Crown Royal vs Lauder's

[thanis]

I've notice a similarity in the burn / bite of Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey vs Lauder's Scotch. It is not the same burn / bite of other whiskeys I've had. Anyone have a similiar experience / know what I'm referring to?

PS - There are many differences between the two, I'm just mentioning this one similarity I've noticed.

[ThomasH]

If you get a bottle of Crown Royal Reserve and taste it, you'll get an idea of what regular Crown Royal used to taste like. Diageo has dropped the age of some of the whiskies in the blend to keep up with the demand for the brand. Lauders scotch is what I refer to as a tank truck blend. It is shipped from Scotland in bulk and Bottled in the US. I have never had any personally but most I know who have don't have much good to say about it. Spend a few dollars more and get a bottle of Ballantines!

Thomas

[Dramiel McHinson]

I've notice a similarity in the burn / bite of Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey vs Lauder's Scotch. It is not the same burn / bite of other whiskeys I've had. Anyone have a similiar experience / know what I'm referring to?

PS - There are many differences between the two, I'm just mentioning this one similarity I've noticed.

My wife drinks Crown Royal exclusively and I help her out from time to time. I have noticed some of the CR regular and CR Reserve bottles I bought had a pronounced alcohol bite versus other bottles from different years. I can only guess that it might be the GNS they use for blending. I haven't had Lauder's Scotch but I am familiar with some bottles of CR having more bite than others.

On a side note, I bought the firey little woman a bottle of the new CR Black and we both found it to be smooth as silk for a 90 proof version of CR. Next year I'll buy a case of CR Black to keep grandma mellow and it will taste like fire water. :bigeyes:

[thanis]

If you get a bottle of Crown Royal Reserve and taste it, you'll get an idea of what regular Crown Royal used to taste like. ...

[Megawatt]

I think Crown Royal is fairly smooth for an NAS blend. From everything I have read the youngest whisky in the bottle is 10 years old, and some of it considerably older than that.

Interesting comment about CR Black. SOmeone else gave it a very negative review so I'm glad to hear a contrasting opinion. Funny how you Americans can get it yet I can't find it anywhere.

[Gillman]

What you may be noticing is the neutral-like base of the whiskies. Albeit both products are all-whisky, i.e., aged grain-based distillate meeting the definition of whisky in their country of origin, the base in both is distilled at a fairly high proof which lends a sharp, perhaps vodka-like undertone - at least that is how I view it.

I would suggest to try an American blended whiskey, you may notice a similar effect.

These products are not bad or good - they are different and please the palate of many.

Gary

[Dramiel McHinson]

So in general, what I am really stating is that I don't find Crown Royal or Lauder's to be very smooth. Is that accurate jargon use, and am I tasting something others would agree.

Short answer yes. CR does have a certain sharpness or peppery taste. I personally don't find it to be a negative trait except for those few bottles a couple of years ago that had a certain astringency to them like nosing isopropryl alcohol. Of course, everyone has a profile they like best and least and there can be a lot of varience between individuals.

A good benchmark for intensity versus smoothness is Beam's Booker's Small Batch Bourbon. This is a real mouth grenade of flavor and the alcohol will burn intensely as well if you try to throw it back like a shooter. This one is a definite slow sipper but to me very good. Another is Laphroaig 10 year old Cask Strength. Again, high alcohol content with intense flavors but smooth as butter. You will either hate these two or stock up for fear of running out.

Either way, these two score very high on my BANG for the Buck scale.

[thanis]

Thanks for the replies.

...a certain sharpness or peppery taste...

[fishnbowljoe]

In speaking of CR Black, do you mean the CR Cask 16? Joe