Black Velvet

It's been at least 12 years since I last had this - and then it was mixed with coca cola. I've probably sipped on this bottle once, but I don't recall. The bottle in question was gifted by a family member, is full to the neck but has been opened and has been in my posession for at least 5 years. That said... Black Velvet is a Canadian whisky. In fact, its the number 2 selling Canadian whisky after Crown Royal. Its owned by Heaven Hill and produced in the Black Velvet Distillery in Lethbridge, Alberta. Tasted neat in a glencairn. I let the drink rest for about 5 minutes before evaluating. The pour is a brassy, light color. Not much viscosity to the swirl. The nose has immediate notes of grain alcohol, and something a bit sweeter with fruity notes. Overall the nose is indistinct and thin. On the palate the thin nature continues. The whiskey is a bit watery, with no appreciable finish. It's not satisfying at all. There's a little drop of sweet, a bit of alcohol and then a flash of white pepper. Finally, there's a bit of a bitter aftertaste. I have no idea what I'll do with the rest of this bottle. This isn't something I'll drink neat again, it's definitely a non-descript mixer. Smooth? Sure, because there's nothing going on. Sweet? Maybe a little. Interesting? God no. (review update: after further consideration I realized I'd never drink this and won't serve it to friends, so down the drain it went) My scale is 1 to 5, with 2.5 being the peak of the bell curve. Most competent whiskies will end up between 2 and 3. For me, this one doesn't make the cut. I'm quite sure there are worse whiskies out there, and I hope I none of them end up in my cabinet. Hard pass.

This has a richer, smokier nose than Ellington does (though there still isn't much to it). The palate is smooth with a viscous mouthfeel and immediately too much artificial caramel flavor. It's surprisingly drying though. There really isn't much happening on this palate. It really just tastes like a young whiskey that I wouldn't want to drink. It isn't the worst thing out there, but it's far, far from good. It might be possible to hide it in a drink, but it really is painful to sip. Ugh, drinking Ellington after this is a huge mistake - awful! Ellington Reserve is even worse! Somehow, this is better than the both of them. It tastes young with some sweetness and not much going on. It has alcohol and gross caramel. Ellington is more interesting, but has some more explicitly gross flavors, almost like some tequila got mixed in.

This is real whiskey. All Canadian whiskey is 100% aged (a minimum of 3 years) whiskey. People try to compare this to Seagrams 7 and other American blends. The main difference is Seagrams 7 is 75% neutral grain spirits. So it is basically whiskey “Flavored” vodka. That is not the case with Canadian blends like Black Velvet which are real aged whiskey and are not cut with NGS. At the end of the day this is honestly mediocre in most all ways. Light in color, light in flavor, and light in booze. Not much or any complexity but it makes a solid mixer. Which is its real purpose. I enjoy it mixed with ginger ale. This is a mixer, not a sipper. Cheers!

Mini bottle tasting series. OK, this is the bottle and smell I remember as a kid visiting my friend's house. Seemed so elegant, even the name. Ahh, blended Canadian whisky bottled in the USA. Sweet vanilla and light grain on the nose. Whoa, look out! Oak and ethanol bomb rides over the top of a sticky sweet cotton candy base. Light color and body, but that sweetness feels cloying. That sweet turns bitter (an odd rye flavor? or oak tannin?) and then into a light acetone chemical finish. Mixed with Coke, this would serve its purpose. Beyond that, there are better Canadian whiskies. Much better.

I got this on a recommendation, but even at the price I won't buy it again. It's just not that good. It ran me $8.49 for a fifth, is 80 proof, and aged for three years. It's an amber color in the glass. NOSE: Rubbing alcohol - after a good while a little sweetness came in, with something sour and medicinal. MOUTHFEEL: Thin, slightly creamy. TASTE: Honey and a faint floral note. FINISH: Short - brief light sweetness, alcohol. This is a very simple whisky, which is perhaps worth the price but certainly isn't worth more.

Black Velvet, 40% abv, aged 3 years. Not bottled in Canada, aroma is slightly alcoholic/odd or off putting Canadian sweet aroma, possibly rye. Taste is sweet/odd up front and odd aftertaste. Light bitterness and minor oak. Goes down nice and easy. It cost me 12 dollars for a 1 Liter glass bottle. It has that typical Canadian whisky sweetness to it, if you like that, you will like this, otherwise I would avoid it. There are better Canadians out there. Grade: C-