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Crown Royal 18 Year Old Review

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Crown Royal 18 Year Old Review

Name: Crown Royal 18 Year Review: Manitoba's Refined Whisky
Item: Crown Royal 18 Year Old Review
Rating: 8
Author: Phil Dwyer

Crown Royal's 18-year expression showcases the pinnacle of their Manitoba distillery's style, offering a mellow and sweet profile with notes of mint, toffee, and gentle tobacco. This refined Canadian whisky delivers complexity without intensity, making it an approachable choice for those seeking a well-aged, easy-drinking dram.

by Phil Dwyer
August 19, 2025

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer, YouTuber, and former manager of The Whisky Shop Manchester, UK.

Tasting Notes:

About:

A refined expression from the folks of Crown Royal in Manitoba. Matured for the full eighteen years in a mixture of casks, this is the pinnacle of their core style at a wonderful age, showing off some of the more poised and delicate flavours of the style.

Appearance:

Light Sherry

Nose:

Lots of fresh mint, toffee and a Snickers bar filling: nougat, caramel and sweet peanuts. Butterscotch, vanilla cream, dark honey, grilled peaches, peach tea and some excellent woody notes that cone across as lightly charred wood.

Palate:

Light, sweet, feint touches of wood at the start. All of this is then surrounded by this wonderful notes of minted toffee. It’s refreshing yet gently rich at the same time. Caramel sauce, marinated dried fruits, steamed pudding,

Finish:

Decently long and full of these soft tobacco notes. It’s sweet tobacco and not smoky in anyway, just the aroma of sweet rolling tobacco, more mint, a touch of oak again, some darker notes of Cognac/Brandy and little flakes of dark chocolate.

Comments:

It might not be the strongest or the most intense of eighteen year old whiskies, but it does what you want and expect an older expression of Crown Royal to do.

It’s mellow, sweet, easy drinking and in all honesty is something I would have on my shelf if it was available. Sometimes, you just need an approachable, sweeter, relatively complex style of whisky that has some great nostalgic notes running through it.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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