Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend

Crown Royal
Cornerstone Blend
Blended Canadian Whisky
40.3% ABV (80.6 proof)
~$60 (sample provided)

Color: nectarine-tinted light brown

Smell: restrained, but balanced. Definitely some caramel sweetness, with wood spice accents and a bit of tartness.

Taste: nice tangy sweetness on entry - there are definitely some tart red apples showing through. The midpalate picks up a little bit of barrel char and some gentle baking spice flavors (cinnamon, cloves). The finish is balanced between sweetness and wood spice, with just a hint of tart apples on the fade.

Overall: for me this is a solid B-/B whisky. Like most Canadian whiskies I've experienced, it's very well balanced and will offend no one. The tart apple note is pretty unique, but also rather subtle and fleeting. There's not a huge depth of flavor here, but it's an enjoyable sipping experience.

Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve

Forty Creek
Copper Pot Reserve
Canadian Whisky
43% ABV (86 proof)
~$25 (sample provided)

Color: light brown, with a little orange tint

Smell: sweet and grainy, like a butterscotch pudding pie. There's also a bit of toasted wood influence once it sits for a while.

Taste: definitely a big wave of sweetness on entry, butterscotch candy most prominently. Past that, I get a little bit of toasted nuts and some vanilla spice. The finish is a little strange - it's very grainy and has a slight metallic edge to it. Not sure what's going on, but it's not the end of the world.

Overall: For me this is in the B-/B range. There are some pleasing smells and flavors, and the overall experience is quite smooth and enjoyable despite a slightly funky finish. Something like your basic Crown Royal is a little smoother sipping, but less interesting in my opinion.

Forty Creek Double Barrel Reserve

Forty Creek
Double Barrel Reserve
Canadian Whisky
Whisky Maker: John K. Hall
40% ABV (80 proof)
Lot 258, Bottle #01004
~$60 (sample provided)

Color: medium golden brown

Smell: delicate sweetness - I get a butterscotch as well as pears. Very smooth and approachable, and very pleasing. There's also a hint of toasty wood and vanilla beans.

Taste: a smooth customer. Faint sweetness on entry (caramel/butterscotch), and then the midpalate brings in faint barrel char and vanilla bean spice. The finish is surprisingly long considering the proof, with a hint of barrel spice and lots of lingering, mouth-coating sweetness.

Overall: I really like this whisky - it's a very solid B/B+ for me, held back only by depth of flavor. It feels a little simpler and rougher around the edges than its lineup partner Confederation Oak Reserve, which brings a bit more flavor to the party.

Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve

Forty Creek
Confederation Oak Reserve
Canadian Whisky
Whisky Maker: John K. Hall
40% ABV (80 proof)
Lot 1867-F, Bottle Number 09788
~$70 (sample provided)

Color: medium brown, ruddy tint

Smell: soft, smooth, restrained nose. Faint sweetness in the form of caramel sweets and toasted marshmallows. Behind that main note, there is a crisp red apple smell and a little bit of toasted oak.

Taste: also restrained. Soft caramel sweetness on entry, then faint tart apple crispness and something bittersweet (finely ground peanuts?) on the midpalate. The finish brings in a little more oak, but it's fleeting.

Overall: This whiskey is whisper-smooth. There are no unpleasant flavors, and the experience is a pleasing combination of caramel sweetness, a hint of oak, and some interesting secondary flavors. It's a borderline "B+/A-" for me - I'd love to experience it at barrel proof!

Forty Creek Premium Barrel Select Whisky

Forty Creek
Premium Barrel Select Whisky
"Canadian Whisky Canadien"
40% ABV (80 proof)
paid $18

Color: medium orange-brown

Smell: very pleasantly surprised here. Nice rounded sweetness with an oaky influence as well. I get the same burned marshmallow note here that I find in a lot of Canadian whiskies (Wiser's 18 and Crown Royal both come to mind).

Taste: soft and smooth, though a bit weird-tasting. It gets very oaky and almost latexy on the palate. It doesn't burn going down or make you pucker, but there's not a whole lot to enjoy.

