Crown Royal whiskey: what you need to know + collection and how to drink
There are many incredibly delicious Canadian whiskies that deserve your attention. But, as with any drink, it's better to start with one thing.
Vzboltai believes that Crown Royal is best suited for this role. And to spark your interest in this whiskey, read below 10 interesting facts about this alcohol.
What you need to know about Crown Royal whiskey
History of creation
Crown Royal whiskey was created in 1939 by Sam Bronfman, owner of the House of Seagram, as a gift for the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. To this day, every drop of Crown Royal is made to meet royal standards.
Exclusive packaging
More than 50 million velvet packages for Crown Royal whiskey are produced annually. True to the original royal gift, the iconic purple velvet fabric has become a symbol of generosity and wealth.
A powerful blend
Crown Royal is an exquisite blend of 50 whiskeys distilled on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg in Gimli, Manitoba. By the way, about 1.5 million barrels of the company's whiskey are stored there!
The factory and the people
The distillery employs around 76 people who distill, mature, blend and manage Crown Royal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, often following in the footsteps of generations of family members who have run Crown Royal before them.
The best whiskey in the world in 2016
Jim Murray, author of The Whisky Bible, rated Crown Royal's Northern Harvest Rye the best in 2016, notably that there were no other whiskies in the top five this year scotch.
Crown Royal is not a rye whiskey, but it can be..
Rye is the main ingredient in the production of Canadian whiskey. But this does not mean that Canadian whiskey = rye.
Unlike American "rye whiskey", which is required by law to contain at least 51 percent rye, Canadian whiskey can contain zero, a certain amount or most of it during the production of the drink.
Aging of Canadian whiskey
All Canadian whiskeys must be aged for at least three years in barrels. In fact, the age is almost always more.
And what are the barrels made of?
Remember how strict the laws are in the US regarding aging of bourbon? Bourbon whiskey can only be aged in charred new oak barrels.
Being Canadian, Crown Royal is not subjected to such a test. Thus, whiskey can be aged in different barrels: from virgin charred new oak to reused charred oak barrels. Cognac or cabernet sauvignon barrels are also often used.
Vzboltai believes that this is a unique advantage of Canadian whiskey, because with such production, the flavors of drinks can cover a variety of facets, from spices and dried fruits to subtle smoke, vanilla or caramel.
Higher quality distillate
Crown Royal uses distillation columns for the efficient production of corn, barley and rye distillates, which are further mixed into a single blend.
Twelve distillation columns produce the fifty whiskeys that make up our signature blend - the result of five different recipes aged for different periods of time in new or reused charred oak barrels.
Crown Royal maturation casks are subjected to extreme temperature changes, expansion and contraction of the wood, which undoubtedly adds to the character of the developing drink.
Once aged to the satisfaction of our blenders, the whiskies are carefully blended to create the signature, rich, smooth, award-winning Crown Royal flavor.
Caring for the environment
Exceptionally smooth water naturally filtered with limestone from Lake Winnipeg, a unique and precious natural resource.
In 2016, Crown Royal reduced water use by 35%, saving 50 million gallons. And also consolidated the desire to achieve the goal of zero waste by 2020.
Crown Royal whiskey collection
Signature Series: Blender's Mash, Deluxe, Rye, Black
This collection is intended to be the first acquaintance with the Crown Royal brand. A great choice for a gift.
Master Series: Wine Barrel Finished, Reserve, XO, XR
More expensive, more refined aroma and taste + increased aging. Preferably drunk neat.
Flavor Series: Peach, Texas Mesquite, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Apple
Base alcohol for cocktails on the rocks. A good option for the bar.
Retired Whiskies: XR (Red), Honey, Cornerstone, Maple
Classic recipe, when you have tried the first 2 lines, you should take a closer look at these options.
How to drink Crown Royal whiskey
All Crown Royal whiskeys can be drunk neat from a snifter glass, sipping a maximum of 50 ml, with an ice cube or two if desired.
Most of the relatively inexpensive bottles are suitable for making alcoholic cocktails, the Flavor Series line is perfectly adapted for this purpose.
Update: 02.09.2019
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon