Best Way to Drink Crown Royal: My Personal Guide

Last Updated on: 26th April 2024, 05:15 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.

Discover the best way of drinking Crown Royal: Ideas for tasting, pairing, and enjoying this Canadian whisky.

Written by: J Highland

Key Takeaways

Best served on ice or in simple homemade cocktails like those mixed with Coke, according to whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Noted for its smoothness, making it ideal for whisky beginners.
Gentle nature with a balanced blend of flavors.
Adding water is not recommended due to its light body.
Suitable glassware includes a standard whisky or rocks glass.
Tasting notes feature vanilla, caramel, pear, and a light spiciness.
Food pairings include BBQ ribs, maple-glazed salmon, and apple pie.
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.

Best Way to Drink Crown Royal

“Crown Royal offers a pleasant experience when served on ice and excels in homemade cocktails, especially when combined with Coke. “, suggests whisky expert Neil Coleman.

This Canadian whisky is notably smooth and approachable, ideal for beginners to whiskey.

Its gentle nature lacks an intense warmth, yet it remains an effortless choice for sipping or cocktail crafting.

Although it may not leave a lasting impression for complexity or depth, Crown Royal is reliable for an uncomplicated sip.

Plus, it comes with the added charm of a signature purple velvet bag upon purchase.

Related: Alternatives to Crown Royal

Adding Water

Crown Royal has a light body that can come across as thin, so adding water may result in an overly diluted and flavorless drink.

With its modest 80-proof or 40% ABV, it’s not the ideal whiskey for water addition.

You might experiment by introducing a drop or two to observe any shifts in flavor, but further dilution risks diminishing its taste significantly.

On the Rocks

Crown Royal on ice is a classic way to enjoy it chilled without too much dilution.

A large ice ball is ideal as it melts slowly, chilling the whisky without watering it down quickly.

Suggested Glassware

A standard whisky or rocks glass works perfectly for Crown Royal.

Its design allows the whisky to breathe while fitting comfortably in your hand, which can slightly warm the whisky and release more of its nuanced flavors.

Tasting Notes

Crown Royal presents a gentle nose, teasing with notes of vanilla, caramel, pear, and a trace of ethanol.

On tasting, it possesses a light, light body, yet it delivers a balanced blend of rye spice and clove at the forefront, with undertones of vanilla, pear, and apple.

Its finish is brief, leaving behind flavors of caramel with a whisper of oak spice.

Crown Royal in Cocktails

Crown Royal’s smoothness makes it a decent candidate for easy-drinking homemade cocktails.

Here are some simple recipes that highlight its flavors:

Whiskey and Ginger:

2 oz Canadian Whisky
4 oz Ginger Ale
Lime wedge for garnish

Build in a highball glass over ice, top with ginger ale, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Manhattan:

2 oz Canadian Whisky
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth
Dash of bitters
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Whisky Sour:

2 oz Canadian Whisky
3/4 oz Lemon juice
1/2 oz Simple syrup

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass.

Food Pairings

Enjoy Crown Royal with a variety of foods such as:

BBQ Ribs: The sweetness of the sauce complements the smoothness of the whisky.
Maple-Glazed Salmon: The maple echoes the whisky’s natural sweetness.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Its strong flavors balance Crown Royal’s mellow profile.
Chocolate Truffles: Enhance the chocolate’s richness with the whisky’s vanilla notes.
Apple Pie: A classic pairing, the spiced apple flavors marry well with Crown Royal’s gentle warmth.

Preserving the Bottle

To maintain Crown Royal’s quality:

Keep the bottle standing upright in a cool, dark environment.
Seal the bottle tightly to conserve its flavor and aroma.
Consume the whisky within a reasonable time once it reaches the last quarter to avoid oxidation affecting the taste.