Overall: it's a decent cheap whisky. I think Crown Royal is a bit smoother and more enjoyable, but this is fine for cocktails and even decent for sipping. Their description (back label) reads: "features aromas of honey, vanilla and apricot fused with toasty oak, black walnut and spice.." Of these, I'd say toasty oak and spice are there. Which spice, however, I couldn't tell you. Strange experience, not necessarily recommended, but interesting. C/C+ for me.

Lot 40 Rye

Lot No. 40

Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Rye Whisky
2012 Release
43% ABV
$55-60, but potentially tough to find

Color:
Mahogany (reddish-brown)

Smell:
Holy shit, this smells nice! Really unique and - for me - tough to place. Definitely a pronounced sweet mintiness...spearmint aromas instead of the in-your-face peppermint aroma of something like Altoids. Eucalyptus is really coming through as well. Also some traditional barrel flavors of vanilla and oak, but they're actually in the background.

Taste:
A little hot at first, no big rush of sweetness or any other punchy flavor to speak of. It kind of just mellows softly for me until I swallow, at which point it's basically just the flavor from the nose all over again in a short/medium finish. The lingering aftertaste is a great combo of fresh mint and warming wood - very smooth.

Overall:
I like this a lot. The smell-taste-finish sequence for me is wow-okay-slightly less than wow, which is to say that I think the taste falls a little short of the amazingly perfumed nose. This is definitely a lighter-bodied whisky, but it's very elegant and - I think - singular to anything else out there. I've always read that rye is typically peppery and/or spicy, but this is just smooth as silk and minty. Really impressive stuff, and I definitely recommend trying it if you can find it.

What others have said (lots of love out there for Lot 40):
Nathan at The Scotch Noob rates this a "Must Try!":

• "Nose: Oh my God. Delicate cherry blossoms, crushed eucalyptus, sticky dried golden delicious apples. No dusty spice cabinet. Instead, the “rye spices” smell like freshly-opened seed pods of clove and allspice. I now know what rye whisky is supposed to smell like. This is -amazing-.

• Palate: Soft. The spices are slightly more predominant on the tongue, with clear cinnamon and clove. Gingersnap cookies. Soft rye grain with a touch of oakiness and some vanilla-flecked caramel. Nice, but not as earth-shattering as the aroma.

• Finish: Mild, medium-length. The eucalyptus returns, with a ghost of fresh mint leaves. Finishes totally devoid of bitterness.

• With Water: Oddly, a few drops of water dulls the aroma. The palate is sweeter, with some nice fleshy stone fruit. I’d avoid the water here, just because of the disservice it does to that lovely aroma.

• Overall: This isn’t saying much, but this is the best Canadian whisky I’ve ever had. It’s also the best nose I’ve ever smelled on anything with rye in it. Hell, I’ll say it, it’s even better (on the nose) than any bourbon I’ve tried, including those from Van Winkle. The palate doesn’t quite live up to the promise of the nose (what can?), but is soft and subtle in its own right. The finish is sedate and unobtrusive. Really, though, I could sit here and smell this all night."

John Malatino at Smokeypeat rates this a 9.3:

• "Nose: Apple cider, dill brine, peppermint, black pepper, molasses, oak, cotton candy, pizza dough, rye bread and cream soda. Waking up after an evening at the carnival with no memory of the night before, but you are quite sure you had your first kiss.

• Palate: Restrained rye spices merging with creamy pot still character. The smoothness here is unexpected for a 100% rye. All the complex rye notes from the nose are here but expressing themselves with a light touch. Creamy and delicious. It’s like a rye version of Redbreast. Unabashedly rye yet balanced and complex with warm fruit, dried apricots and cinnamon over French vanilla ice cream. Butterscotch pudding with a touch of sea salt. Hard Italian ribbon candy. Peppermint Christmas bark.

• Finish: Endless. This will linger around in your mouth for a long time. Spicy, woody and sweet dying out in such glory. Dry warmth and clover honey."

Sku reviews this favorably, as well:

"The nose on this has a strong rye, very reminiscent of the herbaceous rye notes on Whistlepig and the other Canadian straight ryes. Then some cocoa notes emerge.  The palate is both drier and less aggressive on the rye than I expected with some brandy notes, cherries, chocolate and a more muted rye than the nose.  The finish is the first time you get more traditional Canadian Whisky notes with some honey joining the rye spice.

