Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

[Paddy]

Stopped by the local, looking for the Alberta Rye Dark Batch, and saw this on the shelf for the first time. Don't know much about it, but decided that I'd pull the trigger on it. At 90 proof, and under $35, why not?

I don't recall seeing any discussion around these parts on this one (and search wasn't helpful). Anyone got any experience with this one? Bueller.......!?!

[camduncan]

I know it's fairly new. They posted some teaser stuff on their Facebook page a couple of weeks ago about it before announcing it's release a couple of days later. I look forward to reading some tasting notes if someone posts...

[Gillman]

Good catch there gents, any lowdown on it?

Gary

[typoerror]

Stopped by the local, looking for the Alberta Rye Dark Batch, and saw this on the shelf for the first time. Don't know much about it, but decided that I'd pull the trigger on it. At 90 proof, and under $35, why not?

I don't recall seeing any discussion around these parts on this one (and search wasn't helpful). Anyone got any experience with this one? Bueller.......!?!

whats your locale?!?! i wasn't expecting it to hit shelves for a couple more weeks. cant wait to try it. have heard it's pretty good and that white bag looks sweet!

[Paddy]

whats your locale?!?! i wasn't expecting it to hit shelves for a couple more weeks. cant wait to try it. have heard it's pretty good and that white bag looks sweet!

I picked it up at a local Liquor Barn. The monger said they'd just started getting it. The only other info available (on the bottle) advises that it is a 90% rye mash. I'm looking forward to trying it out, so I'm hopeful for a weekend rendezvous!

[amg]

It's on the shelves in Indiana too. I'm waiting to see some reviews.

[Paddy]

I couldn't stand the wait, so I poured 2 oz neat to get some impressions. This is my first tasting of this product, so you guys know I reserve the right to do a 180 tomorrow! :grin:

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Purchased at Liquor Barn on 4/22/15

Price $33.99

Appearance: clear amber; with thin, long and clinging legs

Nose: harsh acetones upon initially opening the bottle quickly fade to reveal aromas of baking spice, apple/pear(?) and green wood

Palate: silky entry with a moderate mouthfeel; nice balance of sweetness and spice; picking up on red hot cinnamon, vanilla and dry oak

Finish: moderate, with a fair bit of rye spice giving way to a green apple/pear and dry wood finish.

Impressions: nicely done; smooth and creamy; nothing jumping out of balance; a subtle, easy drinking sipper. So much so, that I poured another!

P. S. I'm a sucker for Canadian rye's and this one is no exception. A welcome addition to my bunker, at a fair price. I do recommend that this one be taken neat, so that one may truly appreciate its subtleties.

[squire]

Good notes Paddy.

[camduncan]

Great notes Paddy! For some reason your notes make me think of more full bodied flavorful Beam Rye.

As a Rye fan, I sure hope this makes its way to our shores Downunder. We've been having a great time with the release of most of the CR product line here over the last 12 months and this would be a nice addition to the line up instead of the apple flavored one (which I'm also keen to try)

[Paddy]

Thank you Squire, and Cam..........my notes just may suck. :grin: Literally just opened the bottle, but it definitely is a gentlemen's sipping rye.

I poured a 50/50 blend of Ritt/WP to follow up. The blend is much deeper in color, bolder, as well as longer in finish. Of course it is as it should be, as it's a much older blend than the CR, and at a higher proof.

I hope it shows up for you soon... I think you're gonna like it! :toast:

[Golzee]

Sounds a lot better than Crown Maple...someone gifted me a bottle. I'm saving it just in case I want to get drunk eating pancakes

[Gillman]

It sounds like a straight whiskey, similar to the Texas SB - maybe the same thing at a lower proof. Encouraging. (The "acetone" gives away the straight character, and baked apple is a characteristic of the CR batch base whiskies).

Gary

[typoerror]

Sounds a lot better than Crown Maple...someone gifted me a bottle. I'm saving it just in case I want to get drunk eating pancakes

maple is excellent for cooking.

just picked this one up and it's delicious!

[mbroo5880i]

Just curious how it compares to the Alberta Dark Batch that just came out?

[tanstaafl2]

Just curious how it compares to the Alberta Dark Batch that just came out?

