Whisky Review – Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

This blog post marks the 10th different Crown Royal expression that we've reviewed on our little corner of the internet. Some we loved, some we liked, some we were kinda meh about, and one we just didn't understand. While our experiences with Crown Royal have been a bit of a mixed bag, for the most part, the good has outweighed the bad, so whenever we're offered a sample, we rarely turn one down, so when Taylor Strategy reached out yet again, we obviously said yes. If we said no, there wouldn't be a 10th Crown Royal review for you to read. Funny how that works.

This 10th Crown Royal review of ours is all about their Texas Mesquite expression which was released in late Spring of this year. Here's what the folks at Crown Royal have to say about their latest whisky release:

Nearly 60 years ago, Canadian oil workers made the trek to the Lone Star State, bringing with them their whisky of choice, Crown Royal. Known for its regal history and distinguished flavor, Crown Royal became a mainstay in Texas and has left its mark with innumerable Texas fans. Today, Crown Royal is giving back to Texas with its first ever limited-edition release of Crown Royal Texas Mesquite.Marrying two iconic Texas traditions, barbecue and whisky, Crown Royal Texas Mesquite combines the smoky flavor of locally sourced Texas mesquite wood with the signature smoothness of Crown Royal De Luxe. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite adds a special smokiness to summertime grilling, barbecues and celebrations of all kind that are in need of a little Texas kick.

And here's what we thought of it...

Whisky Review – Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

Appearance: Pale amber color.
ABV: 40%
Aroma
- Limpd: Wood smoke and bacon with some maple syrup (the urchins thought it smelled like Canada; not quite sure what that means).
- G-LO: Heavy on the BBQ notes with mesquite smoke, brown sugar, clove, thyme, cumin, vanilla, and some honey. I'm suddenly craving some Texas Style BBQ Brisket!
Taste
- Limpd: A bit viscous with a big blast of smoke. Like leaning over a campfire. Followed by some sweetness but the smoky, ashy flavor never really recedes. There is a little bit of heat late in the taste which is matched by the smoky, ashy flavor.
- G-LO: Medium bodied with a touch of oiliness. Once again, smoky mesquite is front and center. That smokiness really dominates the palate. A bit of peppery heat and some brown sugar comes through, but it's tough to get past the smoke. There's not a lot of depth here. The smoke is still there in the finish with some alcohol burn and some herbal notes. The aftertaste is very astringent and a little bitter.

The Verdict

Limpd: I am not a huge fan of the smoke but I have come to appreciate peated whiskies. That said, I have not come around on the mesquite just yet. I've tried the Balcones Brimstone and, while that is more refined than CR Texas Mesquite, it did not win me over. I think the CR Texas Mesquite needs more time in the barrel to round out the flavors. Or, perhaps a little less mesquite.

G-LO: When we were first contacted to try this, I was hoping that this was gonna be as good as the Balcones Brimstone. It's not. It starts off sort of promising, but then I realized that this was pretty much a one note whisky. The smoke doesn't taste artificial or anything (though I suppose it could be!), but it is a bit much. I would have liked more standard issue Crown Royal goodness and less smoke. This wasn't awful, but it also wasn't very good. I'm thinking you should stick to using this for mixed drinks. Better yet, buy yourself a bottle of Brimstone instead.

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