago

I must admit that I had to have a peak on the map to find out where Trinidad and Tobago is situated. To my surprise, this state is not in Africa but it is an island near Venezuela. It is the country of origin of exceptional rum I would like to recommend:  Kraken Black Spiced Rum.

In comparison with other kinds of rum that I usually prefer, like SantaTeresa from Venezuela or Zacapa from Guatemala, this rum is much sweeter. Kraken Black Spiced Rum matures for 24 months, a mixture of 11 herbs and spices macerates in the rum for several weeks. The local caramel is added too. It has a coffee like brown colour, taste reminds of molasses, exotic spices, chocolate with a drop of vanilla, finishing with traces of cinnamon and ginger. 

Kraken Black Spiced Rum will be appreciated by people who prefer sweet kinds of rum to the tough pirate kinds. It might be very popular with women. The price is affordable, which makes it even nicer. In the czech e-shops it can be purchased for 25 USD. And one cherry of information for the end: the design of the bottle is said to be a replica of a Victorian bottle. 



Sunday 7 December 2014

Rum from Costa Rica

This year we went for a holiday in Costa Rica, ant besides its renown natural beauty we also planned to check out local rum. The traditional brand, and probably the only one too, is Centenario. (I couldn’t find anything else but I will be happy for any suggestions.) 

From the Centenario offer we decided to try “young” nine year old rum, which is dark but is used mainly for cocktails. After one rather copious diner, we also treated ourselves to a 25 year old rum of the same brand (Ron Centenario 25 years Gran Reserva), which was a great choice. The rum is produced using the solera system, the taste is slightly sweet, you can taste tropical fruit, vanilla, molasses and tobacco.  


The thirty year old Ron Centenario Edicion Limitada 30 aňos is even older. 

Ron Centenario Edicion Limitada 30 aňos
We decided that mainly because of the price we will not drag bottles of rum halfway round the world but we will buy them from Czech e-shops. We can certainly recommend the Centenario though. 

The price was a bit disappointing. A couple of friends sent me messages saying I should bring something nice home with me. Unfortunately, retail prices of rum in Costa Rica are similar to those in Czech Republic. The availability of local produce was a bit problematic too. Restaurants preferred foreign brands (eg. the popular Nicaraguan Flor de Caña, Zacapa, Havana Club).


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Sunday 30 November 2014

Armagnac Clos Martin XO Folle Blanche

Another little discovery that I somehow managed to forget to mention.  Armagnac Clos Martin XO Folle Blanche is distilled from ripe vines of  Folle Blance, exclusively from the Bas Armagnac appellation.  

It is interesting, that this was one of the very few varieties that survived the deadly wave of Phylloxera in the 70s of the 19th century. It is now very rare and only grown on a small area in France. 

Armagnac has a strong fruity character, complemented by light vanilla, dried fruits and tobacco undertones. I personally can taste hazelnuts.  Clos Martin XO Folle Blanche distillate matured for 15 years in oak casks before bottling. 

Clos Martin XO Folle Blanche

Wednesday 26 November 2014

The joys of Cognac: Bache Gabrielsen VSOP Fine Cognac

They say Brno is a boring place. Hard to say. This time, Brno pleasantly surprised me. My latest catch for a “quiet evening on the porch” is called Bache Gabrielsen VSOP Fine Cognac.

Eau-de-vie, distillate used in blending, comes from the regions of Fins Bois and Petite Champagne. It is made solely from the grapes of the Ugni Blanc variety. The blend matured in casks for 7 to 10 years. I was able to get a litre of this in Brno for just 900 CZK (45 USD)!


Bache Gabrielsen VSOP Fine Cognac
Tasting

Cognac has amber colour. It gives off an aroma of vanilla and wood. Taste is slightly on the sweet side, with fruity undertones.

Interesting points about Bache Gabrielsen

Thomas Bache Gabrielsen came to France from Norway at the beginning of the 20th century, to try his luck. He ended up settling down (cherchez la femme) and he joined the company of Peter Anton Rustad.

The company always had a strong position within the market of the northern countries. During the time of the Spanish flu however, alcohol was banned and could not be sold in shops in Norway. One doctor in the city of Homestrand prescribed three things for the flu – some pills, camphor and a bottle of cognac. This is where the name of the Bach Gabrielsen cognac  “tr kors”, meaning three crosses, comes from, and it used to have three red crosses printed on the label. This trick also helped the export of the cognac from France to Norway. We will never know, whether the remedy really helped the patients though… 


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Sunday 23 November 2014

Rum from Guatemala: Botran Anějo Reserva

A friend of mine is a good old honest man. He returned my bag with my Botran Anějo Reserva rum, with the fragrant tasty liquid almost at the same level as before. And you can trust me it must have been hard to resist! The rum is exquisite, with caramel, candied fruit, black coffee, cloves and vanilla undertones. 


Botran Anějo Reserva rum
Guatemalan rum produced by the Casa Botran Company are distilled from fermented virgin sugar cane syrup. They use the solera system for maturing the rum in the altitude of 2333 m in white oak casks that used to contain bourbon and sherry.  

