Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

The aroma is a strong ethanol smell, even after letting it rest, that rubbing alcohol scent persists, and I can barely detect anything else. As for the taste, it's awful for a whiskey. The initial sip is like cheap vodka with a touch of brown sugar and a strange burn. It softens a bit if you let it sit, but it still tastes like a mix of candy/brown sugar and vodka, just sweeter. Trying it with ginger ale in a highball makes it okay since it doesn't have much flavor. I suppose for $17 CAD it's cheap to mix and get wasted. Personally, I'd spend the extra $3 for a Dewars White Label or a Ballantine; at least those are drinkable neat and can be used for mixing.

It tastes unpleasant, and it's only marginally cheaper than vodka. Just opt for vodka instead.

This is a good whiskey for using in cocktails.