Crown Royal Deluxe

Crown Royal Deluxe is a 40% ABV Canadian blended whisky from Manitoba, produced at the Gimli distillery. The producer describes it as a blend of around 50 whiskies made from different grains and matured in different oak casks. It was created in 1939 for the royal tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. That blending approach explains the style. Canadian blends like this are usually built from a light, rye-influenced base whisky plus more flavourful whiskies, and the result is typically soft, rounded and easy to drink. Expect gentle vanilla and caramel from the oak, a touch of baking spice and some dried fruit, with little of the heat or smoke found in other whisky styles. These are typical expectations for the style, not a measured profile of this bottling. Because the blend is smooth rather than sharp, it works in more than one way. Neat in a small tulip-shaped nosing glass or a short tumbler, it lets you pick out the sweeter oak notes at room temperature. Over one large ice cube in a rocks glass, the spirit chills and opens up slightly, and the cube melts slowly enough that it doesn't water the whisky down too fast. A small splash of cool water is another way to bring out the aroma without hiding the caramel and spice. In cocktails, the soft profile suits drinks where the whisky should support the other ingredients. A Whisky Sour with fresh lemon juice and a little sugar syrup is a good match, since the mellow body takes the acidity well. An Old Fashioned made with sugar, bitters and an orange peel shows off the vanilla and spice, and a Manhattan with sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters works well too. For something longer, ginger ale or ginger beer over ice in a highball glass, with a lime wedge, is a classic way to use a Canadian blend. A cola and whisky also holds up, because the sweet spirit stays distinct from the mixer. At the table, caramel and vanilla notes go well with grilled or smoked meats, maple-glazed salmon, aged cheddar and roasted nuts. A square of dark chocolate is a good match if you are sipping it neat.