Literally Fit For A King
Written: Aug 28 '06 (Updated Sep 08 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A superb dram; mellow and flavourful; relatively inexpensive in Canada
Cons: Apparantly quite expensive elsewhere; relatively simple.
The Bottom Line: An excellent, cheaper alternative to filling your home with twenty single malts (though not as much fun).
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| headlessparrot's Full Review: Crown Royal Whisky |
Though Scotch is undoubtedly my first love, I must admit that I have a spot in my heart for all whiskies (or whiskeys), be they Irish (whiskey), American (also whiskey, Maker's Mark aside), or Canadian (whisky). The latter, however, is perhaps my longest of these love affairs, for virtually every Canadian is issued a bottle of the amber ambrosia upon graduating to the age of majority – and, in all likely, they've been borrowing it from the cabinets of their parents or legal guardians since long before even that. It is – for myself and many others – the benchmark spirit, drunk for both enjoyment and mass consumption (as opposed to a fine single malt, which is an occasional and much savored over treat), often cut with ginger ale or Coca-Cola. The soft spot for Canadian whisky (often incorrectly characterized as simply rye whisky) is possibly even more the result of being born and raised in the arguable birthplace of the drink – Windsor, Ontario, home of Hiram Walker's Canadian Club whisky. Indeed, once every couple of weeks, the rich smell of fermentation and distillation wafts gently from the walls of the riverfront distillery, pleasing citizens and gently making life just a touch more bearable.
But it is not the Canadian Club, surprisingly, that I hold most dearly to my heart, for though it is the world's number one selling Canadian whisky (and is usually marketed as a premium or super premium spirit outside of North America), it is also a tragically sub par blend. Aged only six years, C.C. carries with it a devastating bite, a tragically light colour, and the distinct nose and palate of rubbing alcohol. It is a suitable mixer, certainly, but far from the premium beverage that it has often been perceived as. This mischaracterization may be even more pressing in the United States, where Canadian Club – as an import – carries with it the reputation and price of a premium liquor. In Canada, by contrast, Canadian Club Classic is essentially the most inexpensive of Canadian whiskies, the standard well whisky of nearly every eating establishment and nightclub within miles.
No, my soft spot is not for Canadian Club, but for that other most-noted of Canadian whiskies, the legendary Crown Royal (largely irrelevant, but in defense of this treason, I should add that – at the very least – the birthplace of Crown Royal is my home away from home of Waterloo, Ontario). It is worth pointing out, in any event, that Crown Royal also carries a different reputation by country. Based on both Epinions reviews and personal experience, I'm left with the impression that Crown Royal carries with it the weight, reputation and pricing of a super-premium whisky in the United States. Much like the Canadian Club, however, this status is sharply contrasted by its market position in Canada – while it is indeed classified as a premium whisky, its pricing hardly reflects this (approximately only $2 more per 26 oz./750ml bottle than Canadian Club), and as such, its remarkably popular. The question is, though, is simply whether Crown Royal is worthy of this reputation as the finest of Canadian whiskies. And I must say in response to this that while better Canadian whiskies can be found (at least within Canada, no surprises), they are to be found at a much inflated price. In other words, Crown Royal offers – by far – the finest blend of quality and value that you will find in a Canadian whisky. It is a versatile drink, but also classy and refined, a whisky with both elegance and character.
Crown Royal, though it is hard to believe, has only been around since 1939. It was conceived by the then president of the Seagram company (once the largest distiller of spirits in the world) to mark and celebrate the first Royal Tour of Canada by the reigning British Monarchs, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – to craft a whisky that was, very literally, fit for a king. The result was a 40% alcohol by volume blended Canadian whisky that – at the time – contained whiskies aged in sherry and white oak casks for as long as thirty-five years. Though that age has changed since the whisky's introduction to both the Canadian public, and eventually North America and the world, and the brand has changed hands (it is currently a staple brand of Diageo Canada PLC), some things have never changed: it is still a superb whisky, and it still packaged in the distinctive, regal crown-shaped bottle that lends it such an air of flair. It is even often dressed in a purple velvet drawstring bag, to lend to its appropriately royal appearance (though ironically and amusingly enough, it's worth mentioning that Canadian Club – not Seagram's and their Crown – were the only Canadian distiller to be granted a Royal Warrant by the British Royal Family).
Still, much has changed about Crown Royal since its first bottling. Once home to whiskies as old as thirty-five years, the royal whisky is now advertised as a ten year old blend – though admittedly, this figure indicates only the age of the youngest whisky in the blend, and there may still be others as old as thirty years. In any event, this is impressive (in contrast to the only six years of aging undergone by rival Canadian Club). The spirit is now produced, additionally, only in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, whereas it had once been distilled in Waterloo, Ontario. But as much as has changed about Crown Royal, more has stayed the same. It is still a handcrafted spirit, blended from over fifty rye whiskies. It still uses one of the purest water sources in the world, Canada's Rocky Mountain glaciers, and it is still made from traditional ingredients. Unlike single malt Scotches, which are crafted exclusively from malted barley, Canadian whiskies use a blend of milled corn, rye, and malted barley. The results, though admittedly far from a single malt Scotch, are quite impressive.
