Gaelic words for “Vale of Honey”. Other Irish Creams available in Alberta include: Feeney’s ($21.99), Molly’s ($19.99), O’Casey’s ($21.99), and O’Darby’s ($19.99). The Scots make their own cream liqueurs too, with those made by Glenfiddich and Edradour being among the most well-respected and well known. Unfortunately neither is available in Canada due to their perceived short shelf lives, but fret not for there is the Arran Gold Cream Liqueur ($33.49). The Arran Gold is made without industrial alcohol, from single malt whisky distilled at the Isle of Arran distillery. The brand has won a number of awards including the World’s Best Whisky Liqueur, from Whisky Magazine! Arran Gold is very soft, but more complex than its Irish cousins, owing to the strong presence of flavourful single malt whisky. Rum also provides a suitable base for creating cream liqueurs, such as Sangster’s Jamaica Rum Cream ($29.99). Sangster’s was invented by Dr. Ian Sangster, and is made with Jamaican rum, cream and an assortment of Jamaican fruits and spices. Ron Barcelo Cream ($35.49) hails from the Dominican Republic, and is a blend of aged Barcelo rum, cream and other ingredients. The cream has a tropical flair with notes of pineapple, coconut, almonds and a touch of rum. El Dorado Rum Cream ($23.49) from Guyana is made with 5 year old Demerara rum, fresh cream and spices indigenous to Guyana. On the palate the El Dorado Rum Cream
is very toffeed with loads of spice and rich rum notes. St Remy A La Crème ($29.99) is a relatively late player to the cream liqueur game, launched only a couple years back in 2011 by the 120 French brandy producer. Like the Arran Gold and El Dorado it relies on oak matured spirit for a base, giving it added depth and complexity. On the palate it is nutty and chocolaty with notes of coffee and caramel. 1921 Tequila Cream ($32.99) is produced by tequila producer 1921, named for the year of Mexico’s Revolution. 1921 blends cream, 100% agave bianco (un-aged) tequila and coffee to create a sweet, soft, slightly herbaceous liqueur. This product took off in a crowded field of tequila liqueurs after Oprah Winfrey featured it in her O Magazine and named it one of her “favourite things”. Amarula ($25.99) is a South African cream liqueur made with sugar, cream and fruit from the African marula tree, the result of which is a liqueur that tastes like fruity caramel. The fruit of the marula tree is popular with elephants, and in turn, Amarula Cream supports elephant conservation.
A few others to try: Godiva White Chocolate ($28.99) This white chocolate liqueur is made with 5 times distilled chocolate vodka. Luxardo Sambuca Cream ($24.49) takes the anise-based Luxardo Sambuca and blends it with cream to create a smooth liqueur. Dooley’s Toffee Cream Liqueur ($25.99) is made in Germany from a base of vodka blended with toffee caramel. Hare Turkish Coffee Cream Liqueur ($18.99) is produced with Turkish coffee and cream.
culinairemagazine.ca
• 63