Contact Me
If you are a member of the spirits industry, and wish to see your spirit reviewed on the Rum Howler Blog, then here is where you should make your initial contact. My email address for such inquiries is:
MAIL.RUMHOWLER@GMAIL.COM
(Please Note: This email address indicated above is for industry and publishing contacts only. I will not respond to other inquiries. If you have questions or comments regarding my reviews, my recipes, or other matters relating to the blog then please use the comments section provided at the end of each article I publish.)
I will respond via email to make arrangements to obtain your sample. All spirits samples must be bottled and sealed in original packaging. I generally will not review a sample of less than 200 ml, although the preferred sample size is 500 ml to 750ml bottle.
Although I am located in Canada, I have made all of the appropriate arrangements to receive samples from the US and abroad.
If you are an advertiser or publisher and wish to use, or republish any of my materials (in full or in part) or have myself submit new material to you for publication, please be advised that all of my articles/reviews/photographs are protected by copyright. Please contact myself via this section of my blog to make such arrangements.
Please leave a short message in the comments box regarding your concern. I shall respond back via the comments box, or if the matter requires more attention I shall email my reply to yourself. If you wish your contact request to be kept confidential, please indicate this in your comment. (Comments do not appear until after I have reviewed and approved them so your confidentiality is assured.)
(Note: I sometimes receive comments and messages from persons who wish me to comment on the value of bottles of whisky and rum that they have in their possession. And from persons who wish to use my blog as a means to sell such bottles. Although I thank you for reading my blog, I cannot help you in these matters. My suggestion for you is to visit Whisky.com or the Ministry of Rum where it appears help in these matters may be provided.)
Linda Meade-Tollin said
I am very fond of Bacardi Reserva Limitada, Founder’s Blend, despite the fact that it is not sold outside of Puerto Rico. Do you plan to review it?
Thanks for a very interesting and informative blog!
Taichi
Arctic Wolf said
The Bacardi Reserva Limitada is not on my review schedule. It is doubtful that I will be doing a review in the foreseeable future unless a bottle miraculously arrives at my doorstep, as it is unavailable to me in Alberta.
David said
What are your thoughts on Lemon Hart 80?
Arctic Wolf said
I am sorry, but although I have a bottle of the LH80, I have not had the occasion to open it yet. My understanding is the the LH151 is the more famous of the Lemon Hart brands as it has a large following amongst Tiki enthusiasts. The LH80 seems not to have caught on in the same way. Maybe I will use this question of yours as an excuse to finally open my bottle.
Cheers and Stay Tuned!
brad said
Excellent Site, keep up the good work!
Do you have a specific style or brand of glass you use when enjoying Dark Rums?
Arctic Wolf said
When I do my tasting session with Rum or Whisky I always use a glencain glass for at least one of the tasting sessions. But I also use a variety of other glasses depending upon my mood. I have a nice snifter/rocks glass which I like to use as well as some stemmed glassware. I think people in general tend to change things up and use different glasses on different occasions and I guess I am no different.
brad said
Just curious where you usually go to buy dark rum, more specifically the non common varieties
Chateau Louis & Sherbrooke liquor stores?
Just trying to locate a few other stores i can go check out when i am in Edmonton
Thanks for your time
looking specifically for Macombo Art Edition, Zacapa XO (25 YR) & Angostura 1919
Arctic Wolf said
Macombo and Zacapa XO are not available in Alberta. The Logistics website is a AGLC resource set up to help you find who sells what in the entire province. Just plug in the name of the rum and it will let you know who distributes it and at which stores it is at.
Marcel said
I’ve joined 98 subscibing followers. That makes me No.99…a pretty cool number in this part of Alberta.
I like your awards…Alberta Premium 30yo does not seem to be available any longer for the sub-$50.00 range. The restocking in many stores is well above this. And I’m not surprised that Gibsons Finest 12yo made the short list. It’s always been a favorite here. Another yummy Gibsons is the recent Bourbon cask finish. Keep up the good work. See you again at the Edmonton Whisky Festival.
Joe said
so i was recently gifted a bottle of the glenfiddich snow phoenix and its something i would like to hold on to for drinking on special occasions. my father will be retiring soon, and i would like to open it, so we can share a drink in celebration. my question is, once i open the bottle, how can i preserve it, and will being opened bring any ill effects to my whisky as it sits on its shelf? thanks in advance, and love the blog!
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Joe
Whisky has a rather long shelf life so it will preserve rather easily. I would suggest keeping the box or sleeve the whisky arrived in to keep light off the bottle. Light is not a huge problem but some believe that UV radiation from light can slowly damage the contents of whisky. (This is a very long term process and nothing to worry about if the bottle is to be consumed within a year.) If your bottle is corked, and if you live in a dry climate like I do, you may want to tip your bottle on its side briefly (an hour or so) every six months or so to wet the cork. Do not leave the bottle on its side for a long period of time as tipping the bottle is a double edged sword, as the whisky can over time damage the cork. Finally keep the whisky bottles in a cool place away from direct exposure to heat.
I hope that helps.
art drysdale said
Hi Chip,
Thanks for the great write up on ZAFRA. We jsut started posting the rums for this years Uncle Ron’s Night and used it to introduce ZAFRA..
cheers
don ron art
Arctic Wolf said
Your Welcome Art
I hope the tasting went splendidly.
