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Review #9: Crown Royal Extra Rare

Here we come to the end of the Master series of whiskies, and the end of our exploration of Crown Royal’s core range. A significant step up price-wise, Crown Royal Extra Rare demands much; but does it give much in return? Certainly, it provides us with a little more information: this is the only whisky in the range with an age statement, a respectable eighteen years; and as far as composition goes, we’re told it’s a blend of no more than three of their most exceptional whiskies. I’ve got high hopes going into this one, so let’s see how it shakes out.

Crown Royal Extra Rare Gimli Manitoba Blended Age: 18 ABV: 40%

Price paid (MLCC): $218.39 Reviewed: 2023-11-28

Colour: Reddish copper.

Nose: Lavender, vanilla toffee, and red fruits. Stone fruits: apricot, nectarine, hint of plum. Sugar cookie, walnut, and baking spices; orange zest. Wintergreen and bubble gum. Gentle oak wood and spice; anise.

Palate: Honeycrisp apple, toffee and wintergreen; orange peel. Mingled fruits with red apple, date. Lavender and pear. Rush of rye and oak spice. Chocolate and oak.

Finish: Juicy red apple and pear, into baking spice and wintergreen. Toffee and oak close.

Well, this one doesn’t disappoint. Extra Rare takes you on a journey throughout a tasting, and is never exactly the same across pours. Really, it’s a testament to the blender’s craft, and the quality of casks, that this is so richly flavoured despite the weak ABV.

Score: 5 out of 5 Worse in Brand: Northern Harvest Rye, XO, Reserve, Fine De Luxe, Black

This is the very pinnacle of Crown Royal’s offerings. So, is this a buy again bottle? At the price they’re asking… probably not. (I’m just not that much of a Crown fan.) Instead it’s a bottle to be savoured and enjoyed only on special occasions. What’s here though is a superb whisky.

Next series of reviews will take us to a relative newcomer to the Canadian whisky scene, from a distillery in Niagara. See you then!

Scoring Guide 1 out of 5: Terrible; no redeeming qualities, just say no. 2 out of 5: Poor; possesses qualities that detract, fodder for mixers. 3 out of 5: Mediocre; middle-of-the-road whisky, sippable but perhaps better in a cocktail. 4 out of 5: Good; a solid pour, enjoyable neat and outstanding in a cocktail. 5 out of 5: Superb; continues to surprise and delight, something to cherish.