Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Two rums – Ron Pampero Anejo Selección 1938 and Ron Blackwell

Big thanks to my friends who gave me a nice collection of various spirits for my birthday. I have something to taste now and write about. Let´s start with rums. I got two interesting ones - Ron Pampero Anejo Selección 1938 and Ron Blackwell. 

 Ron Pampero Anejo Selección 1938 comes from Venezuela. A year 1938 refers to the time when Las Industrias Pampero distillery was founded. This rum is aging from 4 to 6 years in oak casks previously used for bourbon. While final soaking a vintage rum year 1938 from company´s reserves is added. Most probably only in a microscopic amount.  

 The rum has dark mahagony colour. We can also sense vanilla and melasa.  The taste is very soft, smooth with tones of bourbon. Great for direct drinking.  
Ron Pampero Anejo Selección 1938
In one review I found a tip for a ritul from city of Caracas - for brave only.  Put one side of lime slice to brown sugar and the other one to grounded coffee. Bite into the lime and  have a big shot of this rum.  It is a similar to the Czech drinking style called “Kofila”. However, the rum tastes really good anyway, so you don´t need any add ons.   

 The other speciality is Ron Blackwell rum, which is produced on Jamaica according to a family recipe. Its full name is Ron Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum. A music legend Chris Blackwell stands behind this brand. With his music label, Island Records, he “introduced” reggae to the world.
Ron Blackwell
Ron Blackwell is traditional, a bit heavier and stronger rum. It has dark colour with beautiful red glints. We can smell melasa and traces of coffee in it.  I found the flavour nice and fruity. For not very experienced drinkers it is recommended to drink it on rocks, with a little bit of pineapple juice. Real seamen do enjoy it as it is, or with a piece of dark chocolota at most. 

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Rum from Guatemala: Botran Anějo Reserva

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Wednesday, 18 February 2015

A little joy from traveling : Calvados Pays D´Auge Réserve – Famille Dupont

I was a bit dissapointed after my return from vacations in France. While traveling, we visited many wine shops and never seen broader offer of cognacs. French classics were everywhere. And only one deli shop offered Leyrat brand. Racks were rather full of whiskey, rum or gin.  Weird experience. I expected Nice, largely visited by Russians and Chinese, to be more “ready” in this way. 

 Anyway, I bought calvados in a wine shop to bring home at least something good. I decided for Calvados Pays D´Auge Réserve – Famille Dupont.
Calvados Pays D´Auge Réserve
How is Calvados Pays D´Auge Réserve produced?

 Exact portions of apples from each type—sweet, bitter and  acidic are mixed together, crushed and squeezed out. The juice is fermented, and  being double-distilled six months later and aged in 400 l oak casks for at leat four years.

 Notes from tasting Calvados Pays D´Auge Réserve 

 Colour: light amber

 Aroma: aroma of freshly harvested green apples

 Taste: juicy green apples, slightly bitter, mint tones

 Experiment

 The French calvados inspired me to make a little experiment. I got 5 liters of Slovak “jablíčkovice” (traditional apple spirit) as a birthday present whis is a bit “stronger”.  Now I plan to buy a toasted oak cask from Czech cooper, fill it with my birthday spirit and “age it” for the next 5 or more years. Let´s see what will happen. Hope it will work out! 

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Friday, 13 February 2015

A must try for the beginner: Ragnaud Sabourin Alliance No 4 (VS)

After the vintage cognac by Frapin I´ve decided to try something lighter. I chose Ragnaud Sabourin Alliance No 4 (VS), which is the most basic and in terms of the  price also the most accessible spirit of this producer.

Ragnaud Sabourin is a family owned company that is engaged in the production of cognac since 1850, right in the heart of Grande Champagne appellation. They produce blended and vintage cognacs - from basic VS to specialties such as LeParadis, which is a blend of "eau de vie" from the beginning of the last century and also includes 10% share of the Cognac produced before the disaster with the phylloxera (ie. Before 1870). Just the ideal candidate for my collection, provided that I learn, how to save money properly. 

Ragnaud-Sabourin Alliance No.4 VS

Tasting notes

Colour: very light
Smell: light floral notes
Taste: intense, a touch drier, with slight hints of oak barrels
Finish: Langer, but enjoyable 

Recommendation: Nice and simple cognac, ideal for those who are just getting started. Well worth it´s price of 30 euro per bottle. I say: Give it a go. 


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Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Frapin Multimillésime No 5 Cognac

I´ve opened a sample of the Cognac Frapin Multi Millesime No 5 of 2012, which is a mixture of three vintages (1982, 1986 and 1989). Cognac was produced in a limited edition of 1270 pieces. I usually find small series enjoyable and so I´m thinking to buy this cognac into my collection.
Frapin Multimillésime No 5 Cognac
This is already the second cognac produced by Frapin family, that I´m reviewing. In November, I wrote about the excellent vintage cognac Frapin Chateau de Fontpinot Millésime 1989. Article can be found here.

 The Frapin family has settled in the region of southwestern France around year 1270. Traditional producers of wine started with spirits in more recent times. Currently they own 300 hectares of Grande Champagne, 200 of which are planted with vineyards. Family is housed in the  castle Fontpinot in the town of Segonzac.

 The most famous member of the family was Francois Rabelais, a prominent French writer of the 16th century and author of the famous novel Gargantua and Pantagruel. As it happens, prestigious cognac The Cuvee Rebalais was named after him. Marketing is a game and great great uncle would certainly be delighted.

 Tasting notes
Color: dark amber
Aroma: sweet, vanilla
Taste: pronounced with hints of vanilla
Finish: The taste stays for quite a long time in the mouth

 Recommendation
As I wrote at the beginning: This cognac is relatively small series, and in my opinion is masterfully blended. I really do think it´s worth purchasing. Eventually, number of the bottles with  this particular blend available on the market will decrease, allowing its price to gain an interesting growth.
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Cigar Club Cognac XO Jean Fillioux

Before we start I have to admit something to you: As a sworn non-smoker I actually wonder, whether I will be able to fully appreciate this cognac. However, I´ve decided to give XO Cognac Cigar Club a try, despite my "handicap". 

 Cognac Cigar Club (Jean Fillioux) is produced from grapes grown exclusively in the area of Grande Champagne and it´s blend of the "spirits" with an average age of 30 years.

 About the producer

 An independent family-owned company, which manages 50 acres of vineyards in the heart of Grande Champagne. Family focuses on eaux de vie of the highest quality and  has been engaged in the production of cognac  for four generations. Current owner Pascal J. Fillioux claims, that every bottle released on the market under his name is also under his personal control - from the harvest to the bottling.

 Tasting notes

 Colour: dark amber with a big red shades
Smell: beautiful fruity aroma with notes of honey and vanilla
Taste: full, distinctly sweet, fruity spicy flavor
Finish: Beautifuly long  

 Recommendation

 As the name suggests, this Cognac would be probably really ideal to combine with a Cuban cigar. After all, it was created to do so! Will you taste itself, or in combination with dark chocolate.
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