Crown Royal is a Canadian whisky, specifically a blended Canadian whisky rather than a bourbon or a single-malt.
Whisky category
Crown Royal’s flagship “Deluxe” and most core expressions are classified as blended Canadian whisky made from a mix of different grain whiskies, typically including corn, rye, and barley. The blend is designed for a smooth, light-to- medium body profile that fits within Canadian whisky regulations rather than U.S. bourbon or rye rules.
Not bourbon or standard rye
Crown Royal is not legally a bourbon because it is made in Canada and does not follow the specific U.S. bourbon requirements such as being produced from a mash bill of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels under U.S. law. While the brand offers rye-focused expressions like Northern Harvest Rye, the main Crown Royal line is not classified as American rye whiskey either, which has its own 51% rye requirement.
Variants within the brand
Within the Crown Royal lineup, there are different styles under the same overall Canadian whisky umbrella, such as the Signature Series (Deluxe, Rye, Black) and higher-age or special-finish releases in the Master Series. There are also flavored whiskies (like Apple, Peach, Vanilla) and ready-to-drink canned cocktails, but these are still branded off the core blended Canadian whisky base.
