Two things right off the top: 1. I never thought I would be giving a Canadian Club product a better review than "I had this at a wedding reception because it was the only option, and I didn't die so we're calling it a win," and 2. The four stars is reflective of the versatility of this whisky...it's more of a 3 .5 or so for flavor, but read on and see why I'm rounding up. After seeing Distiller's high rating, and since their "Affordable Canadian" list came out right as I was thinking I should do a little boozy exploration of the Great White North, I figured it was worth a spin. For $20, you're hard-pressed to find a better rye whisky for low-key, casual sipping with some friends, or (best yet) making cocktails. The nose is sweet, with clove and freshly chopped dill; meanwhile, the palate somehow manages to be smooth, dill pickle-y, a bit spicy, and a bit sweet all at once without becoming a busy-seeming trainwreck. That's not a half bad balancing act. It's a little too smooth and easy for my personal rye preferences insofar as drinking neat goes, but I can already imagine how good this will be in my go-to summer cocktails - Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and Sazeracs especially. I'd even venture a guess that a (sacrilege alert) mint julep would be pretty decent with this as the whisky base.
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Ok, thanks revkev!
I've had both NHR and Lot 40, and quite like them. NHR reminded me of banana nut bread in liquid form, which is not a half-bad association. I'll have to give the CR Noble Collection a whirl. @Rick M, I'd point you to both the Alberta Dark Batch Rye and (my personal favorite) Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve. Neither will set you back much, and both are pleasant, imminently drinkable whiskies with enough personality to merit drinking neat.
Ok, thanks Pranay!
Sorry---I meant crown royal noble collection...hands down best one I've had neat
Rick: crown royal monarch---neat, that's the best I've had
I like Baileys with a splash of Crown Royal and make a coffee royal with a shot of VO, but is there a good Canadian whiskey you can drink neat?
Have you tried Northern Harvest Rye or Lot40? Two of the best Canadians I think I've had.