Black Velvet - Canadian Whisky

Discovering Black Velvet Whisky

I've always been curious about Black Velvet and surprisingly never tried it until now. I knew it would be a cheap liquor, typically found for under $10 on the bottom shelf of any grocery store. So, I picked it up alongside my usual bourbon fix, Wild Turkey 101.

First Impressions

At first, I tried it with Coca-Cola, but I couldn't taste anything besides the Coke. It was too sweet for my taste, so I decided to try it again on the rocks. To my surprise, it was incredibly smooth—indeed, as smooth as velvet. There are some sweet notes in the flavor profile, and I barely noticed any alcohol burn. However, something about it just doesn’t sit right with me.

Smoothness is its standout feature. Black Velvet is very easy to drink, especially on the rocks. I’d place it somewhere below the sweetness of Jim Beam and below the heavy flavoring of Jack Daniel’s. The lack of an alcoholic burn is a bit unsettling, especially for an 80-proof whisky.

Fortunately, I always have Wild Turkey to wash it down!

Would I Buy It Again?

For the price, it's cheap, and it doesn’t hurt to have something like this in the liquor cabinet. There’s always a place for some easy-drinking booze that isn't very offensive.

Short answer...yes, probably.

Update - 6/20/20

Okay, this is weird: I actually really LIKE Black Velvet. I’m surprised at how much I’ve consumed so far, and while it might be partly due to staying home, it’s not solely that. It’s smooth as velvet, and while the taste profile is quite lacking—just a tad sweet with no bite—it’s perfectly palatable. It feels like I’m drinking a more grainy alcohol mixed with soda, but without needing a mixer.

Looks can be deceiving; don’t knock something until you try it. I’ve gone through the list of cheaper bottom-shelf alcohols that you might kick aside if you’re not careful, but Black Velvet stands out. It’s still cheap alcohol, but it’s incredibly easy to drink.

Shocking! This is going to be one of my mainstays in my liquor cabinet. At barely $8 a bottle, it gives me more budget for the fun stuff!