Canadian whisky brands Crown Royal and Canadian Club are two of the top-selling whiskies in the U.S. and worldwide. Whisky drinkers around the world know what to expect when they see each brand’s recognizable bottles, with their distinctive colors and patterns.
Canadian whisky is a distinct type of whiskey that is produced in Canada. Unlike most whiskies, which are distilled from fermented grains, Canadian whisky is a blend of whiskies that are typically distilled and then aged in wooden casks.
By the end of this post, you’ll know the Good, Bad, and Ugly of these two brands so that your next glass is exactly what you expected it to be.
History of the two brands:
Crown Royal and Canadian Club are two of the most well-known and widely-recognized Canadian whisky brands in the world.
Both brands have a long and illustrious history, with Crown Royal first being produced in 1939 to commemorate the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. Canadian Club was founded even earlier, in 1858, by Hiram Walker as one of the first commercial distilleries in Canada.
Despite their different origins, both brands share many common characteristics.
Today, both Crown Royal and Canadian Club are among the most sought-after whiskies globally because of their smooth taste and Robust character.
Crown Royal
Crown Royal was made to celebrate the very first time a reigning monarch visited North America. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Canada to mark the country’s centennial celebrations. To commemorate the occasion, whisky distilleries throughout Canada banded together to create a special blend of whisky specifically for the royal visit.
The result was Crown Royal, an exceptionally smooth and flavorful blended Canadian whisky.
Samuel Bronfman, another Canadian whisky innovator who was born in Bessarabia, gave it as a gift. Born in 1889 in Moldova (previously of the USSR), his family had to leave their home because of the Czarist Russian pogroms. They resettled in Canada where they started over.
Samuel Bronfman started as a liquor distributor in 1903 and later expanded his business by creating the Distillers Corporation in 1924. In 1928, Seagram & Sons were acquired by Bronfman’s company, which made him one of the most famous names associated with whisky in North America.
Bronfman – then president of Seagram’s – was motivated to create a whisky blend worthy of the Royal Family when they announced their first-ever trip to Canada in 1939. With access to some of the largest warehouses full of whisky barrels in all of Canada through his position at Seagram, Bronfman was able to put together a great-tasting whisky for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s court.
Presenting the royals with 10 cases of whisky, he called it Crown Royal. Accompanying them on a train tour through Canada and the United States, each crystal decanter was encased in a velvet bag embroidered with the King’s crown. It was instantly popular, and Crown Royal has remained one of the most iconic Canadian whiskies ever since.
Crown Royal is now recognized to be a smooth, rich whisky that today enjoys worldwide popularity. North Americans in particular have grown to love it for its flavor and the royal purple bottle that makes it stand out on any liquor store shelf.
Canadian Club
Like Crown Royal, Canadian Club was also founded by a visionary entrepreneur who saw great potential in the whisky market. In this case, it was Hiram Walker who founded the Canadian Club in 1858 as one of the first commercial distilleries in Canada.
Originally known simply as “Club Whisky”, Walker was inspired to create a high-quality whisky blend after his disappointment with some of the lower-quality whiskies that were available at the time.
In 1854, Hiram built a distillery near Windsor, Ontario on the other side of the Detroit River. The location was chosen specifically for its proximity to the United States, as Walker hoped that his whisky would gain popularity south of the border.
The 19th century was a time of change in America, and one of those changes included alcohol prohibition. Walker saw an opportunity to grow his business in Canada, where whisky could be sold legally. He is credited with popularising Canadian whisky throughout the United States at a time when the drink was relatively unknown.
Hiram Walker chose to build a distillery in Windsor, Ontario because he realized that it was a perfect location for exporting his whisky to the United States. After his first barrels of alcohol entered production in the mid-1800s, people started calling the area around his distillery Walkerville. Hiram Walker, the owner of the company for which the town was designed, not only paid most workers’ salaries but also used his money to fund other public works projects.
Hiram Walker’s now-closed headquarters, called the ‘whisky palace,’ was once the most beautiful building in town. It was a tourist destination that hosted weddings and corporate events.
During the Civil War, Walker’s town had a ferry that was used to transport both people and goods between the United States and Canada. This business provided a source of revenue for Walker as he distributed his whisky to American customers in nearby border towns.
Although Canadian whisky was becoming popular, Hiram Walker ensured that his product stayed true to its roots and maintained its high standards. He was one of the first distillers to begin aging whisky in oak barrels, giving his company a distinct flavor that set it apart from others in the industry.
Hiram Walker & Sons received a royal warrant, which is a mark of distinction given only to a company that provides goods or services for the Royal Family. Walker’s whisky has been served at royal functions, including the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer.
Walker’s whisky quickly gained popularity and became one of the most popular whiskies in Canada, eventually gaining recognition around the world for its smooth taste and bold character.
Today, Canadian Club is a global brand that has continued to enjoy widespread popularity. And while its signature whisky blend remains very similar to the original recipe created by Hiram Walker, it has been perfected over the years to provide a smooth, rich whisky that is truly one of a kind.
