Citrus, lemon in particular (reminds me of Pledge furniture wax, but in a good way). Prunes, raisins, sour cherry, with red and black currants. Cola and Juicy Fruit gum note (i.e., high-fructose corn syrup sweet).
Nose: Very sweet and fruity, but with a definite underlying sourness. Here is what I find in the glass for this Crown Royal: It seems that wine cask finishing can be a bit hit or miss. What strikes me in the above list is how different wine cask finishings have both enhanced and reduced the typical scores for the given distilleries – as well as having greatly increased the variability in reviewer scores in many cases. Teeling Single Grain (Wine Cask Finish) 8.53 ± 0.32 on 10 reviews ($$$) Longrow Red 14yo Burgundy Wood 8.54 ± 0.70 on 5 reviews ($$$$$) Longrow Red 12yo Pinot Noir Finish 8.84 0.34 on 7 reviews ($$$$$) Longrow Red 11yo Cabernet Sauvignon 8.43 ± 1.15 on 11 reviews ($$$$$) Longrow Red 11yo Australian Shiraz 8.86 ± 0.34 on 6 reviews ($$$$$) Longrow 7yo Gaja Barolo Finish 8.59 ± 0.51 on 7 reviews ($$$$) Green Spot Château Léoville Barton 8.81 ± 0.34 on 7 reviews ($$$$) While only a few reviews are in so far, this is a very good score for a Crown Royal – the second-highest in my database, to date.Īnd now for a few other non-fortified wine barrel-finished whiskies:Īrran Malt Amarone Cask Finish 8.76 ± 0.33 on 11 reviews ($$$)Īrran Malt Pomerol Bordeaux Cask Finish 8.35 ± 0.62 on 8 reviews ($$$$)Īrran Malt Sassicaia Wine Cask Finish 8.76 ± 0.17 on 5 reviews ($$$$$)Īrran Malt Tokaji Aszu Wine Finish 8.78 ± 0.34 on 4 reviews ($$$$)īruichladdich 21yo Cuvée 640 Eroica 8.74 ± 0.40 on 9 reviews ($$$$$)īruichladdich 21yo Cuvée 382 La Berenice 8.57 ± 0.56 on 6 reviews ($$$$$)įorty Creek Evolution: 8.70 ± 0.68 on 8 reviews ($$$) Here are how the various Crown Royals compare in my Meta-Critic database:Ĭrown Royal: 7.59 ± 0.46 on 19 reviews ($)Ĭrown Royal Black: 8.21 ± 0.49 on 16 reviews ($$)Ĭrown Royal Hand Selected Barrel: 8.86 ± 0.28 on 10 reviews ($$$)Ĭrown Royal Limited Edition: 8.30 ± 0.19 on 11 reviews ($$)Ĭrown Royal Monarch 75th Anniversary: 8.62 ± 0.48 on 12 reviews ($$$)Ĭrown Royal Noble Collection Cornerstone Blend: 8.35 ± 0.80 on 4 reviews ($$$)Ĭrown Royal Noble Collection Wine Barrel Finished: 8.72 ± 0.55 on 5 reviews ($$$)Ĭrown Royal Northern Harvest Rye: 8.55 ± 0.35 on 18 reviews ($$)Ĭrown Royal Reserve: 8.47 ± 0.67 on 14 reviews ($$$)Ĭrown Royal XO: 8.56 ± 0.57 on 7 reviews ($$$) I picked it up for $60 during the Canada Day online sale. Monarch), so I was keen to give this Cab Sauv finished Crown Royal.īottled at 40.5% ABV (oddly), it currently retails for $70 CAD at the LCBO.
I have had some higher-end Crown Royals that I’ve quite enjoyed (e.g. Wiser’s Double Still or even Hiram Walker’s Special Old). I have not posted a review yet of the base Crown Royal expression (aka “DeLuxe”) – but I find there are better Canadian rye whiskies among the bottom-shelf options (e.g. And while I am personally a fan of Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton, I’m not so keen on the Arran Malt Amarone Finish. Unlike fortified wines, I find you can get some sourness along with fresh fruit notes in these whiskies. This expression is finished for six months in freshly emptied, medium-toast Cabernet Sauvignon casks from the Paso Robles region of California.įresh wine cask finishes can impart some interesting notes – although not always universally pleasant ones. Please contact customer service at with any specific questions regarding returns and refunds.This whisky is the second member in Crown Royal’s “Noble Collection” – a new line of higher-end products from the Gimli, Manitoba distillery. Shipping and handling costs are non-refundable.Īll returns must be made within 30 days of purchase. We cannot accept returns of items that have been opened already. In such instances we will offer a replacement of the same item (subject to availability), refund the credit card used to purchase the item, or issue a store credit for the amount that was paid for the item. We can only accept the return of defective or damaged goods with proof of the defect or damage. This item cannot ship to Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont. Shipping takes 3-5 business days to most states. Packages cannot be left on stoops or doorways. We ship via a common carrier such as Fedex or UPS Ground to all states in the continental US (with some exceptions, below).Īn adult over the age of 21 with a valid ID must be present to receive the package, per alcohol laws.