However, the fact that in Miami airport the rum costs 19 dollars, while at home it is sold for 700 CZK (40 USD) leaves a bitter aftertaste. Other than that, I truly recommend it.


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Wednesday 19 November 2014

New pieces for my collection: cognac Godet 1981 and AE Dor XO Carafe Nolly

After a long time I decided to get a little something for myself, and I bought some new bottles for my collection. The first one is Godet, year 1981. I must say I like these old brands in plain bottles and wooden boxes, without unnecessary decorations and trinkets.  

That’s right; the content of the bottle is as old as I am. One could say we will mature nicely together. But the opposite is true. Cognac does not mature in a glass bottle, it does not develop with time and so the only one changing with time will be me. Truth is I had to reach deep into my wallet this time, but I believe the money is well invested. 




Godet cognac is one of the most defined brands. Grapes come from a single region, a single vineyard and for the whole period of maturing the cognac was barrelled in a single cask. Every cognac is thus specific not only according to the region and vine variety, but according to the year of harvest too. 


The second bottle I bought was AE Dor XO Carafe Nolly Cognac. I took it at a spur of a moment for a good price. I think Flaviar sometimes tries to get rid of unopened bottles that they make up their sets of, and they had this extra bottle left. The only disadvantage is that it has no box. But I can still drink it with friends, right? 


Saturday 15 November 2014

Two kinds of rum: Plantation rum Grande reserva from Barbados and Lemon Hart Original from British Guayana

For a little help to my friend I got rewarded two interesting rum samples, which I would like to recommend. The first one is Plantation rum Grande reserva form Barbados. When tasting this rum, I remembered the typical taste of rum pralines! I am well aware of the fact, that the producer would not be over excited about this, but that is exactly what I can taste in it – and I mean it in a good way. 


Plantation rum Grande reserva
Plantation rum Grande reserva is very subtle, light and easy to drink with pleasant and sweet finish. Taste is full, with undertones of tropical fruit. This rum also has an interesting journey – it starts with maturing in old bourbon casks on the island of Barbados. Than it travels to France, the Cognac region, where it is blended and matured for another year in casks previously used for Pierre Ferrand XO Grande Champagne cognac. Isn’t that a lovely journey with the perfect ending? 

The second type of rum that I tasted accepted Darth Vaders invitation and passed on to the dark side. Lemon Hart Original is very dark with a distinctive taste. Because of this strong taste, I would recommend it only to experienced seamen.  By the way, the founder of the distillery – Mr. Lemon Hart – was the first official rum supplier for British royal navy.  

Lemon Hart Original

Monday 10 November 2014

Daniel Bouju Sélection Spéciale Grande Champagne Cognac

I did myself a favour and bought some samples of cognac at MasterOfMalt. 3 cl samples have an advantage – you can taste a wide variety of spirits and you can choose those that you want to order in a bigger bottle for drinking or for your collection. 

When it comes to more expensive drinks, it is nice that you can taste real rare distillates and you won’t spend your yearly bonuses doing so (if you happen to have any). To sum it up – you don’t buy a pig in a poke, you can experience new tastes and you won’t pay an arm and a leg while doing so. 

The first sample I tasted was Daniel Bouju Sélection Spéciale Grande Champagne Cognac. Bouju is a family company from a little village called Saint Preuil. As we can suspect from its name, it was produced solely from the grapes of the Grande Champagne region. Eau de vie was made from Ugni Blanc variety. Cognac matured in Limousin Oak casks. 

Tasting notes:

Colour is pale, slightly amber.
Taste is non aggressive. Pleasant undertones of wood and flowers. 


Daniel Bouju Sélection Spéciale
Grande Champagne Cognac
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Thursday 6 November 2014

Gift idea: Dos Maderas P.X.5+5 10YO, Ron Añejo Superior Reserve

It’s my brother’s birthday and I decided to give him some Dos Maderas (P.X.5+5 10YO, Ron Añejo Superior Reserve) rum, from Barbados. 

The interesting thing about this rum is the way it is produced. The maturing of this Caribbean cane rum is divided into three phases. First, the rum is left to mature for 5 years in oak casks in Caribbean and then it is sent to Spain, where it spends another 3 years in oak casks in the cellars of  Williams & Humbert. Finally, it spends two years in casks used for 20 years of maturing of sweet Pedro Ximenes sherry.

Thanks to all this travelling and maturing the rum has a harmonious taste with the touch of raisins and figs. Taste is very delicate, complex and warming. It makes a great digestive and an interesting alternative for cognac or brandy.  



The only disadvantage of this rum is, that if you give it as a birthday gift, the one you give it to will not want to share it with you. My father and I had to involve a bit of pressure to get my brother to spare another glassful. 

Awards:

Rum XP International Tasting Competition Miami 2013: golden medal in the „Special Cask“ category 
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2013: Silver Medal
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2011 – 95 points in March evaluation – extraordinary quality and recommendation

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Cognac Daniel Bouju – Très Vieux Cognac and VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac
Two types of cognac from one house: Cognac Leyrat Lot 50 Chai Ancestral and ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru Cognac
Cognac Audry Exception

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Monday 3 November 2014

Cognac Audry Exception


The scorching temperatures outside made me wonder, if I should begin the tasting of my recent delivery of cognac. Around 10 pm, when the heat became a bit more bearable, I opened one of the samples - Cognac Audry Exception.

