Crown Royal Black is the definition of an UNDER THE RADAR whisky, as it is widely overshadowed by regular Crown and the fact that it's a Canadian whisky, to begin with. But, despite both of these facts, Crown Black persists for a small, but discerning group of whisky lovers. The "black" moniker is used in a variety of spirits, but the most popular of these if Johnnie Walker, another Diageo brand. While Johnnie Black denotes the smokier whiskies used in the blend, the "black" in Crown Royal refers to the higher portion of bourbon-like whisky used along with the slightly higher 90 proof point. On the nose, typical Crown vanilla, maple, and artificial grape. On the palate a LOT more oak than the typical Crown with black currant, cinnamon oak, and cherry pie added to the typical grape juice-like profile. It takes the light, fruity, chewiness of Crown and pairs with the backbone of subtle oak and rich bourbon spice. It's still not a challenging whisky to drink, but every once in a while you just want some pleasure for free!