Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
45% ABV - Ontario, Canada
Nose: Sweet grains immediately on the nose - despite knowing there is a majority rye content in here, I start thinking corn. It’s fairly evened out with cardamon, spices, and baked fruits, but it is just really quite punchy and comes off youthful (and not all that pleasant).
Taste: Very sweet, with butterscotch, banana, caramel, roasted nuts, and spices. I’m enjoying it more now, but still feels rough at the edges.
Finish: Ends with more mixed fruits, baking spices, and lemon tea. Cedar(?) or other old wood mingling in there.
I have finally reviewed Jim Murray’s 2016 Whisky of the Year - the emphasis because I purchased this bottle back during the shelf clearing hype it had, when inventory levels struggled to keep up with demand. In short, there is at least one reason why you can find it everywhere today and in multiple sizes (50, 375, 750mL)...
It is quite an “all right” whisky. I certainly wouldn’t complain if it were offered to me - I’d gladly accept - but, this is a whisky either to purchase by the bottle or in a cocktail. I couldn’t imagine consistently ordering this at a whisky bar by the dram (once, of course, if you haven’t tried it yet). I do prefer to sip on whisky neat, or with a small amount of water, so there is my excuse. It’s the price point of this bottle that makes sense to me; I like to have one or two sub-$40 bottles on hand for the indiscriminate whisky on ice - something cold, and with enough volume to actually last in the glassware! Perfect in these summer months.
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye is made with 90% rye grain, but it didn’t give me the peppery kick that I have had with other whiskies, such as High West Rendezvous Rye. It is fairly strong on baking spices and roasted nuts, which categorically I associate with rye-dominant mash bills. And I suppose this is a good time to acknowledge the difference between Canadian whisky and American whiskey making - to do this topic no justice: traditionally, American whiskies are a number of grains distilled and barrel aged together, while Canadian whiskies are single grains distilled and barrel aged separately, then blended together before bottling.
I have to appreciate the art that went into making this spirit, but, just like art, it’s not for everybody and I’m seeing something different - at least compared to Jim Murray.
Tasting Notes (Official): Nose: Baking spices, cereal, light wood spices. Palate: Gentle oak note, rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla, develops into soft peppery notes. Finish: Smooth and creamy.
Tasted 12 August 2019. (Posted 14 August 2019.)
