Crown Royal Reserve Aged 12 Years Canadian Whisky Review

 

What does Canada require for its whisky to be considered Canadian? Many people get this one wrong – and I used to be one of them. I foolishly believed the rules were fast and loose. I was (thankfully) schooled by Davin de Kergommeaux, a respected whiskey author who 2009 founded the Canadian Whisky Awards and is one of the most respected gurus regarding Canadian whiskies.

 

Davin taught me that Canadian whisky is far more complicated than most folks think. It must begin with the mashing and distilling cereal grains (corn, rye, wheat, etc.). Each component is distilled and aged separately for at least three years in a cooperage of less than 700 liters, and that process must occur entirely in Canada.

 

From there, the blending process occurs. The individual grain whiskies are married and can have added flavors – up to 9.09%. The added flavors must be from a spirit at least two years old or wine. There’s also an option for caramel coloring (e150A).

 

Most Canadian whisky is called Canadian Rye, yet contrary to popular belief, no rye is required in the mash!

 

One of the most famous Canadian whisky brands is Crown Royal, which was established in 1939 as a means to commemorate the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I, the first British monarchs to visit Canada. Seagram's Waterloo distillery blenders sampled 600 whiskies to create the perfect representation. They managed to whittle it down to 50, and it is aged in various cooperages, including new charred oak, vintage charred oak, and French oak. 

 

Interestingly, from 1939 until 1964, purchasing Crown Royal outside of Canada was not legal. However, the whisky has remained primarily unchanged by design. The brand was sold off to Diageo in 2001.

 

Its newest whisky is Crown Royal Reserve Aged 12 Years.

 

"Crown Royal Reserve Aged 12 Years stays true to the tradition of the original Crown Royal Reserve offering while elevating the flavor profile with more pronounced fruity notes. This expression enhances what makes Reserve unique within the Crown Royal portfolio, now featuring the exciting addition of an age statement that provides a more elevated experience for our consumers." – Mark Balkenende, Master Blender at Crown Royal

 

The individual component whiskies are undisclosed, but Crown Royal is a blend of corn, wheat, rye, and barley whiskies from at least 50 warehouses scattered across its Manitoba campus. It is packaged at 40% ABV (80°) and affordable at $49.99 for a 750ml.

 

How does this new expression taste? I must thank Crown Royal for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review so we can do the #DrinkCurious thing.

 

Appearance: I poured this whisky into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. It possessed a chestnut color and formed a bold rim with a slow, wavy curtain of tears.

 

Nose: There was a ton of caramel and cinnamon on the nose. Also present were oak, black cherries, and dark chocolate. When I pulled the air through my lips, I found cedar.

 

Palate: Crown Royal’s mouthfeel was thin and silky. The front included nutmeg, old oak, and toffee. My mid-palate discovered dark chocolate, black cherries, and red currants. Flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, and cocoa tackled the back.

 

Finish: Black cherries, cinnamon, cocoa, and remained; they were joined by mild clove and leather, which soon dominated the experience. I timed the duration at 2:05, which I would classify as long. That leather and clove gave it a drying quality.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Don’t let the lower proof fool you. Crown Royal Reserve Aged 12 Years has plenty of character to hold your interest. It was so unlike the flagship whisky that if I sipped these blind, I would be unable to link them to the same brand.

 

I was impressed with the arid sensation that combined with the fruity notes. It is a whisky you can sip leisurely, and at this price, you can afford to do so. It is worth my Bottle rating. Cheers!  

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.