Crown Royal has introducd its first-ever blended rye whisky, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye.

This offering combines the richness of Northern harvest rye grains with the smoothness of Crown Royal to create a balanced whisky, according to the company.

The Canadian climate provides ideal conditions for growing rye grains, according to the company. The grains are planted in the fall, then blanketed with snow during the harsh winter months and only finish their growth cycle once they have sprouted throughout spring and summer. The extra time the grains take to fully mature results in flavorful hints of fruit, cloves and spice.

Available at 90 proof / 45% Alcohol by Volume, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye will be sold at a suggested retail price of $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

To further bolster its portfolio, Crown Royal will also expand its Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel whisky program to select markets across the country.

First offered exclusively in Texas, Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel features “the heart of the Crown Royal blend, our Coffey Rye whisky,” a press release said.  “Whisky adorers can savor the signature Crown Royal smoothness through this single barrel liquid that is produced from the brand’s unique Coffey Rye Still, the only known still of its kind in North America, located in Gimli, Manitoba.”

This is the first national rollout of a barrel program by the Crown Royal brand, where select retailers are able to purchase an entire barrel.  To commemorate the purchase, every bottle produced from the barrel will also feature a personalized medallion denoting the retail location.

Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel is 103 proof / 51.5% Alcohol by Volume and will be sold at a suggested retail price of $54.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Both Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye and Hand Selected Barrel include a box and a felt bag, two iconic packaging features of the company.