The fourth entry in Crown Royal’s Noble Collection line is this French Oak finished whisky. The previous three expressions in this series have been hits in my household.

As the name suggests, Crown Royal Noble Collection French Oak Cask Finished sees the brand’s famous whisky, Crown Royal Fine De Luxe, experience secondary aging in new French Oak casks. Simple concept. How does it fare?

Bottled at 40% ABV, this expression prominently features toasted marshmallows and vanilla on the nose. Dark caramel and spice also shine. The French Oak casks have ramped up the spice notes from the standard Crown Royal Fine De Luxe expression. There is more of the same on the palate – dark caramel, creamy vanilla, some sweet fruit, and a seasoning of baking spice. The finish sees the development of toasted oak and slightly burnt caramel.

Overall, this new whisky from Crown Royal is nice, if a bit underwhelming. With the French Oak cask finish, I was expecting a spicier, drier whisky. What we end up with is a Crown Royal Fine De Luxe with a touch more spice and a slightly dark edge. At a price tag of $59.99, it’s not a major investment for a slightly more interesting version Crown Royal Fine De Luxe. 7.5/10

Crownroyal.com

Thanks to Diageo for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.