The ethanol and grain notes didn't bother me as much here (although I certainly find them on the regular CR). I expect his maple syrup notes are what I found as cola (i.e., both have that high sugar sweetness). Note that /u/Devoz was not as impressed with this expression (sampled from my bottle). In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a fan of regular Crown Royal (which I would rate as ~68 on my scale). XO), but this is kind of how I imagine it could taste. I haven’t tried the cognac-finished Crown Royals (e.g. While I wasn’t sure on the first initial sniffs, it really grew on me as I started to sample it. This is a unique Crown Royal - I can’t think of anything quite like it on the Canadian whisky scene (outside Forty Creek Evolution, which I haven't tried yet). Water lightens the mouthfeel and doesn’t bring anything new – I recommend you drink it neat. Oddly enough, it ends with a more typical rye spice finish once all the fruits/wine gums finally die down. Mouth-puckering astringency is there, but not much bitterness fortunately. Lingering cola and dark fruits initially, turning more into wine gums over time. Astringent on the way out, with some classic Crown Royal bitterness (sadly).įinish: Long.
Subsequent sips have a decidedly alkaline feel (i.e., slippery, almost oily), but sticky after you swallow. The initial mouthfeel is rather watery (as to be expected for the ABV), but it leaves a sticky residue on the lips and gums. The rest of the baking spices – nutmeg, cinnamon and all spice – join the cloves. A lighter mint note joins the earthiness from the nose. These are followed by those dark fruits and cola syrup notes. Palate: Caramel and vanilla dominate on the initial palate – surprisingly so, since I didn’t detect them on the nose. There is a fairly unique off-note that reminds me of a musty kitchen sponge – plus of course acetone (with all that fruity sweetness). Some similarity to Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton, but the rye whisky is definitely present here – it is just being overshadowed by the wine cask. Citrus, lemon in particular (reminds me of Pledge furniture wax, but in a good way). Prunes, raisins, sour cherry, with red and black currants. Nose: Very sweet and fruity, but with a definite underlying sourness. I picked it up for $60 during the Canada Day online sale. Bottled at 40.5% ABV (oddly), it currently retails for $70 CAD at the LCBO. I find that fresh wine cask finishes can impart some interesting notes – although not always universally pleasant ones. This expression is finished for six months in freshly emptied, medium-toast Cabernet Sauvignon casks from the Paso Robles region of California. This whisky is the second member in Crown Royal’s “Noble Collection” – a new line of higher-end products from this Canadian distillery. Non-Scotch and Non-American Whiskies only please!ġ review = text flair of your favourite world whisky or world distilleryġ0 reviews from a combination of countries = UN flagġ0 reviews from any 1 country = that country's flag (additive. To this day, every drop of Crown Royal is crafted to meet the same uncompromising standards, making it, to many discerning palates, the finest whisky of all.R/Whisky r/Scotch r/Bourbon r/Whiskyporn Whisky Network Guide Reviews of Whiskys:Ĭreate a World Whisky Review and Submit below. Crown Royal was released in the United States in the 1960s and has since become the top selling Canadian whisky. The train carrying the monarchs was stocked with 10 cases of the royal blend and rumors of the unrivaled whisky fit for a King quickly spread. The whisky he presented to the King and Queen was an exquisitely smooth blend of roughly fifty whiskies which became known, fittingly, as Crown Royal. With perfection on his mind, he meticulously trialed more than 600 blends before outfitting the final product in a cut-glass decanter and regal purple bag with gold stitching. Upon hearing the historic news, a Canadian spirits entrepreneur set out to craft a whisky suited for the Royal Couple – an exceptionally generous gift fit for royalty. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth made history when they became the first reigning monarchs to visit Canada, arriving by boat and traveling the vast North American distance by train.
The result is an intriguing new character that is still unmistakably Crown Royal. Crown Royal Wine Barrel Finished, the second expression in the Crown Royal Noble Collection showcases our Crown Royal Fine De Luxe Whiskey, the standard of excellence for Canadian Whiskey, finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels.