Whiskeys Similar to Crown Royal: Alternatives & Substitutes

Last Updated on: 2nd May 2024, 08:34 pm

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Written by: J Highland

Choosing the Best Alternatives to Crown Royal

This guide explores various whiskeys catering to a range of preferences, venturing beyond Crown Royal's smooth but sometimes simple profile.

For the Budget-Conscious:

• Kirkland Canadian Whiskey: A light and affordable option with hints of vanilla and caramel. Perfect for casual mixing due to its smooth, easy-drinking character.

For the Rye Whiskey Enthusiast:

• Lot No. 40: A spicy rye experience with notes of grass, mint, clove, and citrus. Great for sipping neat or on the rocks, but may be mild for some cocktail lovers.

For the Smoothness Seeker:

• Gentleman Jack: A mellow Tennessee whiskey with familiar banana and caramel notes, offering a smoother alternative to Crown Royal without the spicier rye notes.

For the Fruity Twist:

• Crown Royal XO: This Crown Royal expression offers a delightful twist with a fruity dimension thanks to its finishing touch in Cognac casks. Features notes of caramel, dark fruit, and oak for those who enjoy smooth whiskey with a touch of sweetness.

For the Sherry Lover:

• Black Bush: This Irish whiskey boasts smoothness and a touch of sherry influence. Offers notes of dried fruit, oak, vanilla, and baking spice for those who appreciate a unique sherry-kissed character.

For the Rye Spice on a Budget:

• Alberta Premium: A rye-forward whiskey with a surprising depth for the price. Offers notes of peppermint, baking spice, and caramel, making it a great alternative for spicy Old Fashioneds.

For the Easy-Drinking Rye:

• Forty Creek: A smooth and affordable rye whiskey with balanced sweetness. Features notes of vanilla, fruit, almond, honey, and pepper for easy sipping or mixing in cocktails.

Venturing Beyond Rye:

• Woodford Reserve Bourbon: A well-balanced and smooth bourbon with notes of mint, honey, vanilla, and fruit. Perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks, it offers a creamy body and crowd-pleasing flavor profile.

Classic Canadian Rye with a Twist:

• Canadian Club: An easy-drinking whiskey with a touch of sourness. Offers notes of licorice, caramel, apple, and baking spice for those who enjoy a simple and approachable rye character.

Bolder Crown Royal Experience:

• Crown Royal Black: For those who prefer a more robust Crown Royal, this expression offers a richer taste profile due to aging in charred barrels and higher proof. Features notes of caramel, molasses, rye, and baking spice.

The OG Crown Royal:

• Crown Royal: A smooth and beginner-friendly whiskey with a touch of sweetness. Offers notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice for easy sipping or mixing in cocktails.

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Learn more: Crown Royal Website

Similar Whiskeys to Crown Royal & Alternatives: Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Kirkland Canadian Whiskey: A Budget-Friendly Alternative to Crown Royal

• Nose: Vanilla, maple, caramel
• Palate: Vanilla, maple, burnt caramel, baking spice
• Finish: Oak spice
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Cocktails

Forget the rumors - Kirkland Canadian Whiskey comes from the Sazerac Company, not Crown Royal.

This budget-friendly spirit offers a light nose with hints of vanilla and caramel. The taste leans sweet with artificial flavors, but a touch of bitterness balances it out. While not complex, Kirkland Canadian Whiskey is smooth enough for easy mixing and perfectly suitable for casual gatherings, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Lot No. 40: A Rye Whiskey Delight for Sipping

• Nose: Grass, mint, clove, honey
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, spice, mint, grass
• Finish: Long, spice, orange, rubber
• Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

Made entirely with rye grain, Lot No. 40 offers a spicy rye experience balanced by subtle sweetness. On the nose, expect grassy and minty notes with a hint of clove. The smooth taste unfolds with caramel, vanilla, and baking spices, leading to a lingering finish that combines citrus, rye spice, and a touch of oak.

While great for sipping neat or on the rocks, this rye whiskey might be mild for some cocktail enthusiasts.

Gentleman Jack: A Mellow Alternative to Crown Royal's Smoothness

• Nose: Banana, caramel, vanilla
• Palate: Corn, vanilla, caramel, oak char
• Finish: Corn, nutmeg, caramel, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

If you enjoy the signature smoothness of Crown Royal, Gentleman Jack offers a compelling alternative.

The familiar banana aroma of Jack Daniel's remains in Gentleman Jack, softened by hints of caramel, vanilla, and a subtle oak presence. The taste is corn-forward with notes of vanilla and caramel, lacking the depth of Crown Royal but offering a touch of oak char bitterness. The finish is short and sweet, showcasing corn character with hints of nutmeg and oak.

For those seeking a familiar yet smoother whiskey experience compared to Crown Royal, Gentleman Jack presents a strong contender. It provides a mellow Tennessee whiskey option without the spicier rye notes sometimes found in Canadian whiskies like Crown Royal.

Crown Royal XO: Unveiling a Fruity Twist (Finished in Cognac Casks)

• Nose: Caramel, ripe fruit
• Palate: Honey, dark fruit, rye spice, oak spice
• Finish: Dark fruit, toasty oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

The Crown Royal XO elevates the brand's signature smoothness with a delightful twist. Its nose entices with caramel and ripe fruit hints. The taste starts with a luxurious honey note, followed by complex layers of dark fruit, subtle rye spice, and a touch of oaky bitterness. The finish lingers with sweet dark fruit and a hint of toasted oak.

This expression surpasses the classic Crown Royal, offering an appealing price point for its complexity. The key lies in its finishing touch - French Cognac casks. This unique aging process infuses the whiskey with a fruity dimension, enriching the taste profile. If you enjoy smooth, easy-drinking whiskey with a touch of fruity sweetness, the Crown Royal XO is a delightful discovery.

