Crown Royal 12 Year Old Canadian Whisky Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

Despite its illustrious name, Canadian brand Crown Royal has had the reputation of being a middling brand from nation now widely considered as fifth among the five traditional whiskey nations (Canada, Ireland, Japan, Scotland and the USA). Lately it seems parent company Diageo, the British drinks goliath, has decided to do something about that ho-hum degree of recognition.

One step in that bolstering of Crown Royal was the release of its 31 year old expression, because nothing captures attention quite like an very high age statement. However, such expressions are beyond the reach of most drinkers, and are therefore adornments rather than the foundation upon which a finer house is built. For that, Crown Royal launched a 12 Year Old expression late last year.

Things like this are getting Crown Royal back to what it was intended to be. The brand was introduced in 1939 by Samuel Bronfman, the liquor tycoon who founded what eventually became Seagram. Once the biggest booze company in the world, Seagram went under in 2000 and was broken up. Nowadays, it is most often associated with either the Indiana distillery that became MGP or else as the villain in many stories of how whiskey in North America was generally downgraded into the cheapest stuff possible. However, Bronfman kept certain expressions elevated during his tenure, and his own creation of Crown Royal was one of these. It was, after all, named to honor a visit by Queen Elizabeth II and has always come in that swanky velvet sack. What has been throughout the world’s whiskey boom has been age statement versions of Crown Royal, a point now being addressed.

Canadian whiskies are made by blending lots of single grain whiskies, aged in both new and used casks. The constituents behind Crown Royal 12 Year Old or Crown Royal generally (excepting, presumably, Northern Harvest Rye) are unknown. The whisky is bottled at 40% ABV.

The Whisky
This pour of whisky took a dulled, middle amber look in the glass. The nose is a light one, leading with caramel, backed by traces of baking spices and a certain oiliness.

The flavor comes on richer and stronger, but is simple and approachable. Simple in this instance means a sweet current akin to simple syrup plus vanilla, with more baking spice and a sliver of dry wood. This part of the experience is well-balanced, making for an easy drinking, rounded sipper. The finish opens a little sweet, and then lingers as a little woody and spicy.

The Price
A survey of online retailers suggest you should pay between $50 and $55 a bottle for this item.