Crown Royal - Extra Rare - 18 Year
$129
Crown Royal – Extra Rare – 18 Year
Proof: 80
Age: 18 Year
Distillery: Crown Royal
Type: Canadian Blended Whiskey
Mash: Unknown – Blended
Website: Crown Royal
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Rye Spice/Grains, Toffee, Mild Vanilla Bean, Rose Petal floral notes.
Taste/Palate: Low heat. Flat Diet Coke, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, & Cherries. with a hint of Oak.
Finish: Medium finish. Cream Soda, Caramel, Cherry, Apple, & Baking Spices.
Verdict: The first time I had the 18 year I cracked it open with a group of friends for New Years and all of us were disappointed. It tasted very flat. Revisiting the bottle it still had a slight flat taste to it, but it was much, much, better than the first time I tried it. To be fair and to make sure I didn’t have any palate contaminates I sampled it a 3rd time for a best 2/3. The tasting notes you see above are what I experience on a regular basis do I tossed out the first experience I had with the 18. I’m not sure if you believe this theory or not, but maybe the bottle needed to breathe a little. Regardless, if you are looking for the Extra Rare 18 year to “replace” the XR. It doesn’t. These are 2 very different blends. They are both good in their own right, but the XR takes it home for me if I were to choose between the two.
MSRP: BUY for a special occasion Price Ceiling: Not above MSRP ~$135 (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: I picked up a bottle of Crown Royal 18 year in hopes of finding another Crown Royal XR for my friend who gifted me the bottle that was reviewed in the Crown Royal XR post, but no avail. After doing research I found that XR is discontinued due to the last remaining product from the LaSalle Distillery being used up. LaSalle was responsible for the XR product.
I previously reviewed the XR so I could do a solid comparison to the Crown Royal 18 year that’s filling those shoes.
The Distillery’s Story: Crown Royal started with the Royal Monarchs were visiting Canada in 1939. A Canadian Entrepreneur blended the finest of Canadian whiskies fit for a king and queen and developed the best of the best Canadian blend. There were approx. 50 different whiskies to create this Royal blend that was place in an etched glass decanter and wrapped in a purple bag. The blend was from then on known as Crown Royal.
Crown Royal distillery resides in Manitoba Canada. They blend 5 different Mash Bills through 12 different distillation columns to create their unique blends.
Head to Head: I mentioned in the verdict section that the XR is the “winner”. I believe that it brings more to the table and is less flat. When the Canadian Club 42, and 43 enter the competition I think that the 43 edges out the Crown XR on taste alone, but the cost is a factor being almost double.
Current Premium Canadian Ranking:
1. Canadian Club – 43 Year
2. Crown Royal – XR – Blue (LaSalle)
3. Canadian Club – 42 Year (02)
4. Crown Royal – 18 Year
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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