Crown Royal whiskey is a popular brand of Canadian whiskey that is well-known for its smooth taste and iconic purple bag packaging. But like all alcoholic beverages, Crown Royal does contain calories that should be accounted for when monitoring your alcohol intake and overall calorie consumption.
The Basics of Crown Royal Whiskey
Crown Royal is produced by Diageo, a large spirits company, and is made at the company’s distillery in Gimli, Manitoba. The whiskey was first created in 1939 to commemorate the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. It is now sold worldwide as a premium Canadian whiskey.
Crown Royal utilizes a blend of over 50 whiskies that are distilled and matured separately, then combined together to create the final product. The blend contains both rye and corn whiskies, which gives Crown Royal its signature smooth and mellow flavor profile. This blended technique allows the Master Distillers to achieve a consistent and balanced taste across different batches and years of production.
The most popular variety is Crown Royal’s Deluxe expression, which comes in the iconic purple bag and is the benchmark expression for the brand. But Crown Royal has expanded their offerings over the years to include different flavors, cask finishes, and limited editions. Some examples are Crown Royal Vanilla, Peach, and Apple flavored whiskies.
Calories and Nutrition in Crown Royal
When evaluating the calories in Crown Royal whiskey, the most important fact to keep in mind is the alcohol by volume (ABV). The higher the ABV, the more calories from alcohol the whiskey will provide in a serving.
Crown Royal Deluxe has an ABV of 40% alcohol. At this percentage, a standard 1.5 ounce (44ml) serving of Crown Royal Deluxe contains:
- Calories: 96
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fat: 0g
- Protein: 0g
The majority of these calories – around 70% – come directly from the alcohol itself. The remaining calories are from residual sugars left over after distillation. Crown Royal contains no fat or protein, and no carbohydrates from added sugars.
Other varieties of Crown Royal at 40% ABV will have the same calorie amounts. However, some specialty releases are bottled at higher proofs, such as Crown Royal Noble Collection which is bottled at 45% ABV. The higher alcohol content means slightly more calories per serving.
Calories in 1 Ounce of Crown Royal
Now that we know the calorie count for a typical 1.5 ounce serving, we can calculate the calories in just 1 ounce of Crown Royal whiskey:
- 1.5 ounces = 96 calories
- 1 ounce = 96 * (1/1.5) = 64 calories
So there are approximately 64 calories in a single 1 ounce pour of Crown Royal Deluxe (40% ABV). This makes sense as a serving of pure ethyl alcohol contains about 7 calories per gram. At 40% ABV, 1 ounce of Crown Royal contains 0.4 ounces of pure alcohol, which provides 64 calories (0.4 * 7 * ~28.35g per oz = ~64 calories).
Crown Royal Calories Compared to Other Whiskeys
Compared to other popular whiskies, Crown Royal Deluxe has a similar caloric value due to its comparable 40% ABV. For example:
| Whiskey (1.5oz serving) | Calories |
|---|---|
| Crown Royal Deluxe | 96 |
| Jack Daniel’s | 96 |
| Johnnie Walker Black Label | 96 |
| Jameson Irish Whiskey | 100 |
As shown, popular blended and single malt whiskies tend to range from 96-100 calories per standard serving. So Crown Royal falls right in line with other whiskey brands in terms of calorie content.
Lower Calorie Options
If you are looking to reduce the calories when drinking Crown Royal, there are a few options to consider:
Drink a Smaller Serving
The simplest way is to pour a smaller serving size. At 64 calories per ounce, you can cut the calorie intake in half just by only drinking 0.75 ounces instead of a full 1.5 ounce pour.
Add Ice or Water
Adding some ice cubes or a splash of water to your Crown Royal will dilute the whiskey slightly and lower the overall calorie amount. Try adding 30-50% more volume with water or ice to make a lighter, longer drink.
Choose a Lower Proof Variety
Some Crown Royal flavors are bottled at lower alcohol by volume levels. For example, Crown Royal Regal Apple is bottled at 35% vs 40% ABV. At 10% lower alcohol, a serving of Regal Apple will contain around 20% less calories than regular Crown Royal Deluxe.
Go with Diet Mixers
Making cocktails or mixed drinks with zero calorie sodas, tonics, or sparkling waters can seriously reduce the caloric impact versus regular tonics or colas which contain sugar and calories.
Other Nutrition Information
In addition to calories, some other nutritional aspects of Crown Royal to consider:
Carbohydrates
There are no carbohydrates or sugars added to Crown Royal. A 1.5oz serving contains less than 1g carbohydrate from residual sugars leftover after distillation.
Fat
Crown Royal contains no fat, as alcohol itself does not contain fat or cholesterol.
Protein
There is no protein in straight Crown Royal whiskey.
Vitamins and Minerals
Crown Royal provides no significant vitamins or minerals. As an alcoholic beverage, it should not be considered a source of nutrients.
Drinking Crown Royal as Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
Crown Royal can definitely be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle. Here are some tips for keeping calories and alcohol intake reasonable:
- Practice portion control – stick to 1 or 1.5 ounce servings
- Drink slowly – avoid gulping or taking too many shots
- Alternate with water or non-caloric beverages
- Don’t drink on an empty stomach
- Limit to 1-2 drinks per day for women and 2-3 for men
Enjoying whiskey sensibly will help control calorie intake. Also, be sure to account for “empty calories” from mixers like cola, juices, or creamy liqueurs which can dramatically increase calorie amounts. Neat or on the rocks is generally the lowest calorie way to drink Crown Royal.
And as with any alcoholic beverage, Crown Royal should only be enjoyed responsibly by adults of legal drinking age.
Conclusion
Crown Royal whiskey contains around 64 calories per ounce, or 96 calories in a standard 1.5 ounce serving. This puts it on par with other popular whiskies like Jack Daniel’s and Johnnie Walker. There are ways to reduce the calorie impact by drinking smaller servings, adding ice or water, selecting lower proof varieties, or choosing zero calorie mixers. When consumed sensibly by adults, Crown Royal can be part of a balanced diet. But as with any alcohol, moderation is key.
