I went to the liquor store contemplating buying a nice and inexpensive bottle of scotch. After about 15 minutes or perusing the available options, I decided to forgo the purchase and just get a bottle of crown royal for my wife. That's when the Crown Royal Bourbon Mash caught my eye. I had no idea that it existed so it was a pleasant surprise indeed. It's a lovely copper and gold colour in the glass, giving it a closer resemblance to Makers Mark than to the classic Crown Royal. The nose has a nice bourbon smell to it with stronger notes of corn and cracked pepper, and lighter notes of vanilla, woody oak, and a touch of dried fruit. The Palate is definitely not as smooth as some bourbons, with corn and pepper being the more predominant flavours. The finish is what I can only describe as a short breath of vanilla that is swiftly overtaken by the oak, before they both disappear rather quickly, not leaving much else to linger or savour. For the price it's not a bad whiskey, but it's not one I would be likely to buy again. Final verdict: If you are new to bourbons this is a good place start, as it will likely only get better from here. Cheers.