An initially subtle, sweet and floral nose with a hearty dose of char that you really need to give time to develop. Notes of vanilla candy, caramel syrup, juicy plums, apple blossoms, Rainier cherries, charred wood, dried figs, and subtle yet sharp rye hinting at a bourbon character emerge. Caramel sweet and quite spicy on the palate, with gobs of vanilla and candied dark fruits, quickly followed with heat in the form of cayenne, ginger, and cinnamon, as well as a few green notes - rye and dried dill. Then, bitterness takes center stage, akin to Tung oil finished wood. It’s a bit unbalanced honestly. The body is thin at first, then fluffs up a little (but not as much as the original Crown Royal) as it sits on the tongue. There are no legs, and the sheets that drape the glass after a swirl go down fast leaving a few dots. The finish is mild and moderately long, with a fair amount of lingering dark honey sweetness, a hint of mint gum, green wood, plus a touch of cocoa and raisin. Intended to be a step up from classic Crown, but I personally feel it sacrifices what Crown excels at to be just a little spicier and darker, but without the balanced refinement of its predecessor. Nose: 8 Taste: 7 Body: 7 Finish: 8