Canadian stalwart Jim Beam's new special release is reviewed by our whiskey critic.

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It's okay to admit you drink Canadian whisky. After all, it's one of the most popular spirits in the US, so someone must be drinking it. Over the past five years, Canadian whiskey has grown by 13 percent, worth $2.5 billion, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. The brand that leads the Canadian whiskey market is Crown Royal, a blend that comes in a fetching purple bag. Due to its numbers, Crown Royal is able to afford this extra flair.

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A true “serious” whiskey drinker is one who posts crotch shots of the bottles they have just acquired outside of liquor stores in their cars and pompously patrols the digital halls of social media. These people are not the people who drink Crown Royal, a basic Canadian blend that is bottled at 80 proof and that is not very memorable.

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While the brand is distilled at a massive facility located in Gimli, Manitoba, it does have a number of high-end expressions with age statements and flavors that are quite comparable to those of the best and brightest single malt scotches. In addition, it should be noted that the whiskeys made under the influence of the royals are much more affordable than those made by the royal family.

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It is worth a try to try Crown Royal Aged 18 Years, one of the best whiskeys you can buy for less than $200 if you find the right retailer. This is one of the newest releases that you can get for less than $200 if you find the right retailer. The blend is comprised of three mash bills created by Crown Royal and aged in both new charred oak barrels and used barrels before being blended together into the final product by Stephen Wilson, Crown Royal director of whiskey engagement.

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“The process of selecting corn, rye and barley for Crown Royal Aged 18 Years begins with the selection of these grains to our uncompromising standards,” he said. “As part of the Crown Royal blended whisky family, the distillery produces five component whiskies using three different mash bills and multiple distillation techniques. Our master blenders select and expertly blend each whisky after it has aged for a minimum of 18 years in new and previously used American oak casks.”

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Having said that, what does the whiskey actually taste like? Quite good, and far superior to what you would expect from a regular old Crown Royal sample. While the nose is a little timid, the palate is full of delicious flavors. The nose is quite timid, but the palate really creates a melange of flavors. The first note is dusty incense, followed by vanilla custard, pineapple, lemon tart, tobacco, and sweet caramel. The finish is mellow and oaky, with a whisper of spice at the end. With most Crown Royal offerings, you're gonna find an ABV higher than 40 percent, so I wonder how this would taste at an ABV higher than 40 percent.

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A Crown Royal whiskey is hardly a new thing, and I am not the first person who has been won over by a whiskey that is a departure from the company's core blend. The Hand Selected Barrel is a good one to try, as is the Northern Harvest Rye which made quite a stir when it first launched several years ago. Additionally, the parent company of the Crown Royal brand, Diageo, announced recently that the company would build the first carbon neutral distillery in Canada, which will distill Crown Royal with 100% renewable energy.

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The Gimli distillery will also continue to operate as well, and will be operated by the same company. Crown Royal 18 is indeed a satisfying alternative for those who might ordinarily reach out for a bottle of Speyside scotch, even though Canadian whiskey isn't exactly competing head-to-head with single malt or other whiskeys aged for a few decades, and given that older doesn't always mean better, it's not just about matching single malt or other whiskeys aged for a few decades.