Crown Royal Noble Collection 16 Year Rye

So, full disclosure, I enjoyed the blender's mash for what it was and its price. So I guess I'm somewhat of a fan of these aged Crown releases. Nose - Sweetness comes right out of the glass. This is a really nice, balanced sweet rye, spicy and menthol, and then just well-crafted sweetness. This one gives me some vanilla and caramel, much more than I typically get on a rye, but I get all that rye spice upfront. There are even some sweet cereal notes and hints of cloves. Taste - The taste is a bit more spice-driven with all the classic rye spice you expect, and then the sweetness is pleasant but doesn't shift the balance from the spice; it just provides a nice base to prevent the spice from overpowering the experience. Anise and cloves and cinnamon, light mint, and just a very slight touch of barrel on the finish. Deep vanilla notes and some light fruits on the malt side. This is surprisingly a nice, easy drinker with the complexity and depth I'm looking for. Honestly, put this at cask strength, and I think you'd have a better rye than Kentucky Owl. At $80, I feel you're better off putting your money towards a better bottle later on, but I'm not disappointed with this either. My score is 2.25. I'm not typically a rye drinker, but I fully recognize this as a tasty dram that's just a bit too thin to score higher.

I'll start with the presentation, the unboxing. The tube/box isn't cardboard; it feels like velvet, a satin purple with gold embossed lettering, very nice. The gold tassels on the Crown purple bag are looped over the bottle, displaying the cork top. The bottle is heavy, with cut glass diamonds around the base. 20/20 for the aesthetics. The aroma is refined, not sharp or unpleasant: mint, caraway seed, rye, fresh dill, also strawberries, and crisp pears. 18/20 The first sip is a warning, tingly, and coats the mouth. There's rye spice, dill, caraway, and allspice, some fruity notes, which makes me want another taste. 27/30 Well-rounded, nothing is too overpowering; it's really sweet, and the texture is a little thin, though not lacking in flavor. This is definitely a rye whiskey, but it's also a Crown Royal whiskey – sweet and approachable. I really like it, but I'll need more tastings over time. 21/25 Plus 4/5 of my subjective points. Total: 90/100

Crown Royal Noble Collection Rye (16 year) This is the 2020 release of the noble collection, a 16-year-old rye. 45% ABV, possibly bottled in Canada. Aged in charred white oak, 90% rye. Aroma: Bourbon-like, rye, spicy; the cork smells of fennel seeds/rye bread. Taste: Medium body, moderate spice (neat), more subdued on the rocks, very light sweetness. Over time, it becomes fruitier with a lot of charred oak flavor. This is a dependable offering from Crown Royal. I anticipated this rye would be a bit bolder/more complex, but even without expectations, it's still a very dependable/good whiskey, especially if you can find it around $70. Cost: Approximately $65 to $75 plus tax, from what I recall. Grade: B+

I anticipated more from a 16-year-old rye. It was consistently light in aroma, taste, and finish. The dark amber color suggests its age from the charred oak barrel. The nose had more sweet vanilla than the palate. The spice started strong but its intensity faded quickly, followed by char on the back palate. It lacks complexity with other flavors emerging. There's an unusual aftertaste on the tongue; I'm not sure what it is. More flavors might appear with a few drops of water or over ice.

Solid rye. Smells like: Spearmint, vanilla, maple, cherries, honey, anise, grass, baking spices, lavender, dill, cloves, cinnamon, and banana Laffy Taffys. Taste: Vanilla, cola, walnuts, maple syrup, bananas, baking spices, cherries, walnuts, cinnamon, cashews, cloves, caramel, and cotton candy. Ends with: Vanilla, cloves, pepper, baking spices, cola, spearmint, walnuts, red apples, and green apples.

It’s been quite a while since I revisited this. My prior impression was positive, and it’s even better than I recalled. Nose: Notes of vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, with a hint of ethanol. Palate: Flavors of allspice, vanilla, and caramel sweetness emerge, along with a touch of orange zest. It’s incredibly delicious. Finish: Lingering rye spices. Overall: A truly excellent pour presented in stunning packaging. The bottle itself is remarkably elegant.