Crown Royal (1977 bottling)

In a recent tasting, my dad brought an old bottle of crown royal from 1977. This was, at that point, the crown jewel (pardon the pun) of the Seagram's Distillery. It was thus, one of the world's best selling whisky, from, not only the biggest distiller in Canada or North America, but in the world.

Sam Bronfman himself is said to have concocted the blend for King George VI when their Majesties visited Canada in 1939, the first ever north american royal visit from any reigning monarchs. Apparently Mr Bronfman left a bottle on the train on wich their Majesties toured Canada and the US, after the Queen ordered a cordial for her husband to alleviate the aches and pains of a recently placed crown.

Thus the name,the shape of the bottle and the purple velvet bag.

The initial nose was pure rubbing alcohol. Disgusting. But leaving it in the glass for a little while brought a quite nice touch of wood, vanilla and banana. Much better, and rather what I expected.

And the whisky delivered on that: the palate is all vanilla and soft rye spices with a soft finish of oak.

More recent bottling are a bit creamier and sweeter with a bit more bitter touches.

All in all a very soft and clean canadian rye, then and now.

Find where to buy Crown Royal whisky