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Black America Web
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Crown Royal Marquis Is The Brand's Newest Expression
Canadian whisky is a popular spirits category that has its fair share of fans all over the world, and Crown Royal is nearly ubiquitous here in the States. Crown Royal Marquis, a new expression from the famed whisky brand, is slowly rolling out in select locales, and CASSIUS had the honor of trying it out. Back in May, I had the privilege of experiencing Crown Royal's new Marquis expression, which takes its classic Canadian whisky and finishes the liquid in Caribbean casks that previously held rum. This style of finishing is growing as brands are looking to build upon their existing expressions. Source: Crown Royal Before we get into the tasting experience, allow me to share what I've learned in my brief time with the brand and the Marquis collection of cocktails. First, we should explain that rum, unlike whisky and bourbon, is made from sugar versus grain. Some rums in the Caribbean are crafted from molasses, and the terroir of the region impacts aging, flavor, and other factors. It isn't known which rum brand barrel Crown Royal employed for its finishing, but it is very noticeable on the nose. Source: D.L. Chandler Marquis was launched last month in Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and at select military bases, making this a coveted expression among Crown Royal fans. I shared with some colleagues regarding my experience with Marquis and was met with requisite envy. Source: D.L. Chandler On behalf of the brand, I attended the Souled Out Dates Three Year Anniversary, which was sponsored by Crown Royal Marquis. The well-attended day party was hosted at the outdoor venue, The Bullpen DC, and boasted near or around 3,000 guests, along with local sports stars who joined the partygoers. Sounds were provided by a rotating panel of DJs, including DJ Showcase and DJ PeeWee. Source: D.L. Chandler The bartenders at Bullpen employed Marquis in cocktails, including a frozen version of the Marquis Moment that was perfect for the warm temperature of the day. I also took a moment to sample the whisky on its own, and I was grabbed by familiar rum flavors, which complemented Crown Royal's delightful baking spice notes. Source: Crown Royal Marquis / Crown Royal As some might know who read this space, my column aims to educate others and myself about the history and creation of cocktails. Source: Crown Royal Last month, the USBG (United States Bartender Guild) Presents World Class Sponsored By DIAGEO event brought together several dozen bartenders, industry professionals, and more to Atlanta in the city's Buckhead neighborhood. World Class is billed as one of the leading bartending competitions in the States while providing spaces for education and training with the assistance of the Diageo Bar Academy. Source: D.L. Chandler Until this trip, I was unaware of the World Class event, now in its 13th year, or the United States Bar Guild. However, the spirit of the event was on full display at the Top 10 Dinner sponsored by Crown Royal Marquis at Unknown, which featured 10 of the finalists for World Class. What was brilliant to see in real time was the support and sense of community among the bartenders, and for curious outsiders like me, the competitors couldn't have been more inviting. Source: D.L. Chandler The Top 10 Dinner also featured Caribbean-inspired cuisine paired with cocktails made with Marquis. Here again, I tasted the whisky neat next to some of Crown Royal's other offerings. A neighboring afterparty was amazingly festive, and plenty of Marquis was poured before the night ended far too soon. Source: D.L. Chandler I only had enough time to attend one day of World Class, and Diageo pulled out all the stops by featuring other brands from its vast portfolio in dazzling activations hosted by knowledgeable brand ambassadors and bartenders who graciously talked shop to anyone who asked. Again, the familial aspect of the event was striking to see, as I'm not privy to how service workers, especially in the bar industry, show solidarity. I also had sort of a foreshadowing experience. More on that in a moment. Source: Crown Royal My visit ended on a high note at the Crown Royal Marquis Atlanta Launch event, held at Cam Kirk Studios in Atlanta, for a taste of nightlife, a key component of the Marquis concept and became an evening out that transformed from typical to truly unforgettable The venue was packed with revelers who all worked their way to the bar for Crown Royal Marquis cocktails and premium eats from American Deli. Early in the evening, DJ Unruley and local DJ collective Player 99 (Champagne, Cleo, and Thrice Groove) had the party jumping with tunes, and it was certainly wall-to-wall inside the venue. Source: Crown Royal Joe Kay of Soulection closed out the night and delivered a thumping set that must have summoned the storms in the region, but it couldn't dampen anyone's spirits after all the Marquis that was poured. I spoke to several attendees to ask them what they thought of the cocktails, and, without hyperbole, everyone gave high marks to the Marquis Moment. Source: Crown Royal Upon returning home to Washington, I learned that the winner of this year's USBG World Class was Nic Wallace, becoming the 2025 U.S. Bartender of the Year. Wallace, a native of Darien, Ga., stood out to me after I saw him at one of the bar stations at USBG demonstrating his ability. Source: Crown Royal Harkening back to what I said earlier, Wallace, impeccably dressed and coifed, was not unlike watching an artist or musician at work, and his cool confidence was just as evident as his skills with the mixing tin. If I were a gambling man, I would've bet the house on him after what I saw. His cocktail creations for World Class, Soul Of The South, and All Glowed Up helped propel him against some of the nation's best. Source: Crown Royal / Crown Royal Now a 10-year veteran of World Class, Wallace endured the three-day, five-part competition against 29 of his peers and will go on and represent the United States at the Global Finals in Toronto this fall. 