Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Good to see that the ABV is coming up on some of these Canadians. Nice review. I haven't paid much attention to Canadians the last few years, but I will definitely seek this one out.

BTW this is Jim Murray's World Whisky of the Year!

2016 World Whisky of The Year? Then I guess Mr. Murray must be scoring Crown Royal Northern Harvest up around 97 points. Hmmmm, guess I'll need to try a sip or two.

He scored it 97.5. Obviously, I wouldn't go that high - but it is pretty great, as a rye connoisseur you will definitely have to grab a couple of bottles.

Wow, I have been hesitant to pick this up because of the reviews of it not even being a suitable mixer for Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, Sazeracs (rye-based cocktails) for those I usually go to Rittenhouse BiB. But its low cost and your review have turned me around to it. That does seem like hyper-exaggerated praise from JM but I can't judge without having tried it.

Although I was surprised to see a Canadian get the award, if you think about it, it kind of makes sense: Jim's favourite style of whisky is rye, he's always scoring ryes considerably higher than other styles (usually American ryes) - and this CR has notes reminiscent of that US style. Also, I can attest to the fact that this makes an excellent Manhattan.

Thanks @talexander will mix one up one this weekend - after tasting it neat. On a related note, I secured the 2nd last EH Taylor Straight Rye from the Vintages release this morning.

@AdamH, well done! I was going to buy some but then thought better of it (I've had them all before, they're all great, but I thought I'd save the $$$ for Christmas!)

It was a last minute decision for me but I thought with BTAC lottery looming - date is Nov 26 if I'm not mistaken - I didn't think the odds were in my favour of "winning" a Handy, Saz 18 or WLW or any combo of each. As the saying goes, a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.

@talexander and @adamh I agree. I am not so surprised that ET Taylor is on allocation, but it's sad. I don't think it's worth the effort, at this point, though that rye is pretty awesome.

I loved Northern Harvest Rye - I gave it a 93 last month. Surprised that JM rated it so high, and not surprised. I only give moderate stock to his reviews, but at least it was quite a decent Canadian and I stand by it being a very good whisky (and $30!). Now let's hope CR doesn't just repackage it and charge double in a year, with lower quality, as I could see happening...

@adamh I don't think you have to choose. Good luck with getting the BTACs as well. I will put my name in but I don't expect for a repeat of the last year's Handy.

However, last year a few of us winners got together and had a BTAC party and we got to taste the three CS bottles. I hope we can do that again. I certainly am willing to put up my bottle if I get the opportunity.

And just sayin, last year there was someone from Northern Ontario came to T.O. for that tasting... so you could come down...

Just not getting this one. I wanted to like this more than I did. Now have tried this on 3 different occasions over 4 months and just don't find anything special here. I do on the other hand find EHT Rye one of the best whiskies I have ever tasted. Would panic if I did not have 1-2 bottles bunkered.

@Astroke, I scored the EHT Rye 95, and this one 90. No doubt, the EHT is amazing, but the CR IMHO is also very good. If you find nothing special in the CR, hey vive la difference.

@talexander, still working on it. Took me a few months to warm up to CB Spice Tree, now a favorite blend. Polarizing Whiskey for sure. Might think better of it if Diagio released the CR cask strength in Ontario :)