Crown Royal X.O.

Crown-Royal-XO-Canadian-Whisky-1

A rich, luxurious, full-bodied sipping whisky, loaded with fresh red cedar, armchair leather and sweet moist pipe tobacco. Caramac bars and ripe strawberries slide softly into ripe red apples. An earthy quality in over-ripe black fruit and dusty sandalwood is slowly pierced by hints of pulling barrel notes and bitter almond skins. Hot spices in the ginger white pepper range balance a creamy sweetness on the palate. ★★★★★

This new addition to the Crown Royal line-up is clearly aimed at the US market where smoothness and creamy richness is so prized. Like Cask No. 16, which it replaces, X.O. was finished in Cognac casks from the French Limousin Forest. While Cask 16 was crisply fruity, X.O. is much smoother and creamier. Both are wonderfully flavourful whiskies.

Crown Royal X.O. is another creation of master blender Andrew MacKay and combines more than 50 whiskies from the Crown Royal distillery in Gimli,Manitoba.750 mL 80 proof, 40% Alcohol by Volume (ABV) $49.99 (750mL)

Nose: heavy, dusky fruit, fresh ripe red apples, hints of barrel oak, Fall fruits, heavy and almost unctuous.

Palate: Syrupy, creamy smooth, fruity, sweet and grainy, feels like a hot licorice cough drop, hints of burnt toffee, hints of old leather chairs, candied citrus fruit peel, bitter almond skins, and hints of oak. Lots of sizzling gingery spice and white pepper. The heavy creamy weight defines it.

Finish: Long, tingling with lingering hints of almond skins and dried fruit.Empty Glass: clean dry wood.

Very Highly Recommended. ★★★★★

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