Crown Royal releases oldest whisky yet
Diageo-owned Canadian whisky brand Crown Royal has added to its Higher Marques portfolio with the third edition of its Extra Rare Series, which has been aged for 31 years.
The 31-year-old blended whisky follows 2024’s 30-year-old release, which at the time was the brand’s oldest expression. Barrels were hand-selected by master blender Mark Balkenende, with the resulting blend presenting ‘unique spiced notes’ at the forefront, followed by hints of ‘red apple, toasted oak, and a subtle touch of vanilla’. “Crown Royal Aged 31 Years is our rarest variant to date and serves as the perfect addition to any luxury spirits collection,” said the brand’s vice-president Hadley Schafer. “This whisky has been patiently ageing for more than three decades, and it’s a true representation of the journey we have taken to create something extraordinary. We are excited to share this unique expression with our loyal brand adorers.” Bottled at 46% ABV, Crown Royal Aged 31 Years retails for US$599 for a 750ml bottle and is available in select regions, including Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Earlier this year, the brand entered the single malt category for the first time, released a new flavoured whisky and debuted a bottled cocktail. Crown Royal was the top-selling Canadian whisky and the fourth-biggest-selling world whisky in 2023, having shifted 7.7 million nine-litre cases – however this was a decline of 8.4% on the previous year.
