Seagram’s V.O. Blended Canadian Whisky
80 Proof
Price Point: $10 – $20 for 750 ML
Background
Call me a glutton for punishment, because this is my second review in a row on the bottom shelf of Canadian whiskies. Last time, we checked out Canadian Club, the iconic brand that, at one point or another, could be found on most of our shelves. This week, we’re checking out Seagram’s V.O., another popular mainstay among the Jim Beam and Jameson bottles commonly found in many rotations.
Review
If Canadian Club didn’t have much to it, V.O. really doesn’t have much to it. It’s tough to get alcohol burning on your nostrils at 40%, but here we are. Curious if the caramel color is food coloring (a Google search tells me this is correct), as this whisky noses like it’s been cut with water fresh off the still.
On the palate, I actually get medicinal grape flavor out of this one. V.O. doesn’t have much wood to offer – just grain and alcohol. The taste is slightly smoother than the nose, if that is redeeming in any way. This whisky is simple, sweet, and oh so grainy.
The finish is pretty unremarkable; almost finishes like a vodka. Yikes…
Rating & Recommendations
Seagram’s V.O. earns (and I mean earns) a rating of 64 out of 100.
This is a bottom of the barrel (pardon the pun) Canadian whisky, that’s really not even worth the bottom dollar you might pay. There are better low-price whiskies out there.
-Ryan
7 comments
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Good evening, Ryan.
I don’t recall VO being THAT bad. But that was over 45 years ago, when I had the palate (and the money in my wallet) of a 21 year old US Navy sailor, and all whiskey was mixed with coke or ginger ale. If you’d have told me that I’d be spending in excess of $60.00 for a fifth of scotch today, when I couldn’t stand the taste or smell of the stuff back then, I’d have called you a liar. Anyway, it’s a good thing that the Canadians are better brewers than distillers. So, what’s next? Canadian Mist? Crown Royal Maple Finished? If you were a REAL Canadian whiskey reviewer, you’d be the better man & take a fresh look at Black Velvet . Just saying….
Enjoying your reviews as always,
Chuck
I am curious if Seagram’s V.O. and Rich and Rare Canadian whiskey is bottled by the same people?
Same bottle, same label, same taste…
Crown Royal … case closed!
Funny you say it has a slightly medicinal taste; VO and Ginger IS medicine according to my parents.
I enjoy it. I had it at 21, an old man recommended it, so at the time I thought it must be top shelf. Since then, and many many years have passed, I still enjoy it. I find it blends well in my drinks and best of all, gives a nice buz. It’s affordable and during the many party’s given through the years, my guests were always pleased. I find it smooth and with a subtle sweetness. I would say excellent for the price.
VO is a smooth-tasting whiskey,, maybe not top shelf but when adding anything to it, it enhances the taste and flavor. Unlike the “hard’ tasting whiskeys, VO doesn’t overpower anything, it ‘blends’ itself into the dring and up neat, it is among the best whiskeys in the world, with no harsh taste.
Is Seagram’s Gold better than Seagrams VO ?