Crown Royal

For each of these posts, it becomes clearer just how massive Diageo actually are. What we’re taking a look at today is a Canadian blend, Crown Royal, which came about in 1939 as a tribute by Samuel Bronfman and the Seagram company to Queen Elizabeth’s and King George VI visit to Canada. Like so many other whiskies I have reviewed it is, if it wasn’t obvious, a part of the Diageo family.

According to Wikipedia, Crown Royal is the best selling Canadian whisky in the US, with total sales in 2006 (internationally, mind, not in the US alone) amounting to $500m+. Surprisingly, considering its quite impressive sales statistics across the pond, Crown Royal is not that well known in the UK and most of Europe. It has received quite good reviews from whisky critics, though, as well as receiving a number of awards – but then, nearly all whiskies seem to have won some title or other. With the number of awards floating around today a lot of them seem quite pointless.

I may sound a bit negative above which I suppose is quite unfair, as this is in fact a fairly good whisky. The particular expression I’ve tried for this review is the standard Original bottling. The nose is fairly big and packed with (oh, the cliché) maple syrup as well as refreshing pine nuts and a fair amount smooth vanilla. The palate is quite light and again there is maple syrup and creamy vanilla custard, which is nicely countered by oak, smooth and mellow spice and just a hint of cherry.

This being one of few Canadian whiskies I have sampled so far, combined with the packaging and name which just reeks of novelty value, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. There is a nice balance between sweetness and earthiness, and it goes down really easily. The only disappointment lies in the finish which is as plain compared to the nose and palate as a female peacock being courted by a group of males. In no way bad in its own right, but not quite up to scratch.

Color: Rich amber.

Nose: Fairly big, lots of maple syrup and vanilla balanced with pine nuts.

Taste: Quite light, maple, creamy vanilla custard, oak, mellow spice and a hint of cherry.

Considering the price ($38) and the fact that it is likely to be new to most people you decide to treat to it, it makes for a quite fun and good whisky to have in your collection.

Want to buy this bourbon? Available in: USA & World (click)