Hand Selected Barrel
Canadian Whisky
51.5% ABV (103 proof)
~$55 (sample provided)
Color: bright gold
Smell: Sweet, with an oak backbone. I definitely get some caramel and butterscotch sweetness. There's a marshmallow creaminess, as well. Not a huge overpowering nose, but what's there is really nice.
Taste: Lovely. The entry is like a marshmallow dipped in caramel. Creamy, smooth, sweet - but not cloying - this is then supplemented by just a touch of oak influence on the midpalate and finish. To me this slight char finish brings to mind the perfect golden crust you get on a marshmallow when you toast it on a fire.Overall: I'm blown away...this is one of the best whiskies I've had in a long time. Solid A. Great, pure flavors that pop, all with a signature creaminess I haven't had elsewhere. It's one of a kind rye, but to me this comes closest in style to a wheated bourbon or a Tennessee whiskey. If you're a fan of regular Crown, Jack, Dickel, and/or other "smooth sippers," reach for this the next time you splurge or need a birthday gift. $55 isn't cheap, but it's worth it in this case.
Their front label description is "One of the 50 finest whiskies that go into the Crown Royal De Luxe Blend" and the back reads "Crown Royal is proud to present you with the opportunity to savor the raw magic of its unique Coffey Rye Whisky. Flavorful creamy notes combined with rich oak undertones give the whisky the exceptional smoothness that is unmistakably the heart of the Crown Royal Deluxe blend."
