Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Well, here it is, the most debated whisky of 2016 thanks to Jim Murray and his 97.5 point rating.

Nose: definitely herbal. Also noticing barbeque sauce (?). Slight pine resin. Quite fragrant, almost perfumed yet not exactly sweet. Potent and herbaceous.

Taste: follows through on the aroma with concentrated rye flavours, mostly of the dried-herb variety. A fair bit of bite to it as well. Not a light-style Canadian whisky, to be sure.

Finish: rye and oak, quite dry and crisp. Long and consistent.

Balance: I once heard someone compare high-rye whisky to Islay malts in that it is an acquired taste. Northern Harvest is an example of that. Some might find the tart, bracing herbal taste too harsh or unfamiliar. For fans of true rye whisky, this should be a treat.

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