🥃 Crown Royal
Blended Canadian whisky created by Seagram in 1939 for the visit of King George VI; made in Gimli (Manitoba); Deluxe is 40% ABV; owned by Diageo since the 2000s.
Crown Royal is a brand of blended Canadian whisky that the company Seagram created in 1939 for the visit to Canada of King George VI and his wife. The whisky is made in Gimli in Manitoba by blending about fifty separate whiskies; Deluxe is 40% ABV. Since 2000-2001 the brand has belonged to Diageo.
The idea came from Seagram's chairman Samuel Bronfman. According to The Whiskey Wash, he tested more than six hundred blends, and the whisky was presented in a glass decanter and a purple velvet bag with gold stitching. Different sources disagree on the date of its release to world markets: some name 1964, others 1965 for the US. At first, according to available data, production was in Waterloo, Ontario.
Today the whisky is made in Gimli on Lake Winnipeg (Manitoba) and bottled in Amherstburg (Ontario). Each component, according to The Whiskey Wash, is aged for at least three years in new or used charred oak barrels, which meets the requirements for Canadian whisky. The share of rye in the blend is not disclosed: the flavouring components are mostly rye-based, but that does not mean the whole blend is made of rye.
The range includes the base Signature (Deluxe) line, flavoured versions (Blackberry, Apple, Peach, Vanilla), the Master series aged 12, 18, 29, 30 and 31 years, and ready-to-drink cocktails. Northern Harvest Rye, which is 90% rye, received the title World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's guide in 2016, the first time for a Canadian whisky.
Why this matters to you. Crown Royal is a blend with no stated age, not a "rye whisky". Flavoured versions and ready-to-drink cocktails have a different composition and strength, so read the full name on the bottle. Check the percentage: Deluxe is 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1939, Seagram (Samuel Bronfman); ahead of the visit of King George VI to Canada |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Food and Drug Regulations (Canada): Canadian whisky is aged at least 3 years in barrels of up to 700 l, at 40% ABV or more |
| Raw material | a blend of about 50 whiskies (grain, including rye); the share of rye is not disclosed |
| Distillation method | Gimli, Manitoba; bottling in Amherstburg, Ontario |
| Cask type | new or used charred oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years for each component; Deluxe has no stated age |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (Deluxe) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Crown Royal → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Canadian whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Canadian Club, 🥃 Canadian Club 100% Canadian Rye, 🥃 Canadian Club 1858, 🥃 Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old, 🥃 Canadian Club Reserve 9 Year Old, 🥃 Seagram's Seven Crown
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Crown Royal is a rye whisky?
No. Crown Royal is a blend of about fifty whiskies; the flavouring components are mostly rye-based, but the share of rye is not disclosed. The separate Northern Harvest Rye (90% rye) is a rye whisky.
Who owns Crown Royal?
Diageo. From 1939 the brand belonged to Seagram, and after the breakup of Seagram's portfolio Diageo acquired it (sources give 2000 or 2001).
Where is Crown Royal made?
In Gimli, Manitoba, on Lake Winnipeg; bottling is in Amherstburg, Ontario.
When was Crown Royal created?
In 1939, ahead of the royal visit to Canada; the whisky was created by Seagram under Samuel Bronfman.
How long is Crown Royal aged?
Each component for at least three years in new or used charred oak barrels. Deluxe has no stated age.
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.
- 🌍 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.
- 🥃 Canadian Club — A brand of Canadian blended whisky from Walkerville (Ontario): made since 1858, founder Hiram Walker; base version 40% ABV; owned by Suntory Global Spirits.
- 🥃 Canadian Club 100% Canadian Rye — Rye line of Canadian Club whisky, made in Alberta: caramel and oak at the start, a spicy finish.
Similar
🥃 Seagram's Seven Crown · 🥃 George Dickel · 🥃 Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey · 🥃 Glen Elgin · 🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Black & White
⚠️ 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
- Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870), Division 2 (Alcoholic Beverages: Whisky), Justice Laws Website, Canada
- Difford's Guide: Crown Royal Fine de Luxe (Diageo; 40 %; 1939; США 1965; пляшка у вигляді корони)
- The Whiskey Wash: The Ultimate Guide to Crown Royal (Bronfman; близько 50 віскі; Gimli; Amherstburg; Diageo 2001; Northern Harvest Rye)
- Crown Royal: офіційний сайт марки (з 1939 року; Gimli, Manitoba; Signature, Flavor, Master Series)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)