Crown Royal

Warning: May cause a serious addiction to luxury.

Ah, Crown Royal. Where to start? There are a lot of superlatives just waiting to be thrown into the mix, but let’s do this right and tune in at the very beginning. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth graced the lands of Canada for the very first time. When the news reached the ears of a very enthusiastic Canadian distiller, he immediately got to work. One might even say he went a little overboard — allegedly trying out more than 600 blends before committing to the one he thought worthy of being bottled in a noble decanter and presented as a gift to the royal couple. And it was a rave! The couple took 10 cases with them, and the rest is history. Today, their distillery lies in a small town in Manitoba called Gimli. No, not the feisty dwarf from The Lord of The Rings, but the name does mean ‘heaven’ in Icelandic, so go figure. All their ingredients are locally sourced and retrieved from Manitoba or its surrounding provinces. The brand is regarded as *the* Canadian Whiskey, swinging to the very peak of their top sellers — at any given point, there are more than two million barrels of Whisky aging in the complex of 46 warehouses.

Crown Royal's Noble Collection has truly saved the best for last with this Barley Edition Blended Canadian Whisky. It is brewed from malted and unmalted barley grains and aged to perfection in barrels charred by the flames of ages for no less than a decade, culminating in a flavor that’s intricate and rich. The caramel, vanilla, and oak on the nose give way to a palate that’s smooth and creamy, with a delicious melody of toasted barley, honey, and dark chocolate — and just when you thought it couldn't get any better, a subtle spice kicks in, leaving you with a long and satisfying finish. But take heed. This limited edition is a rare treasure not to be missed — once it's gone, it's gone forever!