In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth undertook the first-ever visit to Canada by reigning British monarchs - a historic event that inspired Canadian spirits entrepreneur Samuel Bronfman, president of the Seagram company, to create an extraordinary gift. Bronfman reportedly tested over 600 different blends before presenting the royal couple with the first bottle of what would become Crown Royal - in a crystal decanter, wrapped in a royal blue velvet bag with gold embroidery that remains the bottle's unmistakable trademark to this day. Composed of around fifty different whiskies, the exceptionally smooth blend was initially sold exclusively in Canada and only introduced internationally in the 1960s.

Why does every Crown Royal bottle come in a purple velvet bag?

The bag traces directly back to the very first bottle Samuel Bronfman presented to the British royal couple in 1939 - a packaging tradition that has been Crown Royal's trademark ever since.

How many whiskies are blended into one bottle of Crown Royal?

The original blend consisted of around fifty different whiskies - Bronfman reportedly tested over 600 combinations before settling on the final recipe.

Flavour profile

Taste: Exceptionally smooth and round with vanilla, caramel and a subtle fruit sweetness - typical of the mild Canadian blended style.

Recommended enjoyment: Neat, on the rocks, or as the base for a whisky sour.

Facts and figures

Created 1939 by Samuel Bronfman (Seagram) for the Canadian visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Over 600 blends tested. Marketed internationally since the 1960s.