Seagram's 7 Apple Pie Blended Whiskey Review

 

One of the most iconic names in whiskey is Seagram. Once a powerhouse in distilled spirits production, Seagram came into being in 1869 at the Waterloo Distillery in Ontario, Canada, when Joseph E. Seagram purchased a stake in it, along with George Randall, William Roos, and William Hespeler, and, in 1883, when Seagram became the sole owner, he renamed it Joseph E. Seagram & Sons. Seagram was known for making high-quality Canadian whisky.

 

In the 1920s, Samuel Bronfman was building his company, Distillers Corporation Limited, and part of the reason for his success was Prohibition in the United States. In 1928, Distillers Corporation acquired Joseph E. Seagram & Sons from Edward F. Seagram, and this now bigger company retained the Seagram name. Meanwhile, Bronfman was the major supplier to bootleggers while quietly building whisky stocks, anticipating that Prohibition would end in the near future.

 

When Prohibition finally ended, Seagram wanted to open a distillery in the United States. Fully aware of Bronfham’s prior involvement, the United States government assessed a $60 million fine against Seagram. Bronfham somehow negotiated it down to $1.5 million.

 

Meanwhile, the company enjoyed explosive growth, and by the 1990s, Seagram was the world’s largest producer of alcoholic beverages. Seagram was flush with cash and expanding well beyond its distilling roots. In 1995, Edgar Bronfman Jr, its then-CEO, decided that Seagram was entering the entertainment industry, eventually owning Universal Studios and PolyGram Records, which led to its downfall. Then, the great sell-off began, and most of Seagram’s distilling assets and brands were picked up by Diageo and Pernod Ricard. Some even found their way beneath the Sazerac umbrella. 

 

That brings us to today’s review of Seagram’s 7 Apple Pie. It is an American blended whiskey that…

 

Whoa, there, Slick. Back that truck up! How can this be an American blended whiskey when Seagram’s is Canadian?

 

I’m glad you asked! Seagram’s 7 Crown Distilling is located in Norwalk, Connecticut. While Seagram’s is best known for its Canadian whiskies, Seagram’s 7 is 100% American-made.

 

… is made from grain neutral spirits (GNS) and natural flavors, and is a limited-edition offering beginning June 2026. It is packaged in 750mL bottles at 35% ABV (70°), and has a suggested price of $11.99.

 

“With Seagram’s 7 Crown Apple Pie, we’re bringing new energy to a flavor people already love. It’s familiar, it’s fun, and it fits right into the kind of summer people wait all year for, whether you’re carrying on traditions or making new ones.” - Frank Dudley, Brand Director, Single Malts & Emerging Whiskies

 

Seagram’s suggests it tastes like summer in a glass, and can be enjoyed on the rocks or in its infamous 7&7 cocktail (if you don’t know what that is, it is Seagram’s 7 and 7-Up). We’ll #DrinkCurious and put Apple Pie to the test. First, however, I must thank Seagram’s for providing me with a sample of Apple Pie in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

• Whiskey Type: American Blended Whiskey
• Distiller: Seagram’s 7 Crown Distilling Co.
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Neutral grain spirits and natural flavors
• Cooperage: Undisclosed
• Alcohol Content: 35% ABV (70°)
• Price per 750mL: $11.99

 

Appearance: I used a rocks glass to explore this blended whiskey, chilled and neat. Yeah, I know Seagram’s suggests pouring it over ice. My rule of thumb is that ice waters things down and leads to inconsistencies. Seagram’s Apple Pie was the color of canned cinnamon apple pie filling. On a side note, it’s important to note that Seagram’s states it has no artificial additives; that doesn’t mean natural additives couldn’t be used to enhance its color.  

 

Nose: A strong smell of Granny Smith apples jumped from the glass to my nostrils, and beneath that was caramel syrup (the kind you pour over ice cream) along with muted cinnamon. When I pulled air into my mouth, I tasted baked Granny Smith apples.

 

Palate: Seagram’s texture was similar to that of thickened water, coating my tongue. It had a ‘getting used to it’ aspect (if that makes sense). There were flavors of baked apples, caramel, and cinnamon. There was no front, middle, or back to it.

 

Finish: The finish had those three flavors, plus some added ginger spice that grew slightly in intensity before suddenly collapsing. The entire experience lasted 43 seconds.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Having enough friends who make their own Apple Pie using Everclear, I’ve had more than my fair share of it. By the time they dilute it, I have no clue what their approximate proofs are, but I’m guessing most are at least the same as Seagram’s 7.

 

I also tried another pre-bottled Apple Pie from Sturgeon Spirits (which Mrs. Whiskeyfellow always has in the fridge). Theirs, too, contains no artificial ingredients; it is packaged at on 10% ABV (20°). That version was more like biting into a caramel apple but lacked any evidence of alcohol. It is also much more expensive than Seagram’s 7. I was at least aware of the alcohol in Seagram’s 7.

 

Both versions are what I like to call dangerous (and the homemade version, too). They go down way too easily, and so will you when you stand up. So, take care when you refill your glass.

 

Speaking of refilling my glass, I wound up pouring more of Seagram’s 7 Apple Pie. This time, I let it sit on the table for several minutes, which seemed to embolden the caramel and go hand in hand with it coming closer to room temperature.

 

At this point, I’m sure you want me to shut up and render my verdict, so here it is. Chilled, Seagram’s 7 Apple Pie was okay. Allowing it to warm made it far more interesting. For $12.00, you’re getting a fun liqueur with a kick. At that price, I’d give it my Bottle rating. If you see it for much more, you’ll definitely want to try it first. 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.