• This is a very nice whisky.  It has the nice, spicy rye notes of the Canadian straight ryes but with more complexity.  I've been skeptical of recent talk about a Canadian Whisky revival, at least based on we've seen in the US, but this whisky gives me hope that we will start to see some real gems coming out of Canada."

1910 Canadian Rye Whisky

1910
"Aged 12 Years"
Canadian Rye Whiskey
Imported and Bottled by Hood River Distillers (Oregon)
40% ABV
paid $34

Color: medium brown with a slight reddish tint.

Nose: really interesting. Syrup was the first thing that came to mind. And strawberry/cherry fruit snacks. There isn't a ton of information listed on the bottle or online regarding the specific components or aging philosophy, but to me it almost smells like it's seen time in sherry casks. There's also quite a bit of a leather smell, as well as something musty and almost ashy. Complex, but not as pleasing as it is...jumbled.

Taste: syrupy sweetness upfront. Same mix of imitation cherry/strawberry fruit snacks shows up as well. And...that's pretty much it. At 40% ABV, it goes down really smooth, and nothing more comes into play on the midpalate or on the finish aside from a slight "poof" of subtle, tired old wood in the aftertaste.

Overall: I had never seen this whiskey before, so picked it up out of curiosity and the age statement. Their advertising (website) claims:

"Featuring round, rich notes of tobacco, charred oak and butterscotch with a spicy rye kick and peppery heat, Pendleton® 1910 Rye Whisky is rounded out by the smoothness of maple and sweet cherry to provide a weighty and balanced, yet complex, flavor profile."

Of this, I would say maple, cherry (imitation cherry), and tobacco are fair. That said, they are not anywhere close to in balance, and the whole thing is just really awkward. If there was any spicy rye kick or peppery heat/oak for contrast, it could be a different story. However, my best guess is that they got a sweet deal on sourcing some old okay whiskey, and are trying to market their way to a compelling offering. I'm going to mix this with the 6 month Dad's Hat to see what happens, as this super sweet rye could do interesting things to the oak bomb that goes off during the DH mid-palate.

Crown Royal Maple

Crown Royal
Maple Finished
Fine De Luxe Maple Flavored Whisky
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$25 (sample provided)

Color: light brown, slight orange glow.

Smell: very mapley, but to my surprise there is a little more to it. Dig down deep enough and there is some vanilla as well as some grain influence. Don't get me wrong, this smells more more like whisky accented maple syrup than it does maple-finished whisky - it's the major note on the nose. But there is (slightly) more there.

Taste: it's syrup drenched pancakes on entry, and that's pretty much where it stays throughout. Slightly bitter aftertaste. The imitation maple sweetness is somewhat overwhelming, but let's be honest: no one is buying this to appreciate its nuances or rich and balanced delivery.

Overall: if you're looking for a whisky that tastes pretty much exactly like Mrs. Butterworth's pancake syrup, this is your ticket.

Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel

Crown Royal
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."

Crown Royal Black

Crown Royal Black
"Robust, Full-Bodied"
Blended Canadian Whisky
45% ABV (90 proof)
~$30 (sample provided)

Color: medium/dark brown. Darker than most highly aged bourbons, so I'm guessing there might be some artificial coloring.

Smell: not a ton coming through on the nose for me. I get a little bit of vanilla sweetness, some alcohol heat, and a little oakiness.

Taste: caramel/nougat sweetness upfront that quickly transitions to and is overwhelmed by strange barrel-influenced flavors on the mid-palate and finish. Instead of baking spices or cinnamon candy, I get tannins and astringency in various "off" notes. Going down it's actually a little bitter - green apples and sweet n' low came to mind. However, the finish brings back an artificial sweetness that lingers...strangely.

