Crown Royal Canadian Whisky was created in 1939 by the Seagram’s company to present to King George VI and his wife, the parents of the current Queen of England, to commemorate their first visit to Canada.

Crown Royal became the, forgive me, crown jewel of Canadian whisky. Creamy and fruity, it is blended from a variety of whiskeys made in different stills and composed of different mashbills.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the creation of Crown Royal, the company is releasing the Monarch’s blend. Crafted by master blender Andrew MacKay, this special release comes with an elegant presentation, wrapped in a silver velvet bag and enclosed in a cardboard box with a hinged door.

From the start, Crown Royal used rye whiskey produced in the Coffey still at the company’s distillery in Gimli, Manitoba for a lot of its flavor, and this latest blend contains the largest proportion of it yet.

On the nose, this whisky is fruity and honeyed, with rye grain and a very slight oakiness. It has a luscious mouthfeel, rounded and supple, along with a richness and concentration of flavor. Filled with toffee and fruit up front, with oak and spice for balance on the finish, it is a warm and inviting whisky.

The Monarch 75th Anniversary Blend is reminiscent of the regular blend of Crown Royal, but more so. It is bolder and more flavorful; a more substantial whisky overall. Truly an impressive achievement – a delicious blend.