Since it is not, and realistically never claims to be a whisky of the depth and complexity as a fine single malt Scotch, serving suggestions for Crown Royal can and will vary greatly. A great single malt benefits most of all from a room temperature pour, cut only with a few droplets of water – Crown Royal is more versatile, however. While it can be enjoyed neat, it is just as easily consumed over ice, or in a mixed drink. I regularly drink my Crown Royal cut with Coca-Cola or ginger ale, especially when I'm planning on having more than a few drinks on an occasion (a definite no-no with a Scotch, even blended Scotches). But the royal heritage and rich flavour of this surprisingly mellow spirit comes out best – I feel – cut with only one or two ice cubes, to cool the whisky and slightly dilute it.
Crown Royal pours dramatically into the tumbler very much like a typical whisky, regardless of heritage. It is certainly darker than its younger rival, the Canadian Club, glowing deeply golden, but with hints of amber, honey, and caramel throughout. It is a fair bit more viscous and watery than most whiskies that I encounter (the drink splashes and spills quite readily), though a swirl still offers up some surprising legs for such a viscous spirit; they stick gently to the side of the glass, slowly rolling back into the drink. Like any whisky, this looks like an absolute treat, though it presents very much like a standard blend.
The nose, without ice, is nice, but noticeably harsher and rougher than the single malts that I usually consume neat – this gives Crown, however, a certain character that I enjoy, enough of a stiff bite to really warm your belly and throat on a cold Canadian winter evening. At the same time, however, it's also miles smoother, richer, and mellower than any other Canadian whisky that I've had regular access to; the alcohol is well-disguised, and the dram is complimented by some rich flavours. Crown Royal has quite a sweet nose, almost with a caramel character and a touch of toffee that accent the obvious sherry casking. Beyond that, the white oak barreling also asserts itself quite readily, adding a sort of slightly charred wood character that is remarkably mellow and pleasing. Additional vanilla notes seem to drift up from out of nowhere, accompanied by some light fruitiness – mostly sour apples and pears, but perhaps just a faint berry note. A single ice cube almost immediately mellows the whisky while also opening the nose up. The sherry casking becomes more obvious, as does the rye content – the vanilla character becomes more assertive, as does the caramel note and the oak-y woodiness.
The taste without ice is surprisingly also quite nice – it's been so long since I've consumed Crown Royal neat that I'd nearly forgotten how nice it could be – however it does have a fair bit of bite to it. Spicy alcohol warmth throughout the taste mellows as the mouth adjusts to reveal a pleasant taste. A certain chocolate note, not noticeable in the smell, presents itself slightly, with perhaps a touch of mint, but heavy doses of caramel, toffee, and vanilla. Creamy, with hints of sherry and white oak, as well as an almost bourbon-like character; though the spicy mouthfeel bites slightly before the tongue adjusts, the slightly chewy whisky mellows as it slides down the throat, contributing a beautiful, satisfying and rich warmth. Not as smooth or as complex as a single malt, but nearly as enjoyable, and at less than half the price. The single ice cube mellows the taste like it does the smell. The alcohol bite becomes almost nonexistent, and the whisky's spicy burn becomes a richer flavour, imparting more of a wood character, and emphasizing the rich caramel. The sherry is somewhat subdued by the introduction of the ice cube, but the surprising semi-sweetness continues to bask on the tongue. The caramel note becomes more multidimensional, and slightly cooled, the whisky gently warms the drinker. Lacking the complexity of some of my favourite malts, certainly, but still an absolutely stellar blend.
At only $2 more a bottle, Crown Royal offers a world of difference from its competitor, and from most whiskies (be they American, Irish or Canadian) on the market. It is a relatively simple whisky, but a well rounded and excellent one. Mellow, but satisfying; robust and elegant, but also impressively versatile. It is a whisky at home in virtually any situation – on the rocks or in a cocktail, Crown Royal is still a drink of exceptional esteem. If I could only drink one Canadian whisky for the rest of my life, there is no doubt that it would be Crown Royal; if I could only drink one whisky of any kind for the rest of my life, I would give it serious consideration – and if I'm staring at the aisles of the local Liquor Control Board of Ontario store with less than $30 in my hand, there's only one bottle that I'm going to reach for and one dram that I'm going to savor. I can't attest to whether Crown Royal is worth the super-premium price it carries in the United States as an 'import,' but I can say that – at least in Canada – I consider it virtually a steal.
Related Reviews:
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Teacher's Highland Cream Blended Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie 12 year old DoubleWood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Glenmorangie 12 year old Port Wood Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
headlessparrot
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Bryan Jansen
Location: Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 171
Trusted by: 175 members
About Me:
Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy, or are you gonna bite?
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