I have read that this cognac sent its little producer up among the well renowned brands in a Time article. As of today, the producer still uses the short article, but mainly the text: “But the best Cognac you have never heard of is A. Edmund Audry...” to his advantage. 


Cognac Audry Exception
Truth is, that Cognac Audry Exception really is a thing of beauty. It is produced by blending of eau de vie from two regions – Grande a Petites Champagne, in 80 to 20 ratio, where the youngest components are 30 to 35 years old and the oldest ones come from 1928, or even 1922(!). This cognac is slightly more alcoholic (43 %).

Tasting notes: 

Colour: darker 
Aroma: very rich, oaky smell 
Taste: strong, aromatic, explosion of taste, we perceive almonds, marzipan  
Finish: very distinctive, spicy and pleasantly lingering  

Recommendation 

If you want to make someone very happy, get them some Audry Exception for a present. I personally am a non-smoker, but I have a suspicion it night be particularly pleasing for cigar lovers. The price is a bit high (250 Euro and up), but the experience is worth it.  

Friday 31 October 2014

Cognac Daniel Bouju – Très Vieux Cognac and VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac

When French say that the delivery is on its way and should arrive in 5 days, you have to count with at least a month before you get the bottle you have longed for. On Friday, after several weeks of waiting, I was finally able to pick up another bottle for my collection at the post office – this time I chose cognac Daniel Bouju Très Vieux Cognac. 

Daniel Bouju Très Vieux Cognac


This cognac is between 30 to 50 years old and it matures in new Limousin Oak casks. It has a dark amber colour which reflects the fact, that the distillate is not filtered. The cognac has a strong character with wooden undertones and spicy aroma.  



Daniel Bouju Très Vieux Cognac

VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac

In my tasting set from  Masterofmalt I have discovered some cognac by the same producer, but younger. Daniel Bouju VSOP Grande Champagne is a nice cognac for a very reasonable price. In Czech Republic it can be bought for about 1000 CZK (30 Euro). 


Tasting notes:  


Colour: dark amber with reddish tones 

Aroma: gentle non-aggressive aroma 
Taste: strong, complex, vanilla undertones 
Finish: vanilla, slightly spicy


VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac
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Two types of cognac from one house: Cognac Leyrat Lot 50 Chai Ancestral and ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru Cognac

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Wednesday 29 October 2014

Two types of cognac from one house: Cognac Leyrat Lot 50 Chai Ancestral and ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru Cognac

I always try to read something interesting about the cognac that I am about to drink. However, I encountered an interesting and unexpected problem when it came to Leyrat Lot 50 Chai Ancestral – I could not find any information on the product, there is nothing on the producer´s web page and the producer does not even react to my questions. This can only happen in France. 

The only description I discovered was on a web page of an English distributor, according to whom it is old cognac for connoisseurs. Eau de vie comes from the region of Fins Bois. That is not a very explicit description for a cognac that costs 5000 CZK (180 Euro) per bottle!  

Update: 
I got some information from Elodie Abécassis, the director of  Domaines Francis Abécassis. Apparently, Cognac Leyrat LOT 50 was produced 10 years ago in a very limited amount for a British importer. She couldn’t remember the exact age of the cognac only that it was very old and their own production (particularly it came from Domaine de Chez Maillard winery) in the village of Claix. The barrel is empty today, and the importer doesn’t have any bottles for sale either. The closest you can get to the taste of Leyrat Lot 50 is cognac Leyrat XO Elite. It tastes of honey, wood, spice (cinnamon) and dried fruits. 

Tasting notes: 
Colour: quite pale for an old cognac, amber 
Aroma: spicy taste, we can smell fruit and honey, which is very distinctive 
Taste: strong, very distinctive, intensive, maybe a bit too much for me, we can taste spices and honey 
Finish: I would say it is short, dry due to stronger tannins, spicy 

Leyrat Lot 50 Chai Ancestral
We do have  more information on our next cognac - ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru. It comes from the same house, of which the lucky proprietor, Mr. Francis Abecassis, thus produces three brands of cognac: Leyrat, Reviseur and ABK6. His vineyards cover the area of 250 hectares.

ABK6 is a young “brand”, but it already managed to win some interesting awards. Cognac ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru was awarded the prestigious  „World's Best Cognac at the World Cognac Awards 2014”. 

Tasting notes 
Colour: golden 
Aroma: pleasing, fruity 
Taste: after a drop of water the taste is rich, slightly spicy, we can taste fruit, particularly apples 
Finish: a bit longer, gentle, velvety, with vanilla


ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru
Recommendation 

If you want to try a more modern form of cognac (what a strange collocation), I recommend ABK6 VSOP Grand Cru. Cognac Leyrat Lot 50 Chai Ancestral is more specific and might not be to everyone’s liking.

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