Black Bush: Sherry-Kissed Smoothness

• Nose: Sherry, dried fruit, oak
• Palate: Vanilla, ripe fruit, baking spice
• Finish: Long, ripe fruit, oak spice
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

The nose starts with a fleeting alcohol hint that gives way to a rich, inviting aroma of sherry, dried fruit, and a touch of oak. While the body feels a bit light, the taste is smooth and sweet with hints of ripe fruit, vanilla, and a pleasant cinnamon spice. The finish lingers longer than expected, showcasing sweet fruit and subtle oak without overpowering bitterness.

The secret lies in the aging process. Black Bush spends 7 to 11 years in Oloroso Sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels. This results in a smooth and enjoyable whiskey, especially for those who appreciate a sherry-kissed touch.

Alberta Premium: Rye Spice Delight for Budget-Minded

• Nose: Peppermint, baking spice, vanilla
• Palate: Rye spice, caramel, baking spice, peppermint
• Finish: Medium, rye spice, peppermint
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

The nose surprises with peppermint, followed by warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The rye shines with moderate spice and grassy notes, complemented by caramel and lingering peppermint.

While not complex, it offers surprising depth for the price. A great alternative to Crown Royal for those looking for a spicy whiskey to make Old Fashioneds.

Forty Creek: Smooth & Sweet Rye for Easy Drinking (Great Value)

• Nose: Vanilla, citrus zest, plum, toasted oak, alcohol
• Palate: Vanilla, ripe fruit, rye spice, almond
• Finish: Honey, black pepper, orange
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Forty Creek is a satisfying easy-drinker. Its nose offers a brandy-like sweetness with vanilla, citrus, and a touch of rye spice. On the palate, it's smooth and medium-bodied, with upfront sweetness balanced by rye spice and hints of fruit and almond. The finish lingers with honey, orange, and a touch of pepper.

Easy-drinking and versatile, Forty Creek mixes well in cocktails or shines as a smooth nightcap. It's not mind-blowing, but for the price, it delivers a pleasant rye character and balanced sweetness.

Woodford Reserve: Smooth Bourbon for Every Occasion

• Nose: Mint, honey, vanilla, citrus
• Palate: Sweet oak, cinnamon, mint, ripe fruit
• Finish: Oak, caramel, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Woodford Reserve entices with a gentle nose of wood, mint, vanilla, and caramel. The taste is a delightful dance between sweet and spicy, with smooth oak, cinnamon, mint, and subtle fruit. The finish lingers with warmth, sweetness, and lasting oak.

This well-balanced bourbon boasts a creamy body, free of harshness. No wonder it's a top seller! Perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks, Woodford Reserve's mellow sweetness and balanced heat please both bourbon veterans and newcomers alike.

Canadian Club: Easygoing Rye with Caramel Charm

• Nose: Licorice, caramel, apple, fennel
• Palate: Caramel, baking spice, brown sugar
• Finish: Short, rye spice, caramel
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Canadian Club's nose opens with a distinct licorice note, alongside hints of caramel, apple, and fennel. Though light-bodied, the taste offers upfront sweetness with moderate rye spice and baking notes. A subtle brown sugar character emerges. The finish is short, leaving a touch of rye spice, caramel, and a hint of sourness that lingers pleasantly.

While not complex, Canadian Club is an easy-drinking whiskey. Its sweet profile, balanced by rye spice and a touch of sourness, makes it enjoyable neat, on the rocks, or in simple cocktails. Bonus fact: Canadian Club gained fame through the TV show Mad Men, becoming Don Draper's drink of choice.

Crown Royal Black: Bolder Sibling (Charred Barrels, More Proof)

• Nose: Caramel, cinnamon. cherry
• Palate: Caramel, molasses, rye, vanilla, coffee
• Finish: Medium, rye spice, caramel, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

For a bolder Crown Royal, look no further than Black. Aged in charred barrels and bottled at a higher proof (90 vs 80), it offers more body. The nose hints at caramel, cinnamon, and cherry. The taste is smooth and rich, with caramel, molasses, oak spice, and a touch of coffee and char. The finish lingers with subtle rye, spice, and char.

Enjoy it neat, or add a drop of water to tame the char and boost sweetness. It's a clear step up from the original, offering a tastier experience without excessive heat.

Crown Royal: Smooth & Easygoing (Great for Beginners)

• Nose: Vanilla, caramel, pear, ethanol
• Palate: Spice, clove, vanilla, ripe fruit
• Finish: Short-lived, caramel, oak spice
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks

Crown Royal's nose is light and pleasant, with hints of vanilla, caramel, and pear. Though light-bodied, the taste offers a balance of rye spice, clove, vanilla, and fruit. The finish is short and sweet with caramel and oak.

This smooth and approachable whisky is ideal for beginners. Enjoy it over ice, in cocktails (especially with Coke!), or sip it neat. It may not be complex, but it's a solid, easy-drinking option with a unique purple pouch!

Criteria for Selecting Similar Whiskies to Crown Royal

• Taste Profile Match: Whiskies that share a similar taste palette.
• Character & Complexity: Bottles with comparable characters ensure familiar warmth and smoothness that Crown Royal enthusiasts cherish.
• Affordability Spectrum: From budget-friendly options that don't compromise quality to premium alternatives for those special occasions.
• Expert Opinions: Insights and recommendations from industry professionals and whiskey aficionados.
• Customer Reviews: Feedback from whiskey drinkers who've ventured beyond Crown Royal and found comparable satisfaction elsewhere.