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Posts Tagged ‘Whisky Review’

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Whisky Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 17, 2010

I have completed my third review of the Crown Royal Family  of Canadian Whiskies.    With the Crown Royal Cask No. 16 we have one of the truly great Canadian Whiskies. A blend of over 50 individual whiskies, (all of them well aged), and the ‘piece de resistance’ , the final blend is refinished in french oak cognac casks.  While I was reviewing the cask No. 16 I found it to be a huge leap forward in the Crown Royal Family. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The first sensation in my mouth was of an incredible softness that this whisky presents.  It is almost chewy soft.  A mellow corn whisky is up front on the palate, but rich soft butterscotch and caramel and sweet brown sugar sit under the corn flavour supporting and enhancing the experience.  A nice spicy bite which has the hallmarks of pears and grapes grabs at the taste buds.   Carrying all of this flavour forward is a wonderful mild oak presence that never dominates.  The oak acts as it should, as a garnish which heightens the other flavours with its presence….”

You may read the full review and find my new cocktail recipe called  Sweet No. 16 here:

Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Canadian Whisky

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 4, 2010

Photo Courtesy forrestLast week I jumped the gun somewhat, as it is my plan to review the entire family of Crown Royal Whiskies over the next several weeks and months.  Crown Royal, Crown Royal Reserve, Crown Royal Cask #16 and the very limited Crown Royal XR.  My plan of course was to begin at the bottom and review the Crown Royal, and then work my way up the product line up until I was finally reviewing the XR.  So what did I do instead?  I jumped a rung on the ladder and reviewed the Crown Royal Reserve before I reviewed the flagship brand, The Crown Royal.  So today I will correct that mistake and provide what should have been the first review.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“The Crown Royal is a little soft and buttery in the mouth.  It has that same underlying punky flavour which I described as somehow acrid and vegetal at the same time when I reviewed the Crown reserve…”

Please read the full review here:

Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

I have included a couple of recipes with the review one quite simple  (although tried and true), Crown and Coke, and one which I think has a nice elegance, The Apple Jack.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 28, 2010

Crown Royal was first produced in 1939 to commemorate the arrival of the first Royal Tour in Canada of King George VI and Queen Elisabeth.  The distinctive crown shaped bottle, and royal purple bag for which Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is famous for, were created in honor of this occasion.

Today Crown Royal is one of the best known brands of Canadian Whisky in the world .  The Reserve was developed by Master Blender, Andrew Mackay,  at the Gimli Distillery near Winnipeg, Manitoba.  This whisky is aged a little longer than the regular Crown Royal for a smoother taste profile .  Here is a link to the  Crown Royal Whisky website.

I have included a cocktail suggestion with the review as well as a highball drink which I like very much.  Here is an excerpt from the review:

“Crown Royal Reserve is a little soft in the mouth.  Its flavour profile includes a little spicy rye and a little dank bourbon and corn flavour.   The whisky is smooth with a mild sweetness, a gentle vanilla, and a gentle spiciness.  A soft but firm firm oak nestles in the background….”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Whiskey Review: Old Parr Superior 18 Year Old Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 20, 2010

Its time to return to Scotland and sample one of the most decorated Scottish Blends ever produced, Old Parr Superior 18 year Old Whisky. Old Parr Superior,  is blended and bottled by MacDonald Greenlees Distillers, who in turn are owned by Diageo (click on the link to go to the Diageo website.)

Old Parr Superior was named by Jim Murray as the 2007 World Whisky of the Year, in his 2007 Whisky Bible.    This recognition caused quite a stir and a fair amount of consternation, as the blend was only available overseas, in the Pacific Rim markets.   But collectors and whisky aficionados may now begin to rejoice as rumors have begun to circulate that this whisky is coming to North America.

So in preparation of this event I have prepared a review of the Old Parr Superior whisky using a bottle from my own private collection to sample and taste.  Here is an excerpt from my hard work:

“The whisky arrives in the mouth with a soft chewy peat. The soft peat completely envelops the palate, and it is as if you have to chew through the smoke and peat to get at the other flavours.   As the Old Parr sits on my tongue, the other flavours pop out of the smoke one by one…”

You can read the full review here:

Review: Old Parr Superior Scotch Whisky

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Whisky Review: Black Velvet Deluxe Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 19, 2010

I don’t think it would shock anyone who reads my blog to know that I love Canadian Whisky.  I find it to be the smoothest, easiest drinking whisky in the world.  It mixes well in all kinds of cocktails, and for the most part Canadian Whisky has a consistent flavour profile, with the variance between brands being found  in the nuances of their flavour profiles, rather than in large differences between those  flavour profiles.

Black Velvet Canadian Whisky was originally produced at the famous  Schenley distillery in Valleyfield Quebec in 1945, and has a long history in North America.  The original name was Schenley Black Label; but, because of its unusual smoothness, the name was later changed to Black Velvet.  A very successful marketing campaign introduced in 1969 featured the “Black Velvet Girl”. Famous faces who have been Black Velvet Girls are, Christie Brinkley, Sybil Sheppard and Cheryl Tiegs.

Now the whisky is a blend of distilled and aged Canadian whisky currently produced at the Black Velvet Distillery (Palliser Distillery) in Lethbridge Alberta. According to   the brand owner,  Constellation Brands, Black Velvet is the second highest selling whisky in its category in the US.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“This is a polished, smooth whisky with the alcohol bite soothed and mellowed.  The spices are mild and enjoyable, and I find good  balance.  Citrus fruits sit at the front of the palate, with honey and vanilla.  Of course we have a strong rye influence which provides the foundation upon which these flavours rest. …”

You can read the entire review here:

Review: Black Velvet Deluxe Canadian Whisky

As well I have included a nice “forrest approved” highball drink with a real ‘Canadian’ flair,   called “The Canadian Caribou“.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 5 Comments »

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