'This was my chance to represent Georgia—Atlanta, specifically—as the only competitor from the state. I had to show up and bring the South home a championship,' Nic Wallace shared in a statement. 'I want to show people that no matter how much you want something, no matter how long it takes—you can get it.' Away from the festive nature of parties and competitions, I can share my further thoughts on the whisky as I continue to figure out the best ways to enjoy the spirit. I'm no Nic Wallace, not yet anyway, but as summer bears down upon us, I can see how Crown Royal Marquis will bring balance to fruit-forward cocktails, or as a replacement in classics that call for whiskey. Also, considering my Caribbean roots, Marquis speaks to me in ways that other whiskies cannot. My thanks are eternal to Crown Royal for giving me plenty of Marquis moments of my own. Learn more about Crown Royal Marquis here. Learn more about Diageo here. Learn more about the United States Bartending Guild here. — Photo: Crown Royal Crown Royal Marquis Is The Brand's Latest Expression & We've Tried It Out was originally published on
Black America Web
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Celebrate World Whisky Day 2025 With These Excellent Selections
This Saturday (May 17), World Whisky Day takes place, and whisky lovers around the globe will hopefully have some pours of their favorite tried and true drams with family and friends. For World Whisky Day 2025, CASSIUS is leaning into whisky made in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, and we'll shine a light on American and Irish whiskey at a later time. Now that I'm a year removed from this World Whisky Day post, I've gotten more exposure to whisky made in the aforementioned nations. Armed with a bit more knowledge about the wide world of whisky, I feel confident suggesting the bottles I've compiled in this particular roundup. I'll share what I wrote last year as a primer: …the term whisky applies to spirits made in Scotland, Japan, or Canada, while whiskey applies to spirits made in the United States and Ireland. Adding to this, bourbon can only be made in the United States and must feature a mash bill of 51 percent corn before other grains are introduced. Further, Kentucky bourbon, as you might get from the name, can only be called as such if it's made in the state. Enough nerding out about that for now. Let's get into the history of World Whisky Day. The holiday was officially established in March 2012 by University of Aberdeen student Blair Bowman, who was 21 at the time. According to Whiskey Partners, Bowman was studying in Barcelona and remarked that whiskey didn't have a global holiday like other adult beverages, so he took it upon himself to create a website to get the ball rolling. After researching the holiday more, I'm comfortable in saying that Bowman was not considering American or Irish-made whiskey in his celebration, and last year, I did include whiskies from all over the world. This year, I'm sticking to the whisky guns and only featuring juice without the 'e.' I would like to return to the space and share what I've learned about Scotland's different whisky-producing regions at a later date. For now, I hope you discover a new favorite or see a familiar brand in our World Whisky Day 2025 roundup. Cheers! — Photo: Source: Motortion / Getty Celebrate World Whisky Day 2025 With These Excellent Selections was originally published on Source:D.L. Chandler Aberfeldy is a Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky known as the 'Golden Dram' due to its color but also because of its water source, the Pitilie Burn, which contains tiny bits of gold. I've had the entire core range of Aberfeldy and while they're all excellent, I always go back to the 12 Year expression for my sunset dram. Learn more here. Source:Ardbeg I've had my fair share of Ardbeg whisky and of the brand's premium Single Malt Scotch offerings, and I've become a huge fan of its Uigeadail expression. Uigeadail (Oog-a-dal) is a non-age statement whisky aged in Oloroso Sherry and Ex-Bourbon Casks barrels featuring a lot of peat. I always feel classy having a glass of Uigeadail. Learn more here. Source:Crown Royal As I grew up in a particular type of neighborhood in a particular fashion, I would see my uncles and his friends having backyard parties with plenty of purple bags of Crown Royal's core whisky on deck. As I'm older and with refined tastes, I appreciated my few encounters with Crown Royal's higher-end Reserve expression. This weekend, I'll be checking out Crown Royal's limited-edition Marquis expression, so stay tuned for that. Learn more here. Source:Glenfiddich Glenfiddich is a distillery that produces Single Malt Scotch whisky in Scotland's Speyside