Crown Royal, also known as Seagram’s Crown Royal, is a blended Canadian whiskey since 1939. For years, it was a drink found exclusively in Canada. However, in 1964, the brand took its product international, introducing it to the United States and a few other countries.
This drink is known for its deep complexity in flavor, as well as its elegant aesthetic. When you sip on a glass of Crown Royal, you feel special. This drink just feels like royalty from the price point to the exquisite packaging to the actual product itself.
Its flavor profile consists of light vanilla, brown sugar, and caramel notes in an oaky, sweet body. There is also a hint of spiciness to this drink.
If enjoying this spirit for the first time, you might want to drink it straight or on the rocks, so you can experience the full range of flavors that it offers. However, Crown Royal makes for an amazing cocktail as well.
A lot of whiskey aficionados would be distraught to hear about the use of Crown Royal in a mixed drink. However, in recent years, many more people are starting to implement this product in their cocktails.
Today, we’re going to be teaching you how to make your own Crown Royal concoctions from the comfort of your own home. Keep reading below with Saucey for our three Crown Royal recipes for every season.
What is a cocktail?
Before getting into the different recipes, let’s take a moment to discuss exactly what a cocktail is.
There are several conflicting theories about where the term “cocktail” comes from. But the most popular claim is that it is derived from the French word “coquetier,” which describes an eggcup-type measure.
In layman’s terms, a cocktail is a mixed alcoholic drink. But there’s more to it than that. A cocktail must include at least two ingredients, one of which must be alcoholic.
A typical cocktail can be mixed with one type of alcohol or with multiple spirits. It can consist of juices, teas, soft drinks, or even whole fruits.
Sometimes, the word “cocktail” is used interchangeably with any type of mixed drink, even those not alcoholic. It should be noted that a mixed drink that does not contain alcohol is actually referred to as a “mocktail.”
Mixed drinks had existed for centuries, dating back to the 1500s when the first punch was made. Yet, the first time that the word “cocktail” was publicly documented was in an 1806 newspaper.
The rise in popularity of cocktails
As we all know, the United States banned alcoholic beverages from 1919 to 1933 during a period known as Prohibition. During this time, cocktails were sold illegally in establishments called “speakeasies.” Though they were banned, mixed drinks continued to grow in popularity.
The quality of liquor was significantly worse during Prohibition, as people were forced to go to third-party vendors for their drinks. However, the cocktails were able to survive, and this era was filled with mixed drinks that featured bathtub gin and many other kinds of alcohol. However, classic whiskey cocktails like the Old Fashioned remained popular, too.
Crown Royal Cocktails to try
While classic cocktails like the aforementioned Old Fashioned and the Manhattan will work nicely with Crown Royal, we wanted to spice things up a bit. Read on for three slightly more interesting cocktails that you can make with Crown Royal.
1. The Royal Flush
The Royal Flush is one of the most well-known Crown Royal cocktails. It has a nice balance of sweetness and dryness to it, as well as tart. It’s known for its light red complexion and iconic cherry topping.
To make this drink, you’ll need some Crown Royal blended whiskey, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice. Measure out:
- 1.25 ounces of Crown Royal whiskey
- 0.25 ounces of peach schnapps
- 3 ounces of cranberry juice
Grab a shaker, fill it with ice, and throw your ingredients in. Shake it finely until the ingredients are blended evenly. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Lastly, garnish the drink with an orange peel or top it with a cherry.
This drink fits especially well at a poker night with friends or any event with a Vegas or gambling theme.
The Royal Flush Variations
You can also play around with the recipe to your liking. If you’re looking for some added flavor, try swapping out the standard blended whiskey from Crown Royal to their apple or honey whiskey.
Another way to spruce up the recipe is by making it a bit stronger. Try adding in some rum if the peach schnapps and whiskey just aren’t doing it for you. We prefer coconut rum by Malibu, but feel free to use whatever you like.
You can also experiment with how much cranberry juice you add to your drink. The cranberry gives the drink its sweetness, as well as its color. If the presence of cranberry feels too strong for you, reduce it by an ounce. If it doesn’t taste like cranberry enough, add an ounce.
And you can even customize your garnishes. Instead of the orange slice and cherry, how about a fresh peach slice on your glass? Some people even throw in a whole cranberry into their glass.
2. Cherry Coke Smash
This drink combines two flavors that work beautifully together: cherry and Coca-Cola. If you can enjoy the taste of a Cherry Coke, you’ll probably like this Cherry Coke Smash.
All you need for this cocktail is some Cherry Coke, the Crown Royal whiskey of your choice, and some cherries. Personally, we recommend the Vanilla Whiskey by Crown Royal, which complements the sweetness of the soda you’ll be using.
To garnish this drink, plop four to six cherries into your glass. Don’t be afraid to go crazy with the cherries. A smooth, iced glass adorned with fresh red cherries is quite a pretty sight. It is preferable to use Maraschino cherries, but any cherries will do. If you’re using frozen cherries, though, make sure to allow them to thaw before you use them as a garnish.
Alternatively, you can also create a cherry mash. Just remove the seeds before slicing, and get to mashing.
Sweet cocktails like these are great for summer events like barbeques, beach getaways, and pool parties. Imagine kicking your feet up on a warm, cozy beach and sipping on an ice-cold glass of Cherry Coke smash. Sounds like absolute bliss.
3. Apple Pie Cocktail
For our last recipe, we’ve got a gamechanger—ever heard of an apple pie cocktail? This mixed drink is the epitome of a dessert drink. It fuses elements of rum, whiskey, and other flavoring agents to create a remarkably sweet cocktail.
This apple pie cocktail can be made for any occasion, but they’re especially a hit on Thanksgiving. It is paired well with other apple desserts, as well as any desserts that contain cinnamon.
To make this drink, you’re going to need RumChata and Crown Royal Apple Whiskey, as well as a cinnamon-flavored whiskey, whipped cream, ground cinnamon, and mint leaves. Flavored vodka is optional.
In your ice-filled shaker, add one ounce of Crown Royal apple whiskey, a half-ounce of RumChata, a half-ounce of cinnamon-flavored whiskey, a half-ounce of whipped cream and a half-ounce of flavored vodka.
Shake up your mixture until the consistency is smooth and creamy. For garnish, include a few leaves of mint. For the full effect, rim the glass with ground cinnamon.
The takeaway
Crown Royal is known as an elite whiskey with an exceptional flavor profile. A lot of people overlook, though, that this whiskey is also a powerfully versatile cocktail ingredient.
With nearly a hundred years of history behind it, there’s no wonder why this brand has thrived in this industry. Their products are quality, and their reputation is legendary. Few whiskey brands can match up with the pedigree of Crown Royal. Hopefully, we’ll begin to see more creative cocktails be made with this classic drink.
The days of drinking all your spirits straight or on the rocks are over. Mixed drinks offer a way to breathe new life into old products. Needless to say, it’s time to have some fun and mix it up.
For a broad selection of Crown Royal products and other spirits, take a trip over to Saucey.
