🥃 Crown Royal Reserve 12 Year
A Canadian blended whisky from Crown Royal aged at least 12 years, 40% ABV, matured in charred American white oak casks.
Crown Royal Reserve 12 Year is the expression of the Crown Royal brand with an age statement: according to the producer's page, the whiskies in the blend matured for at least twelve years. It is a Canadian blended whisky bottled at 40% ABV, and the older version of the classic Crown Royal.
According to the producer, the whiskies mature in charred American white oak casks, and master blenders choose the components by hand. The Whiskey Wash writes that they matured in new charred American white oak casks. The taste is described as orchard fruit, with white chocolate, rye spice and toasted oak; the finish has cinnamon and apple notes. Casks can give a different intensity from batch to batch.
Why this matters to you. Reserve 12 is the only expression in the range described here with a direct age statement: compare it with Fine De Luxe and Black. The age shows the youngest component of the blend, not the taste. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Canada: Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870), Div. B.02 (age claims, casks up to 700 l) |
|---|---|
| Cask type | charred American white oak casks (new, according to The Whiskey Wash) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 12 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (80 proof) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Crown Royal Reserve 12 Year → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🐝 American white oak, 🍷 Oak barrel
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Crown Royal, 🥃 Canadian whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label, 🥃 Crown Royal Regal Apple, 🥃 Crown Royal Regal Apple, 🥃 Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, 🥃 Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all whiskies in Reserve 12 are older than 12 years?
Yes, according to the producer's page: the whiskies matured for at least twelve years.
What is the strength of Reserve 12?
40% ABV (80 proof), according to the producer's page.
What casks is Reserve 12 matured in?
In charred American white oak casks; The Whiskey Wash specifies that the casks are new.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 North America — US and Canada: 9.5 million US cows gave 232 billion lb of milk (2025); Wisconsin makes a quarter of US cheese; Canada runs on dairy quotas.
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label — Johnnie Walker blended Scotch with a stated age of 12 years, 40% ABV; according to Difford's Guide, around 40 single malts, many of them from Islay.
Similar
🥃 Crown Royal Black · 🥃 Crown Royal Fine De Luxe · 🥃 Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye · 🥃 Crown Royal Regal Apple · 🥃 Canadian Club 100% Canadian Rye · 🥃 Canadian Club 1858
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Crown Royal (official): 12YR Reserve (40 % Alc./Vol.; aged no less than twelve years; charred American white oak barrels)
- The Whiskey Wash: Crown Royal 12 Year Reserve review (2025; aged for twelve years in charred American white oak casks)
- Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870), Canada, Division 2: B.02.002 «small wood» (casks up to 700 L), B.02.020 age claims for Canadian whisky
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)