Overall: it's not horrible, but it's a bit of a hot mess. To me, there isn't a harmonious balance between sweetness and barrel influence and there are too many disjointed off notes to savor properly. Fine for mixing, but I don't think is smooth enough to merit a sipping session. C+/B- range.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Crown Royal
Northern Harvest Rye
90% Rye Whisky
"Fine Blended Canadian Whisky"
45% ABV (90 proof)
~$30 (sample provided)

Color: goldenrod

Smell: very nice. Subtle and smooth. It's driven mostly by minerality, if that make sense. To me, it smells a lot like two specific varietals of white wine - it's got the subtle peach notes of an Albarino with the sweetness of a Gewurztraminer. All complemented with the more traditional clove and oak flavor coming from the rye grain and barrel influence. Also a little bit of soapiness.

Taste: a letdown from the nose. The fruitiness and minerality unfortunately don't shine through on the palate. Very little sweetness at all upon entry, and then the transition unpacks a strange bitterness, along with noticeable alcohol heat. The medium-length finish brings back a little bit of the clove and oak. I let it sit in the glass for a while and then sit again in my mouth before swallowing, but the only flavors that showed up were oak and clove, and primarily on the finish. Also (and this is weird), most whiskies coat my entire mouth - I can taste things all around my tongue, my cheeks, my throat, etc. With this tasting, everything was experienced on the middle-front portion of my tongue, and then slightly in my throat on the finish. That's not particularly apropos of anything, but it speaks at least slightly to the mild letdown this whisky brings to bear on my palate.

Overall: I want to love the whisky, but it falls apart on the palate. The nose is beautiful, and made me really excited to sip (almost Lot 40 territory in terms of promise). It's not bad per se; it just doesn't live up to what is suggested by the sniff. B-/B overall, and a very decent value.  To me, this is a compelling alternative to some of the well-known budget-friendly American ryes like Rittenhouse, Overholt, and even Sazerac 6. Recommended, but wish it could somehow put it all together, because the nose is stunning.

Crown Royal

Crown Royal
Fine De Luxe
Blended Canadian Whisky
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$25 (sample provided)

Color: light brown, orange tint.

Smell: gentle grain sweetness. Don't really sense much of anything else. It's certainly pleasant, though. Makes me think of sprinkling brown sugar on oatmeal.

Taste: gentle and balanced sweetness on entry. It's not cloying, but there are no big flavors, per se. It's kind of like the ghost of something sweet...like licking the wooden stick after you eat rock candy. Transition remains subtle and smooth...flecks of vanilla join the caramel/marshmallow notes, and there's just a hint of barrel influence in the form of coconut. Finish is short and remains in the sweet category.

Overall: I dig it. Solid B, and amazing for what it is: a smooth and balanced blended whisky. You would never buy this to impress a whisky connoisseur, but this is fantastic whisky for cocktails, as well as for smooth sipping. A great value to boot. Definitely recommended, but know your audience (and buy the whisky geek in your life the Crown hand-selected barrel offering).

Crown Royal Monarch

Crown Royal Monarch
75th Anniversary Blend
Finely Blended Canadian Whisky
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$75 (sample provided)

Color: light/medium golden brown

Smell: subtle, very smooth and muted. Definitely some maple sweetness and a barely-there fruitiness that's bordering on bananas/apricots.

Taste: more of the same - super smooth entry, gentle throughout the palate. Slight sweetness with just a wisp of leather that shows up during the transition and short finish.

Overall: this is impeccably smooth. Compared to the flagship Crown, it's somehow even more subtle. lt's all about balance and finesse. There are no high notes; it's a gentle nose with some interesting tropical fruitiness, a subtly sweet delivery on the palate with just a hint of integrated barrel influence, and then it's all quickly over after swallowing. I would love to taste this at a much higher proof - what's there is interesting and certainly smooth, but the flavors aren't concentrated enough to truly savor throughout a sipping session. Solid "B" for me without considering value, but $75 is a big ask for a smooth 80 proof whisky.

Canadian Club Small Batch "Classic 12"

Canadian Club
Small Batch Blended Canadian Whisky
"Classic 12" Aged 12 Years
Batch C12-014
40% ABV (80 proof)
paid $21

Color: medium brown with a burnt red tint.