Whisky Components – Mashbills
“Mash bill” is a term commonly used by distillers when discussing the different grain components of whisky production. These mash bills usually comprise mixed grains, including malted barley, corn, wheat, and rye.
Some whiskies, such as bourbon, have only one mash bill. But for blended whiskies, distillers can mix different mash bills to create a blend.
The types of grain in the mash bill for Crown Royal and Canadian Club differ based on various factors, such as the taste profile that the distillers want to create. For example, Crown Royal’s mash bill typically includes more corn and less rye than Canadian Club.
Canadian Club uses a mix of barley, corn, rye, and wheat. This is typical of many Canadian whiskies, as they often use a blend of grains to create a complex flavor profile.
There are three types of whisky available- one made with 100% corn, another rye-only type, and the last a mixture of rye, malted rye, and malted barley.
The mash bill of a whisky can have a significant impact on its flavor profile. Whiskies that are higher in rye content, for example, tend to be spicier and more robust than those with a higher corn ratio.
Crown Royal’s team uses five different mixtures of corn, rye, and barley to create their signature blend. Each whisky that they produce is a unique, complex combination of different grain ratios, which allows them to customize the flavor of their whisky to suit different palates. The specific proportions for each grain are not publicly available. However, they do mention that rye is used in some capacity as a flavoring agent in all their whiskies.
Whisky maturation
Maturation, or the aging process, is an important step in whisky production because it gives the liquor its distinctive flavor and character. During this period, the whisky is exposed to multiple factors that impact its taste and quality, including temperature fluctuations, exposure to oxygen, and interaction with the wood from the barrels.
The time a whisky is aged can change its flavor profile. For this reason, Canadian law demands that whisky must be left to mature in oak barrels for at least three years before it can go on sale.
Canadian Club uses old bourbon barrels from the Beam Suntory family brands, such as Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, to age its whiskies. These barrels are charred, which helps to enhance the whisky’s flavor. The barrels are imported from the United States and used only once before they are sent to Canadian Club’s distillery in Ontario for maturation.
Given that Crown Royal has 1.5 million barrels of whisky aging in approximately 50 warehouses near Lake Manitoba, it is unsurprisingly one of the largest whisky suppliers by inventory size.
Like Canadian Club, Crown Royal uses only barrels that have been used previously to age bourbon and other American whiskies.
To give its aged whiskies their distinct flavor, used barrels are sourced used from renowned whiskey producers, including George Dickel, Blade, and Bow. The distillers of Crown Royal also use a variety of barrel types to achieve different flavor profiles, including new American oak, Vermont white oak, and toasted French oak.
Pricing
Today, Canadian Club whisky is produced by Beam Suntory, which is a North American company under Japanese spirits producer Suntory Holdings.
In the US, a bottle of Canadian Club typically retails for around $20-25, depending on the specific variety or blend.
Crown Royal, meanwhile, is owned by Diageo and is produced at several Diageo-owned distilleries in Canada.
The price of a bottle of Crown Royal whisky can vary significantly, depending on the variety and age. For example, a 750ml bottle of Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye retails for around $30-35, while a 750ml bottle of Crown Royal XO (a premium blend of older whiskies) retails for $90-100.
Both Canadian Club and Crown Royal whiskies are known for their rich, bold flavor profiles and smooth, balanced taste. If you’re looking for a whisky that has a strong flavor, either of these brands would be a good choice.
If you’re on a budget, Crown Royal is generally more affordable than Canadian Club. However, there are some exceptions – for example, the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye is cheaper than the Canadian Club rye whisky.
So whether you’re a fan of Canadian Club or Crown Royal, there is sure to be a whisky that suits your tastes and budget.
Final Thoughts
Consumers are less likely to compare these two Canadian whiskies because they have a big price difference. However, if you are looking for a high-quality whisky with a bold flavor profile and smooth taste, either Canadian Club or Crown Royal is sure to impress.
For anyone learning about the world of whisky or interested in exploring the difference between its two segments, Canadian Club 1858 is an excellent introductory brand due to its lower pricing and flavor profile. However, if you’re looking for a premium whisky that is aged longer and offers a more complex taste profile, Crown Royal XO is a great choice.
So, if you want to explore the differences between Canadian Club and Crown Royal whiskies, the best way to do so is to try them out for yourself and experience their rich flavors and distinctive profiles. This comprehensive guide will help you find the perfect Canadian whisky for your palate.
If you’re a fan of Canadian Club but are looking to explore beyond the standard 1858 blend, be sure to check out one of the premium options like the 9 or 12-year blend. These varieties have their own distinct flavor profiles that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Crown Royal also has an expansive whisky portfolio including Deluxe, Black, Rye expressions, and much more. So whether you’re a fan of the classic Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye or something like the premium Crown Royal XO, there is sure to be something for everyone.
