I remember the first time I had Black Velvet Reserve. I was in a casino in Wendover Nevada 7 or 8 years ago for a buddy’s birthday and when I asked what he wanted to drink he said “Black Velvet 8” so I grabbed a bottle from the casino store and by the end of the night the bottle was empty. I can’t say if I liked it or not then, but when you’re bouncing between shots and beer pong in the rooms and black jack in the casino it’s difficult to stop and make a full assessment of a whisky. But hey, I’m doing it now.
Currently owned by Constellation Brands, this whisky was introduced by the now defunct Schenley Industries and originally went by the name Black Label. In the 1940’s its name was switched to Black Velvet and during WW2 it was the only whisky/spirit available to submarine officers at Midway where it acquired the not-so-positive name “Schenley’s Black Death”. Sounds like it hasn’t changed much in the last 70 years.
Black Velvet Reserve Info
Region: Alberta, Canada
Distiller: Black Velvet (Constellation)
Mashbill: Corn whisky + Rye whisky + Malt whisky
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 8 Years
ABV: 40%
Price: $15
Black Velvet Reserve Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
The experience of smelling this is akin to shoving a caramel coated swizzle stick made of butterscotch up my nose and then trying to wash it out using maple scented rubbing alcohol.
PALATE
It’s like drinking maple syrup flavored cough medicine with a butterscotch syrup and vodka chaser from a glass rimmed with stale brown sugar.
FINISH
Alcohol, caramel, alcohol, butterscotch, alcohol, maple and alcohol in a finish that lasts way too long.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Balance? We don’t need no stinkin’ balance. Medium body with watery texture that runs a bit hot.
OVERALL
Black Velvet Reserve is not something I’m fond of at all. It’s cheap enough to work as a low grade mixer in punch bowls or mixed with coke (if you’re into that sort of thing) and that’s about it. There’s a strange cloying nature to it neat that gets almost completely swept away once it’s been mixed. Being a light Canadian whisky it seamlessly melts into the background of whatever you’re mixing it with unless it’s water. That just seems to make it angry and it gets even more offensive with harsh grain notes showing up and no one enjoys that.
SCORE: 67/100 (D+)
Black Velvet Reserve Review - Score Breakdown
Summary
Black Velvet Reserve is not my style of whisky.
Overall
- Nose - 67
- Palate - 67
- Finish - 67
- Balance, Body & Feel - 67
User Review
( votes)
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Black Velvet Reserve: Last Glass Update (06-13-16)
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Caramel coffee syrup… that’s pretty much all the Black Velvet Reserve tastes like here at the end. Caramel coffee syrup and a touch of candy corn with a slight acrid bite at the end. It’s no secret that Canadian whisky isn’t my thing, but this is well below the low standard I typically hold for this vertical. I couldn’t even finish it, I had to dump it out. It was taking up shelf space and I just couldn’t bring myself to re-taste anymore than that 1/2 shot that’s shown in the image on the left.
FINAL VERDICT: Black Velvet Reserve isn’t a whisky I’d ever buy again. It’s not my thing, but if it’s yours then good for you. Go for it, love it and don’t listen to me.
Forget it, I found it…..lol. It did the job for me during quarantine. I’ll up my game soon….lol
I just read a comparison of Inexpensive Canadian Whiskeys (basically anything cheaper than crown), and this was rated the highest, so tried to pick some up at the bottle shop but they only have the cheaper 3-year stuff. Started searching, and now I read this review makes it sound awful!
I think maybe it’s a relative thing. How would you compare it to Canadian Mist or Seagrams or Pendleton, or even actual Crown Roayl for that matter?
Hey Craig,
Well, I don’t like any of those, but if I had to pick one I’d pick Crown. Canadian Mist is definitely one of the worst whiskies I’ve ever tasted, Seagrams is a bit above that and then Pendleton and Black Velvet I’d say are roughly in the same ballpark.
The stuff is tolerable and reasonably cheap, depending on the sin taxes in your particular state or country, and after a glass or five who cares? Most of us drink to get drunk. Noses are for Cyrano. I just bought a jug to celebrate the rain and coolness and the end of the most recent heat wave and the short interim before the next one. A good cigar and some jazz on the vintage CD player and I’m all set. Better have lunch first though.
Sounds like a nice afternoon. Cheers!
I think this is highly underrated. I would sip on this more than a lot of other whiskies. To me it has a perfect balance. Much better than some of the Kentucky whiskeys which are just plain harsh. Even at twice the price.
To each their own, glad to hear you like it. Thanks for sharing Tim, cheers!
Love the verbage
I found your review on Red Bush, after purchasing it, appreciated the comments, then started browsing and found this. I got some BV a few years ago and found it disgusting, but I think you expressed the sentiments better than I would have. Keep tippling and typing. (Islay = a good day, for all the poets out there.)
Thanks Ron, cheers!
thought i would try a jug as it is on sale($9). not sure what i expected, but the bite and heavy ethanol aftertaste was disappointing for an aged whiskey. isn’t too bad with pepsi or 7-Up. only bright spot is the bottle should look pretty neat after being slumped.
scott
Ha, cheers!