The Amateur Alcoholist considers 2 factors when scoring a review.
Taste and value are measured 1-100 then summed to give each bottle a “Proof” score.

Fast Facts

Price (750mL): ~$35

Whiskey type: Canadian

Proof: 80

Country: Canada

Distillery: Crown Royal Distillery (Diageo)

Review Score: 152 Proof

Background

Crown Royal was probably the first whiskey The Amateur Alcoholist actually enjoyed drinking (oh how the times have changed), and thus it is the first whiskey to be reviewed.  It’s an incredibly light, sweet, and drinkable whiskey, as many Canadian Whiskeys are, and is a good representation of the category.  Every bottle, regardless of packaging size, comes in a signature pouch, which, despite being a marketing gimmick, is actually a nice touch that harkens back to the brand’s origins.  The whiskey was first produced as a special gift for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on their first visit to Canada in 1939, and the purple bag (as well as the purple pillow in the logo) are ties to that royal heritage.

Review

Neat

Crown Royal is incredibly mild, sweet, and light, even neat. It has almost no burn, and very little alcohol taste. Vanilla and toffee, similar to a Werther’s hard candy.  The feeling on the toungue is a bit thick, almost syrupy.  It leaves a relatively long finish that is sweet and pleasant with a taste that sticks around on the tongue, but there is little to no burn or warming in the throat or chest.

With Water

The water mutes almost everything it had neat. It does make it even smoother, to the point it almost feels a like dense, sweetened water passing over the tongue. Maybe I just took a bigger swig, but actually got some spicy tingling up in my nose here when drinking. The aftertaste is surprisingly not as sweet, offering more of a sour almost bitter taste on the tongue and does not linger as long.  The water changed this quite a bit, but I felt the sweetness and aftertaste offered with it neat were more enjoyable.

With Ice

With an ice sphere, Crown Royal takes another step closer to being water-like. It’s incredibly smooth and still offers a touch of sweetness, but most of the (little) alcohol taste that was present when tasted neat is gone. It still leaves a bit of a prickly feeling as it passes over your lips to let you know it’s got alcohol. The aftertaste is actually closer to how it was neat, but doesn’t last nearly as long.

Preferred way to drink

Crown Royal is one of the most versatile whiskeys I know. Neat, on the rocks, or mixed with a variety of cocktails, Crown Royal can hold its own.

Who should try it

If you prefer lighter or sweeter whiskeys or are new to whiskey, and have yet to try Crown Royal you definitely should.  Rum drinkers looking to try their hand at whiskey should also consider Crown Royal.

If you’re interested in Canadian whiskey as a category, Crown Royal does a fine job introducing the flavors you’ll find in-category and delivers better than many others. Or if you’re looking for something you can put on your bar and use as a versatile whiskey, look this way.

Who probably won’t enjoy it

People who don’t like sweet flavors or who enjoy a little “heat” from their hooch. Crown Royal is so incredibly sweet, light, and smooth – especially if on ice – that you can almost forget you’re drinking alcohol.  Canadian Whiskey also typically has more of a sugary sweetness, so those who prefer the sweetness found in Bourbon or Wheat may find

Verdict

Crown Royal has been a staple on The Amateur Alcoholist’s bar for years – whenever a bottle runs out, it is promptly replaced.  Everyone recognizes the brand, few object to it, and it is easy to please guests with or enjoy yourself in a variety of ways.  And for good reason.  Having stepped away a bit from Crown Royal to explore a wider range of Canadian Whiskeys, I was pleasantly surprised by  how much I enjoyed it after ordering a glass at a bar recently – in fact, I ordered a second.

It’s light and sweet which allow it to be incredibly sessionable and versatile, but some may find that sweetness a bit overwhelming.

Taste: 82

I don’t mind turning to sweeter whiskey.  As far as sweet whiskeys go, Crown Royal does a great job balancing flavors with sweetness at the front.  And it gets bonus points for how well its flavors compliment a wide variety of cocktails.

Value: 70

At about $35 per bottle (depending where you live), you can probably find better whiskey, even if you’re looking for something similar.  With that said, it is extremely versatile and recognizable, which some people may appreciate

Total: 152 Proof