Likewise, the third liquid in the blend uses a mix of grain, except that it follows the corn-rich Bourbon recipe.Īs advertised, the rye component is quite spicy and a little tart, but not without its sweet charms. But the Coffey rye has a varied mashbill, mostly made up of rye. (Aeneas Coffey was an early developer of the column still.) Many Canadian rye components meant for blending are single grain. The Coffey rye, said to offer creamy smoothness, is made in an aged and unique Coffey still, rescued from its shuttered Waterloo distillery. The company attributes spiciness to its rye whisky, aged in virgin oak. The spirits were shipped elsewhere for aging. Along with tasting the Cornerstone Blend itself, we had a chance to sample the components separately.Īll three were distilled at its Gimli facility-not a Lord of the Rings character, but a distillery the company owns in Manitoba. Canadian law dictates no strict mash bill of the kind that regulates American straight whiskey and Scotch malts. They include rye, Coffey rye and Bourbon-style whisky. The first expression showcases what the company considers whiskies integral to its flagship Crown Royal. Each will be made available nationwide for limited periods. The thrust of the Noble Collection plan is to let distillers and blenders experiment by coming up with different expressions. Crown Royal is debuting it Noble Collection by stating out front the three whisky types that go into the Cornerstone Blend.Ĭornerstone marks the first in a series of limited-edition whiskies planned for annual release. They either choose not to or can't because the mixture changes as they chase an exact flavor while working with an ever-fluctuating mix of spirits. Equally useful as a sipping whisky or in cocktails. It underscores the importance of cask wood in shaping the aroma, flavor and texture of a whisky, and how whisky distillers have only scratched the surface of new and innovative maturation techniques.Few are the whisky blenders who reveal much about the components that go into their final products. The finish is medium length, sweet and slightly peppery. On the palate, the whisky is very smooth, even more so than Crown Royal’s characteristic smoothness, featuring notes of caramel, cinnamon, dried fruit, with hints of apricot and peach, along with a slight bitter note. On the nose, the whisky features intense caramel notes, along with aromas of vanilla, some spice, especially cinnamon, and the floral and fruity flavors that Crown Royal is known for. “We are always looking for ways to experiment with the brand’s flavor profile and with Crown Royal Noble Collection French Oak Cask Finished, it is evident how intentional changes in barrel selection and ageing can enhance the flavor while elevating the signature smoothness of Crown Royal Fine De Luxe.”Ĭrown Royal Noble Collection French Oak Cask Finished, NAS, 40% ABV, 750 ml, average retail price $60Ĭrown Royal’s French Oak Cask Finished whisky carries no age statement but is believed to be an average of five years old. The oak is open air-seasoned for a period of two years and then charred using a two-step firing process.Īccording to Mark Balkenende, Master Blender for Crown Royal: Oaks in the Vosges region are slow growing and produce wood characterized by a tight grain. This expression took Crown Royal De Luxe Whisky and finished it in toasted, new French oak casks crafted from wood from France’s Vosges Forrest. The second edition featured Crown Royal whisky that had been finished in wine barrels that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon from California.įrench Oak Cask Finished is the fourth release in Crown Royal’s limited-edition Noble Collection. The first and third editions of the Noble Collection, Cornerstone Blend and Blender’s Mash, featured special blends of some of the components that are used to create Crown Royal. Crown Royal Deluxe, the distillery’s flagship whisky, is a blend of 50 different whiskies from five different mash bills.
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