Crown Royal Reserve

Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky  82.5/100
a review  by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted January 28, 2010

Crown Royal introduced their Special Reserve in 1992 . This is a version of Crown Royal whisky in which the whiskies chosen for the blend are aged are aged a little longer than the regular Crown Royal. In 2008 the blend was renamed Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky.

In the Bottle   (4.5/5)

Crown Royal Whiskies have a rather unique presentation.   They have a rather nifty/elegant crown shaped bottle with each brand having its own distinctive shape.  Each bottle is wrapped in a colourful cloth bag with gold coloured drawstrings.  For the Reserve, a gold coloured cardboard box houses the  presentation.   Each variety of Crown royal utilizes a ‘crown’ shaped gold coloured screw cap to close the bottle.  (See photos)

In the Glass   (8/10)

In my glencairn glass, as I swirl the whisky, only a very light sheen of oil shows on the sides of the glass, which disappears quickly with no legs.  The aroma from the glass is vaguely reminiscent of a sour mash whiskey,  with a spicy foundation and vegetal undertones.    I smell a mild vanilla, sweetish honey, spicy rye, and a vague hint of oak in the background.

In the Mouth   (49/60)

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.

I guess I should describe what I mean by the dank bourbon and corn flavour I mention above.  This is a underlying  punkiness in the flavour profile which seems somehow acrid and vegetal at the same time.   The flavour seems to be the remnant  of the corn mash flavour before extra distillation and chill filtering.  This dankness is muted to a degree but it still sits persistently under all other flavours.

In the Throat   (12.5/15)

The finish is gentle and short.  That dank flavour I described in the mouth seems to sit the longest on the palate after the other flavours are gone.

The Afterburn     (8.5/10)

Crown Royal reserve is a slightly mellowed version of the regular Crown Royal Canadian Whisky. It is a little smoother with the edge slightly softened.  It has perhaps a stronger rye foundation that the original Crown Royal, which for me makes the whisky an excellent mixer for highballs and cocktails. Some will prefer to drink the reserve neat, but my preference is to mix.

Suggested Cocktail

I am going to suggest two cocktails for the Crown Royal reserve.  The first is a recipe which is based upon the Baltimore Bang.   My version of the Baltimore Bang uses Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky in place of bourbon.  So I will call it the Royal Bang.

Royal  Bang

1 1/2 oz Crown Royal reserve
1/2 oz   Apricot Brandy
1 oz Fresh lemon Juice

Build with ice in a Shaker Glass
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
drop in a cherry
garnish with a slice of orange

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The Royal Salute

Crown Royal Salute

Crown Royal Evening Salute

The Baltimore Bang is nice, but I always enjoy Canadian Whisky in a highball style drink. I call this highball that I created the ‘Royal Salute’.

Royal Salute

2 oz Crown Royal reserve
1/2 oz Bols Apricot Brandy
Splash(es)  of Ginger ale or cola
Build on Ice in a small rocks glass
Garnish with a lemon or Lime Slice

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The Crown Royal Evening Salute, of course, is the version with cola rather than ginger ale.  Both versions are yummy!  Of course all of these cocktail suggestions have been “forrest approved“.  Visit his great site for more cocktail suggestions.

Also please remember that I encourage you not to drink more spirits, but rather to drink better spirits!

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