I tried the Northern Rye during a trade show earlier this week (which meant I had already had lots of other stuff atthat point!) and while I find it to be better than regular Crown (a low bar I know!) I did not think it was much like the Alberta Rye Dark Batch. The rep claimed it was a lower distillation proof "flavor" whiskey that was used in it rather than the high distillation proof near vodka style spirit. Who knows what is true but it tasted like that was the case to me. Of course if you don't like the sherry notes in the dark batch you might like this better. I also thought the Texas "Single Barrel" Crown was a little better than the Northern Rye as well although I did not have either to compare next to it at that moment.

I also recall the Diageo rep saying the Single Barrel was now in Georgia but I am not sure if we were talking about the same thing. if it is I have yet to see it. But I will give points, if grudgingly, to Diageo for trying some new products beside the nasty flavored whiskies in the Crown Lineup. Both the Single Barrel and the Northern Rye seem to be a step in the right direction.

I do have to admit the Crown Apple makes a pleasant enough shooter but otherwise isn't particularly worth bothering with.

[Paddy]

I agree, it's definately refreshing to see them step up with new products that aren't all cinammon based!

Both the price and availability seems favorable for the consumer as well! Kuddo's to these guys...

[typoerror]

if you have had the monarch 75 or hand selected barrel, its in that range. the other two are definitely better but they are more expensive, they should be. not as spicy as i was expecting but it is quite enjoyable and damn smooth.

[The Black Tot]

I saw an announcement somewhere that Crown is going to move forward with more selections similar to the Texas edition. No specifics, of course.

That was a strange "selection", in the sense that it was state-wide, and anything but exclusive - the stuff is everywhere in Texas (not that I'm complaining, it's a very enjoyable bottle for $45.99 when I want something different!).

I was actually worried it would not happen again given the amount that remains on the shelves, but in fairness, there must have been a hell of a lot of it released!

[typoerror]

texas got a sneak peak of hand selected barrel as a thank you since texas is one of crown royals largest customer bases in the world. they originally were only going to release it to 14 additional states but it was so popular they added more.

[Megawatt]

Nice trend going on with rye-forward bottlings. I picked up a Crown Royal Limited Edition on sale, and it too has a healthy dollop of straight rye in the flavour.

[Golzee]

Picked up a bottle of this today. Couldn't decide on a bourbon to buy, so I went with something different. I am intrigued by it and will have some this weekend when I am free of all best man responsibilities.

[TunnelTiger]

I bought a bottle of this and the Alberta dark batch a couple weeks ago. To me this is the best CR ever but sbs with the Alberta it is still a little thin and not as flavorful.

Our brothers to the north are getting better with their releases. They have what we want, all they have to do is bottle it at the proofs (and years) we want.

[Paddy]

I bought a bottle of this and the Alberta dark batch a couple weeks ago. To me this is the best CR ever but sbs with the Alberta it is still a little thin and not as flavorful.

Our brothers to the north are getting better with their releases. They have what we want, all they have to do is bottle it at the proofs (and years) we want.

^^^^^^^^^+1^^^^^^^^^^^^

The price point is also fair for both of these, IMO.

[TunnelTiger]

^^^^^^^^^+1^^^^^^^^^^^^

The price point is also fair for both of these, IMO.

Absolutely, I would buy more of both.

[smokinjoe]

I picked up a bottle of this yesterday, and spent a good deal of time with it last night. I tend to go into most Canadian whiskies with low expectations, due to the overly sweet and generally soft profile that so many seem to bring to my senses. But, I found this NHR to be positively enjoyable. It is a rye more in the American style rather than the "rye" Canadian. Sparkling and spicy. Somewhat reminded me of a WT Rye. Priced nice, to boot. I did a brief SBS with the CR Hand Selected Barrel, and found them different in flavor, but both enjoyably absent that Canadian whiskey sweet note while bringing a more bold profile to my palate. The cinnamon Lavoris note that I detect in the HSB really was accentuated next to the NHR, and left me greatly appreciating the depth of styles and flavors that this distiller can achieve, and I appreciate that they are stretching out to bring them out to market. The HSB is a probable "buy again", the Northern Harvest Rye will definitely be rung up again.