Crown Royal Black Canadian Whisky

25 Nov 24

VA ABC- $34.99

Total Wine - $27.99

Class VI - $29.80

ABV - 45%

AGE - NAS

From the VA ABC website:  Crown Royal Black is a rich and flavorful blend of Canadian whisky. All the signature smoothness of Crown Royal, matured in charred oak barrels and blended at a higher proof for a richer texture and bold finish. 

Tasting Notes

Nose - Rich oak with sweet maple notes.

Palate - Creamy, ‘velvety’, dried fruit notes (fig).

Finish - Deeper bourbon style notes and with an unmistakable Crown Royal finish.

Canadian whiskey was always a part of our home and not just because of our Canadian heritage.  The whiskey was cheap and not too bad with mixers (usually ginger ale).  My first experience with Crown Royal wasn’t the whiskey, but the royal blue bag that it comes in.  My grandmother kept small toys in it and we’d open it up when we visited.  Since growing up and becoming interested in whiskies, I didn’t think much of Canadian whiskey - they’re blended whiskies and caramel coloring additives are permitted.  My snobbery was mistaken, though.  There are many interesting Canadian whiskies to choose from and at the top of that list is the high-quality Royal Crown selections.

In my search for more information about Crown Royal I found it difficult to find usable information.  Our friends at 31 Whiskey do a pretty good job giving us some background of Crown Royal -  “The Seagram company started as a Canadian distillery in 1857 and grew to become one of the biggest spirits companies in Canada. During prohibition in the United States, the owners of the company reportedly participated in bootlegging operations to bring their product into the US, and as a result paid $1.5 million in fines in 1930 (significantly less than the $60 million the US government asked for, it should be noted)... In 1939, Seagram president Samuel Bronfman decided to introduce a version of Canadian rye whiskey to honor the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. The brand was successful in Canada, but wouldn’t cross the border to the neighbor to the south until 1964. Since then, the whiskey has earned a solid following and remains the best selling Canadian whiskey in the United States.  You can learn the rest of the Seagram and Crown Royal history here.  

You can find many types of Crown Royal minis at any liquor store.  I recommend getting a few and comparing them against your favorite bourbon.  You might learn something.

Kujabula!

Cocktail

BLACK WHISKY SOUR

Try our Black Whisky Sour Whisky Cocktail recipe with Crown Royal Black, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white.

Ingredients

1.25 oz Crown Royal Black

.5 oz lemon juice

.75 oz simple syrup

1 egg white

Instructions

Glassware: Rocks Glass

Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice.

Shake well. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.

Garnish with a lemon wheel.