Bryno said
Hey Chip, I’ve posted here once or twice, but I thought that I would let you know that I mentioned you on my blog. I just provided a quick overview about the site and linked to it. I enjoy your reviews and often have to check on my phone when I go to Sherbrooke or Chateau Louis to grab myself a good bottle of rum. If you wanna check out my post, you can do so here: http://brynosthingsthatareawesome.tumblr.com/. Thanks, keep it up!
Arctic Wolf said
Gee Thanks Bryno.
You brought a smile to my face when you described my reviews as being unpretentious. I consider that a real compliment.
Cheers!
Dave said
hey Chip
Stumbled across your website after searching for reviews of Bison grass vodka and been checking out your reviews. I noticed that Wyborowa Exquisite gets your highest review of Vodkas. Its quite pricey where I live (Vancouver), so I havent had a chance to pick up a bottle yet
How do you compare that to the regular Wyborowa, which is about a 1/3 of the price? Would this bottle get a 90′s score?
cheers
Dave
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Dave
I haven’t had the chance to taste the regular Wyborowa although one of the members of my Vodka tasting group says it is quite good.
Ray said
Hi, I came across your website as my wife just got to Colombia and was going to search out some premium rums to bring back for me. Great website! It has been very informative. I read a number of different reviews as I enjoys multiple types of alcohol, so long as they are premium level. There is one tequila I would highly recommend to as I did not see it reviewed: Don Julio 1942. It is a limited production anejo which has become my beverage of choice. You can drink it neat and it has the mellowness of a premium bourbon with a remarkable tequila flavor. I would venture to say that it may hit your 98 threshold because the bottle is a beautiful presentation of the tequila, has a rich appearance in a glass, is the best I have ever tasted, has no burn and leaves a beautiful remnant of the flavor. I would certainly love to hear your input on this ultra-premium tequila. Thanks again for all of the other information as I await my bottle of Dictador 20!
Ray
Robert said
Hi RumHowler,
I would love to have you review Old New Orleans Crystal rum. I don’t want to tell you what I think about it because I don’t want to sway your thoughts. All I can say is, if you haven’t tried it, you should…
I value your opinion!
Thanks…
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Robert
I haven’t had the opportunity to try the Old New Orleans Rum. Then again there are probably hundreds of rums I haven’t tried yet. But if the Old New Orleans Crystal Rum becomes available in my locale then I will give it a try.
Cheers!
Chip
acrocosm said
I am in Canada as well and have just started up a spirits review blog. What arrangements did you make to receive bottles by mail? How long was it before people in the industry began sending you samples? I’m in Ontario, and my blog will focus on bottles available here.
Thanks.
-N.R.M.
Arctic Wolf said
I think your best course of action is to write honestly and with passion. Only time will tell if your blog gets noticed by industry.
Andy said
Hi Mr. Dykstra,
I’m a college-age (legal!) student at the University of Minnesota and I’m just getting into rums, as the sugar cane / molasses base seems less intimidating to my taste buds! I know that prices in Minnesota don’t exactly scale with those in Canada, but what would you recommend for my first few entry-level sipping rums? Being a college student, my budget is a little less than most, so I would like to get the most bang for my buck! I have tried Bacardi Gold (cringe-worthy), Cruzan 14mo white (not bad, just sharp), and Ron Abuelo Anejo (Seemed murky to my unrefined tastes!).
Thanks for all the work you put into the site, it really helps newbies like me!
Andy
Arctic Wolf said
I have no idea of what’s available in Minnesota or wht the prices are like there so I think you have to go through my reviews and find a few that interest you.
Good luck!
Jackmo said
Hello Chip,
Came across your very worthy site this evening after doing my round of homework and finishing with a glass or two of whatever’s in the cabinet. I’m a great fan of Bourbon and Rum, as well as Tequila and to some degree Scotch.
Tonight I chose a glass of the Flor de Cana 18 year, and as I mentioned in my reply to your review, I’m substantially in agreement with you. Now I’ve switched to a glass of Centenario Conmemorativo 9 year rum, and I find it hot and bitter by comparison. Not a bad drink, however, and worth the 20 bucks I spent on sale, but just barely. Still, my fave is one of yours, the Flor de Cana 7 year Gran Reserva, a truly exellent rum that compares in every way to the super premiums out there. Thank you for your excellent observations on such a wide range of spirits.
Have you considered creating a section or forum within your blog for fan reviews? It wouldn’t have to be very complicated. You could even do a listing of as many rums as possible and allow people to do 5 star votes and comment on them. There are so many choices out there, and so little time to review
… Such a section might impart additional understanding of those spirits that you haven’t had a chance to cover yet.
Excellent blog, I look forward to reading more.
Jackmo,
Miami
Arctic Wolf said
Hi Jackmo
Thank you for the very kind words. Originally, when I opened my website, I was going to have a section for fan reviews. However, it was pointed out to me by someone of legal persuation, that I would, as owner of this website, be responsible for everything people wrote. Although that is not an insurmountable obstacle, I do have a ‘real’ job in the real world that demands my time, and so I decided to keep this blog in its present form.
You make a good point, but one which time unfortunately does not permit me to implement.
Cheers!
Mike M said
Greetings.
A friend who currently resides in India has sent me a bottle of Old Monk rum (which we have not opened yet, as we were tasting other rums we brought back from St Maarten).
I’ve looked around the blog, but didn’t see a review of this spirit. Just curious if you have tried it and, if so, had any thoughts on how you enjoyed it (neat, rocks, mixed)?
Regards.
Arctic Wolf said
If I ever tried Old Monk, I cannot remember it. Sorry.