Smell: maple syrup and - especially - toasted marshmallows. I love the smell of this whisky. It's light, it's sweet, and reminds me a lot of the nose on the Crown Royal Hand-Selected Barrel I previously reviewed. It smells creamy, soft, and smooth, with just enough wood influence to keep it interesting.

Taste: mellow and muted. A bit of a letdown from the nose. There's some imitation vanilla sweetness on entry (French vanilla flavor shot from Dunkin Donuts comes to mind). The transition and finish are jumbled. A little bit of oak influence comes into play, but it dissipates quickly as the finish brings the cloying vanilla and butterscotch sweetness back.

Overall: it's unobjectionable, but uninspiring...C+/B- for me. That said, it's $20. It smells better than it tastes, but the one-note palate (imitation vanilla and pancake syrup) gets old quickly. Fine for mixing and fine for ice cubes or sipping, but I vastly prefer Crown Royal in the budget category (and its aforementioned big brother for true slow-sipping appreciation).

Lot 40 Rye 2012 Release

Lot No. 40
Single Copper Pot Still
Canadian Rye Whisky
2012 Release
43% ABV (86 proof)
paid $42

I had originally picked up a bottle of this last fall/winter and included it in one of my earliest reviews, during my "execution video" whiskey photography phase (see here). I thought it would be interesting to review this again after being lucky enough to taste a ton of whiskies between then and now. Shockingly, I talked to a guy at Virginia ABC who said they have cases of this available at their warehouse and on the cheap, no less (thanks, crumbling exchange rate!).

Color: light/medium brown with a slight yellow tint.

Smell: this is a stunning and yet restrained rye nose. Dill and mint stacked high on top of a base of malty pumpernickel bread. Also accented with a touch of toasty wood influence. As it sits, the sweet mint builds and I get some caramel as well.

Taste: initial sip was marked by some mild herbal sweetness and then a rush of cracked rye spiciness and oak on the midpalate and finish. As I spend time with it, the oak and spice smooths out and the finish features more leather and dill.

Overall: this is a hands-down winner of a rye, easy A-/A for me and a great value. Highly recommended. For whatever reason, this doesn't (yet) seem to be a cult whisky, so I'd grab a bottle if/while you can find it.

Wiser's 18 Year

Wiser's
Blended Canadian Whisky
18 Years Old
Case 0191 of 2000
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$60

Color: very nectarine-tinted light brown

Smell: definitely Canadian. Lots of honey and what is (for me) a distinct toasted marshmallow aroma. I definitely pick up some toasty oak, but there's lots of caramel and coconut as well. Really nice nose, definitely on the sweet side. Very smooth and creamy.

Taste: similar to the nose, but a little thin on the palate. There's a big amount of sweetness (honey, marshmallow, caramel) balanced by just enough oak spice to keep you from thinking it's pancake syrup. This oak spice/toasty wood element are particularly noticeable on the finish.

Overall: it's good. For me, it's a "B+" but (and this is a big but) the Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel runs circles around it. For about the same amount of money or a bit less, you get 50%+ proof Canadian whisky that turns this basic flavor profile up to an 11. I don't think the 18 year age statement is worth paying for in this case - at least, not at 40% ABV.

Crown Royal XO

Crown Royal XO
Blended Canadian Whisky
Finished in Cognac Casks
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$50 (sample provided)

Color: light brown, and unclouded.

Smell: in keeping with standard blended Crown, pretty restrained on the nose. Some mild cereal sweetness, but there's a little more to it as well. To me, the supplementary aroma is reminiscent of grappa's funkiness - grape must and a hint of apple cider vinegar.

Taste: smooth on entry, with balanced grain sweetness that coats the mouth. The transition brings in a little bit of wood influence in the form of a mild and pleasing charred oak taste. However, an astringency also comes into play during the medium/long finish, souring everything with a strange lasting bitterness.

Overall: I'm not a big fan of this one at all. It's decent, but especially considering the elevated price tag, this is a C for me. Standard Crown is much smoother and more pleasing for my taste. Ultimately I think Cognac is just kind of an odd choice for a barrel finish - I didn't notice it adding anything to the taste experience aside from a tannic edge and some harshness. It's arguably more complex than standard Crown, but the flavors don't meld together well.