region, and their 12-Year-Old Sherry Cask Finish is a fine start to learn about the brand. At 86 proof, I often wonder how the whisky would taste with at, say 95 or so, but this pours a solid dram. Learn more here. Source:Glenglassaugh Glenglassaugh specializes in Scotch whisky crafted off the coasts of Scotland, named after a village near the brand's distillery. At just under 100 proof, the Portsoy, part of Glenglassaugh's core expression, this whisky has some of those briny notes from the coastal winds. Aged in former sherry, bourbon, and port casks, all of those sweet notes from the used barrels still shine through the peat smoke. This is a winner. Learn more here. Portsoy whisky day,glenglassaugh portsoy Source:Glengoyne I am completely new to the Glengoyne brand as of the last 48 hours. I don't have the deepest of dives just yet, and what I can say is that this Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky is worth seeking out. There is no peat, which is an aspect of most whiskies produced in that region, but I suppose Scotch drinkers know this going in. It's also priced just right despite being an adequately aged product. Learn more here. Source:Glenmorangie I know that experienced Scotch whisky drinkers can appreciate a bracing, biting sip in their drams, but for folks still getting their training wheels on, finding something easy to sip is a great way to learn. The Glenmorangie 12 Year Old The Original expression is part of the famed Highlands distillery's core lineup and is an affordable sipper that doesn't fuss about too much. It's also pretty sneaky, so make those pours sensible. Learn more here. Source:Suntory The House of Suntory specializes in an array of spirits produced in Japan, including its award-winning Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies. I am actually more familiar with Suntory's Japanese gin than I am their whisky, but I've had plenty of Harmony as my neighbors always have it stocked. It is a blend of whiskies produced in Japan, and it's an easy sipper neat or on the rocks. Excited to learn more about this brand in the future. Learn more here. Hibiki Japanese Harmony whisky, whisky day,hibiki japanese harmony Source:Isle of Skye Isle of Skye produces a wide range of whisky, and their 8 Years Old expression is the only one I've tried thus far, fairly recently at that. This bottle features whisky from the islands and the Speyside region, and there's a nice amount of smoky peat in there. Priced for budget consumers, it certainly doesn't drink that way. Learn more here. Source:Monkey Shoulder Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky is said to be made strictly for mixing, and it does a great job as a base for the Old Fashioned, a Whisky Sour, or a Rob Roy. I've even started to have a pour over a large rock and it still kicks adequate ass. Learn more here. Source:Old Parr Old Parr keeps it simple with just two expressions in its lineup: Aged 12 Years and Aged 18 Years. I've had both, and this is a really approachable whisky for people still learning the category, like myself. Also, the 12 makes a killer highball, which is my preferred way to have it. Learn more here. Okay, so I said I wasn't going to feature any American whiskey. Please note the 'e' in that sentence. Beyoncé's SirDavis is an American Rye whisky (their spelling) with a mashbill of 51 percent rye and 49 percent malted barley. To some, that much spicy rye in a dram might turn off some, but SirDavis was created under the watchful eye of Dr. Bill Lumsden, who has worked with Scotch whiskey brands Ardbeg and Glenmorangie. I say this qualifies as whisky without the 'e' and is a dram that works well with the sherry cask finish. My whisky purists are certainly balking at this, but I'm supporting this loud and proud, because, Black, first of all, and secondly, it's Beyoncé! Learn more here. Source:Smokehead I recently had a bourbon finished in barrels that previously held tequila, and the results were pleasant. Smokehead's Tequila Cask Terminado expression pairs single malt in former tequila barrels, and the dance of the famed Mexican spirit's vegetal notes alongside the peated whisky works well despite not being a proof bomb. Personally, the lower proof works for me. Learn more here. Source:The Balvenie The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-Year-Old is one of the Highlands Single Malt Scotch whisky producer's core offerings and nails its rum cask finishing concept. This isn't the first whisky to use barrels that previously held rum for maturing, but it does stand far apart from most. Learn more here. Source:The GlenDronach The GlenDronach is a Single Malt Scotch whisky from Scotland's Highland region, and aged for 12 years in Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. This is a sweeter style of whisky, and could be a nice gateway for new Scotch drinkers. I've only had their 12 year as I'm not at all a baller like that. I will vouch for this bottle. Learn more here. Source:The Macallan The Macallan is a notable name in the world of Single Malt Scotch whisky and for good reason. I've had all of the brand's core collections and even some of its limited edition releases due to associates who also love The Macallan's classic whisky offerings. I'm featuring the Double Cask 12 Years Old expression as it's readily available and showcases what this brand's whisky is all about from the ground floor. Learn more here. Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
