Review: Crown Royal Black Canadian Whisky

Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is currently produced in Gimli, Manitoba, at the Crown Royal Distillery. The distillery and the brand are owned by the spirits conglomerate, Diageo, and I think it is fair to say that Crown Royal is Diageo’s flagship Canadian Whisky brand. A couple of years ago Crown Royal Black was introduced as an addition to the Crown Royal family of whiskies. This new Crown Royal Black is a bit of a departure from the rest of the Crown Royal line-up featuring a stronger bourbon profile in the whisky through the use of new charred oak barrels during a portion of the maturation process of the whisky. It is bottled at 45% alcohol by volume and is intended as a robust alternative to their best-selling Crown Royal Whisky.

You may click on the excerpt to read the full review:

“… I smell rich oak spices melded with caramel toffee, some lovely bourbon-like honeycomb and vanilla with hints tobacco and rye spices and a light influence of maple and chocolate. As I let the glass breathe, some rum-like brown sugar aromas evolve and I seem to sense some light corn accents in the breezes as well. The Crown Royal Black appears to be well-balanced and quite robust in the glass …”

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail suggestion included, The Long Autumn.

Whisky Review: Crown Royal XR Canadian Whisky

This is the last review in the series of reviews I am doing for the Crown Royal Family of Whiskies.  My previous reviews were for the regular Crown Royal Whisky, The Crown Royal Reserve, and The Crown Royal Cask No. 16.  I missed the Crown Royal Limited Edition but that’s the way things go sometimes, and unless I receive a sample bottle for review it shall remain omitted, as I think everyone can get a good feeling for the Crown Royal family based upon the four completed reviews.

Here is an excerpt from the latest review:

“…The XR has a rich oak filled nose with a definite bourbon flair accented by vanilla and toffee scents.    A swirl of my glass reveals all kinds of legs.  An army of long skinny legs first trails quickly back into the glass followed by fat droopy legs which gather as droplets on the sides of the glass…”

You can read more here:

Review: Crown Royal XR (Extra Rare) Canadian Whisky

 

Please enjoy the review and the premium cocktails provided!

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

I have completed my third review of the Crown Royal Family  of Canadian Whiskies.    With the Crown Royal Cask No. 16 we have one of the truly great Canadian Whiskies. A blend of over 50 individual whiskies, (all of them well aged), and the ‘piece de resistance’ , the final blend is refinished in french oak cognac casks.  While I was reviewing the cask No. 16 I found it to be a huge leap forward in the Crown Royal Family. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The first sensation in my mouth was of an incredible softness that this whisky presents.  It is almost chewy soft.  A mellow corn whisky is up front on the palate, but rich soft butterscotch and caramel and sweet brown sugar sit under the corn flavour supporting and enhancing the experience.  A nice spicy bite which has the hallmarks of pears and grapes grabs at the taste buds.   Carrying all of this flavour forward is a wonderful mild oak presence that never dominates.  The oak acts as it should, as a garnish which heightens the other flavours with its presence….”

You may read the full review and find my new cocktail recipe called  Sweet No. 16 here:

Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

Last week I jumped the gun somewhat, as it is my plan to review the entire family of Crown Royal Whiskies over the next several weeks and months.  Crown Royal, Crown Royal Reserve, Crown Royal Cask #16 and the very limited Crown Royal XR.  My plan of course was to begin at the bottom and review the Crown Royal, and then work my way up the product line up until I was finally reviewing the XR.  So what did I do instead?  I jumped a rung on the ladder and reviewed the Crown Royal Reserve before I reviewed the flagship brand, The Crown Royal.  So today I will correct that mistake and provide what should have been the first review.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“The Crown Royal is a little soft and buttery in the mouth.  It has that same underlying punky flavour which I described as somehow acrid and vegetal at the same time when I reviewed the Crown reserve…”

Please read the full review here:

Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

I have included a couple of recipes with the review one quite simple  (although tried and true), Crown and Coke, and one which I think has a nice elegance, The Apple Jack.

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Crown Royal was first produced in 1939 to commemorate the arrival of the first Royal Tour in Canada of King George VI and Queen Elisabeth.  The distinctive crown shaped bottle, and royal purple bag for which Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is famous for, were created in honor of this occasion.

Today Crown Royal is one of the best known brands of Canadian Whisky in the world .  The Reserve was developed by Master Blender, Andrew Mackay,  at the Gimli Distillery near Winnipeg, Manitoba.  This whisky is aged a little longer than the regular Crown Royal for a smoother taste profile .  Here is a link to the  Crown Royal Whisky website.

I have included a cocktail suggestion with the review as well as a highball drink which I like very much.  Here is an excerpt from the review:

“Crown Royal Reserve is a little soft in the mouth.  Its flavour profile includes a little spicy rye and a little dank bourbon and corn flavour.   The whisky is smooth with a mild sweetness, a gentle vanilla, and a gentle spiciness.  A soft but firm firm oak nestles in the background….”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky