Crown Royal Cask 16

[t-bone]

Having my first taste of this premium Canadian blend.

Nose
Its definitely Crown Royal at the core, but with nice winey/brandy notes coming through.

Palate
Rich and sweet with fruit, raisin and spice - delicious

Finish
The cognac finish is fantastic - long and drying

This is definitely one of the best Canadian whiskies I've tasted - much better than the Gibson's Rare 18 yo and right up there with the Forty Creek Barrel Select. A MUST try for any Crown Royal fan.

[Megawatt]

Thanks for the review. I'd love to try this stuff.

I'm still a bit surprised that everyone seems to regard Forty Creek Barrel Select as the highest a Canadian whisky can aspire to. I like it but there are perhaps a dozen I would rather drink. The sherry flavour throws it off balance, I find. Good but slightly overrated, in my opinion.

[The Third Dram]

I happen to like the Crown Royal Cask No.16 a lot as well, t-bone.
My tasting notes are, essentially, quite similar to your own...

Colour: Full gold tending to amber.
Nose: Tropical fruit salad. Dry roasted nuts. A hint of vanilla.
Palate: Crisp, clean attack leading to succulence. Honey dribbled on whole wheat toast. Pears. The spicy oak influence effortlessly intertwines with the bittersweet nature of the spirit, creating tiny ripples of rapier-like intensity that spread across the glossy textural surface.
Finish: Long and calm.

Certainly a very stylish and pleasurable whisky!

[t-bone]

Thanks for the review. I'd love to try this stuff.

I'm still a bit surprised that everyone seems to regard Forty Creek Barrel Select as the highest a Canadian whisky can aspire to. I like it but there are perhaps a dozen I would rather drink. The sherry flavour throws it off balance, I find. Good but slightly overrated, in my opinion.

I happen to like the sherry influence in the Forty Creek but I'm partial to sherried whiskies in general. To me it goes really well with the rich, almost chocolaty flavour.

[RogerB]

Thanks for the review. I'd love to try this stuff.

I'm still a bit surprised that everyone seems to regard Forty Creek Barrel Select as the highest a Canadian whisky can aspire to. I like it but there are perhaps a dozen I would rather drink. The sherry flavour throws it off balance, I find. Good but slightly overrated, in my opinion.

I know I like the CR Special Reserve and the Forty Creek Barrel Select, and I've been wanting to try the Cask 16. What other Canadian whisky were you referring to, that might be worthwhile?

[Megawatt]

I know I like the CR Special Reserve and the Forty Creek Barrel Select, and I've been wanting to try the Cask 16. What other Canadian whisky were you referring to, that might be worthwhile?

My favourites, from least to most expensive:

Centennial 10
Canadian Club Classic
Alberta Premium Limited Edition
Crown Royal Limited Edition
Wiser's Very Old
Gibson's Finest Rare

Honorable mention to:

Wiser's Small Batch
Alberta Springs
Danfield's Limited Edition

How do you justify the $100 price tag for this at the LCBO?

I'm glad that there are a few more Canadian whiskies competing in the premium and even the $30+ categories. Next I am buying the $60 Forty Creek Double Barrel. But sometimes I am still hesitant to spend that much on a bottle of Canadian whisky when I can get a very good bottle of SMS or bourbon for the same amount.

I often think the same thing. Ultimately, though, a good, mature Canadian whisky can often provide the same enjoyment as a single malt. Do let us know what you think of the Double Barrel.