Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Whisky Lovers Will Love the New Apple and Vanilla Whiskies from Crown Royal When Preparing Drinks This Holiday Season -- Review with Drink Recipes

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

SALTED CARAMEL EGG NOG -- This is just one of the many tasty whisky drinks you can mix up with Crown Royal Whiskies 

Instead of my usual hot chocolate I make for myself every evening, tonight I switched it up and tried a recipe I found on the Crown Royal website using their flavor series, Vanilla whisky.  It was bitterly cold out tonight and I was looking for a way to take the edge of and relax after a busy day with the girls...and a Vanilla Hot Toddy sounded like the way to go.  Are you a fan of Hot Toddies?  I was first introduced to this whisky drink from my Nana years ago.  Every year for the holidays, she would ask for books, puzzle, mice ornaments to add to her collection, and a bottle or two of flavored Crown Royal whisky.  I had no idea why she was into whisky, as I thought this was a man's drink.  But, then she whipped up her own version of a hot toddy using this whisky and gave me some to try.  It was so delicious.  You would never think you were drinking whisky.  From then on, I would indulge my Nana and get her an extra bottle so that she had enough for herself and some to make her famous hot toddies at the holidays and when family and friends came to visit.  While my Nana is no longer here, I keep her memory alive by enjoying a nice glass of Crown Royal whisky here and there, and when the holidays roll around, I try to recreate her famous hot toddy to enjoy as I enjoy the crackling fireplace and Christmas tree all lit up.  My Nana, like with her baking recipes, never wrote down how she made things.  And, when you asked her for a recipe, she would say a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but never exact measurements, making it nearly impossible to recreate her recipes.  I so wish I was able to have a collection of her family recipes to enjoy and pass down to my girls.  But, instead I have many fond memories, including sipping hot toddy with her at Christmas time.

Last week I was sent two whisky samples from the Crown Royal flavor series.  I was sent their Regal Apple and Vanilla whiskies to try out.  I first tried out the whiskies straight out of the bottom to get the full flavor profile of the these fine whiskies.  Then, I visited the Crown Royal website to look for recipes to use their whiskies in for a nice night cap drink.  There were so many great, and easy to prepare drinks, it was hard to choose a couple to try using each whisky flavor.  

I was excited when I saw a Vanilla Hot Toddy recipe, as it sounded delicious, and would have been something I know my Nana would have loved to sample with me.  I was waiting for a chilly night like tonight to make this drink, and couldn't wait to sit back after the girls were in bed sleeping to enjoy this drink with my husband.

Here is the recipe in case you want to give it a try.  Like I said, it was easy to mix up, and tastes amazing...

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Vanilla Flavored® Whisky
1 tsp fine grain sugar
2 small cloves
1.5 oz. boiling water

INSTRUCTIONS

Glass: Coffee Mug
1. Add Crown Royal Vanilla, fine grain sugar, and cloves in old-fashioned glass or mug
2. Add 1-2 oz (or more, if desired) boiling water and stir

With Christmas right around the corner, and then New Years, this delicious tasting vanilla hot toddy using Crown Royal Vanilla whisky would surely delight family and friends stopping by to visit.  

If hot toddies aren't your thing, but you love vanilla flavored whisky and want to try a new drink recipe how about giving Apple Pie A La Mode a try.  

INGREDIENTS

.75 oz. Crown Royal Vanilla Flavored Whisky
.75 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored Whisky

INSTRUCTIONS

Serve in a shot glass.

This recipe is also found over at the Crown Royal website and is easy to mix up.  I made this drink the other day to serve up at dessert after Thanksgiving and everyone loved it.  Even those who are not usually whisky drinkers said it tasted great.  They could really taste the vanilla flavor, and when mixed with the Regal Apple flavored Whisky,  really reminded them of a freshly baked pie. Yum!

Last night when I was pulling the recipe off the Crown Royal website for the Vanilla hot toddy, I saw a recipe for a caramel apple drink using the regal Apple and Crown Royal's other popular flavored whisky, salted caramel.  I will definitely have to pick up a bottle of the salted caramel whisky so that I can try out this drink. It would be the perfect drink to serve up for caramel apple lovers this holiday season, who are looking try a new mixed drink or venture and try something new like a flavored whisky.

INGREDIENTS

1 oz Crown Royal Salted Caramel
0.75 oz Crown Royal Regal Apple
0.5 oz lemon juice
4 oz ginger ale
Garnish with fresh apple slices

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour ingredients over ice and stir.
Garnish with fresh apple slices (optional)

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And, here is one more drink, which I tried when I first got the Crown Royal whisky samples last week -- Crownberry Apple.  This drink combines both the Crown Royal Regal Apple whisky, along with cranberry juice, for a wonderful flavored whisky drink.

INGREDIENTS

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored Whisky
4 oz. cranberry juice

INSTRUCTIONS

Glass: Rocks Glass
1. Add Crown Royal Regal Apple Flavored Whisky to an ice-filled rocks glass
2. Top with cranberry juice and stir
3. Garnish with an apple wedge

Don't these drinks look good?  The one I have made so far taste great and really add a new dimension to just the basic flavored whisky.  I can't wait to try some of the other recipes I printed from the Crown Royal website, and will be picking up a few bottles of Crown Royal to have on hand for the holidays, and to gift to family and friends who were here for Thanksgiving and couldn't get over the amazing flavor of the Vanilla and Regal Apple whiskies I shared with them. 

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More about Crown Royal Regal Apple:

Crown Royal Regal Apple Blended Canadian Whisky

Flavorful and refined. To create this extraordinary blend, Crown Royal whiskies are hand-selected by our master blender and infused with Regal Gala Apples and apple flavors. The result is a delicious Canadian whisky balanced with notes of crisp apple flavor.

TASTING NOTES:

NOSE: A blend of bright apple balanced with signature Crown Royal blended whisky with hints of spice.

PALATE: Opening up with a slightly tart, crisp, apple flavor balanced with signature Crown Royal blended whisky composed of notes of caramel & light spice.

FINISH: Crisp apple note with balanced sweetness, culminating in a full-bodied smooth finish.

More about Crown Royal Vanilla:

"To create this extraordinary blend, Crown Royal Whiskies are hand selected by our master blender and infused with the rich flavor of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. The result is uniquely sophisticated whisky bursting with the flavor of vanilla and the distinctive smoothness of Crown Royal. Enjoy straight, on the rocks or in a cocktail for a uniquely smooth experience."

Tasting Notes:

NOSE: Rich vanilla bean with delicate hints of oak.

PALATE: Creamy vanilla with a smooth, light whisky finish.

FINISH: Viscous and warming with a Crème Brulee aftertaste.

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These are the follow Crown Royal Whiskies currently available, in case you are looking for a last minute gift idea for that special whisky lover in your life. Or, if you like to serve up a drink with dessert after dinner, Crown Royal Whiskies, especially their flavor series, make for a great night cap.  

You don't have to be a bartender or mixologist to mix up some great tasting drinks this holiday season.  Here are a couple easy to make whisky drinks using Crown Royal Whiskies, which you can find at your favorite local liquor store, as well as through online liquor retailers.  Prices vary on series and size, but most average around $26-$28 for a 750 ml bottle.

You can learn more about the two flavor series whiskies I was recently sent from the folks at Crown Royal by visiting their website here -- https://www.crownroyal.com/.  While there don't forget to check out their recipes section for other great drink recipes that you can whip up at home to enjoy with family and friends this holiday season.

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.