Birthday Crown

Here at Shot of Brandi, we recognize people’s favorite drinks if their birthday falls on a Thirsty Thursday.

Well pops – this one’s for you! Let’s all do a shot of Crown in honor of the King of the Bonkowski family – my dad, Joe!

Over the last five years, my dad has developed a love affair with Crown Royal. His go-to drink is a double crown with ginger ale.

Until today, I didn’t know why this Canadian Whisky was named after a king’s headpiece. According to Wikipedia…

"The production of Crown Royal began in 1939 coincident with the first Royal Tour of Canada by reigning monarch King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth. To mark this historic occasion, Samuel Bronfman, President of the Seagram Company, decided to create a quality whisky to be packaged in a crown-shaped bottle and dressed in a distinctive royal purple bag. Like the packaging, the name chosen for the product was intended to reflect the quality of the spirit, a marketing concept that quickly caught consumer attention. It was available only in Canada until 1964." - source

Crown is still produced in Canada.

There are a few different variations of Crown to please a number of tastes (and price points). First there is Crown Royal Special Reserve - which is aged longer than regular Crown. There is also Crown Royal Cask No. 16 – which is made from over fifty blended and individually aged whiskies in a 12 year old cognac barrels. The fancy barrels come from France and this spirit is more like a cognac with notes of rye, grain and fruit.

If you aren’t a fan of ginger ale, then people typically mix Crown with cola and Gatorade (really?!). If you like bomb shots, you can drop some Crown into a glass of Red Bull to make a Chili Bomb or a Bouncing Betty.

With a surprise trip to Pittsburgh in the works today, it looks like me and Joe may sip some Crown this evening!

(source: Wikipedia)