This is a 1L bottle I picked up at auction some time ago - although I don't know when it was bottled, I'm going to hazard a guess that it's from the 1990s.
The colour is a light caramel. Some rye spice on the nose, with otherwise nondescript notes of toffee, vanilla and indistinct herbs. Pretty mild oak. Pencil shavings. Although a few drops of water gives it some maltiness and wood smoke, there's nothing special here except standard Canadian whisky.
Thin on the palate with butterscotch, vanilla extract and a hint of pepper. A bit of apple & cinnamon. A bit creamier and spicier with water. Not much else going on here.
The finish is medium length with cloves, toasted oak and caramel. All in all, this is pretty standard stuff; although I haven't tried the modern version, I'm willing to bet this is slightly better. Older bottlings of standard Crown Royal and Canadian Club can be quite stunning, but unfortunately this one doesn't greatly impress.
@Victor, You've had a powerful influence on my bourbon education. I have been able to buy many excellent and many popular bourbons, or at least I was able to do so. It is not so much the trend these days as the supply of top tier bourbon has all but dried up at the LCBO; the only game in town.
As the good bourbon dried up in Ontario, a wave of great Canadian whisky washed over our country, surpassing the top shelf releases we had been on the hunt for...yes, even in Canada one has to be on the lookout for these domestic gems. This helped to fill the gap left by the scarcity of great bourbon in our (government-run monopoly) jurisdiction. Excellent barrel picks from local start-ups, cask strength rye, corn, and blended whiskies from established producers helped to soothe the burn caused by the rapid decline of great, and not so great, bourbon north of the border. It's extra dry up here!
@Victor, It has been more than a decade since we became friends on Connosr and shortly thereafter, friends in person. During this time we have traded bottles, purchased bottles for each other, and have drunk from many, many, excellent bottles of fine spirits. I have before me a box of decanted samples. The box has a label, "BOURBON SPECTACULAR". IT IS INDEED SPECTACULAR. Vials of rare bourbon which you have so generously shared with me and many others. We will again gather with friends and family, and when we do a large cache of whiskies and fine spirits will be enjoyed. We will trade bottles, exchange purchases, and distribute a sample or two. We will catch up on small talk and make plans for future visits, all while trying to cram a couple of years into a couple of days.
Back to the boxed spectacle...
Here is a short list of some of the great bourbon you have shared with many friends over the years, and allowed me to enjoy in the comfort of my own home.
ABRAHAM BOWMAN 17 YO 73.75%....perhaps my favourite on any given day.
VAN WINKLE 10 YO 107pf
PAPPY VAN WINKLE 15 YO 2010
WILLIAM LARUE WELLER 61.7% 2012
GEORGE T. STAGG 2011 71.3%
GEORGE T. STAGG 2012 71.4%
Thank you for your generosity!
I look forward to our next meeting; that will be a tough list to beat.
@Nozinan I fully expect that you will be. What a nice time that will be.