Black Velvet's New 20 Year Old Whisky Costs Just $50

Black Velvet isn’t the first name you look for when shopping for an age-stated whisky. But with its new premium Velvet Collection, the Canadian brand gives drinkers a reason to reconsider—especially since its 20 year old costs only $50.

The four-bottle collection, on shelves this November, includes a 12 year old Signature and a 12 year old Tawny Port Finish, both 40% ABV and a $20 suggested retail price. There’s a 15 year old Select Rye Recipe, at 40% ABV, with an SRP of $30. And the 20 year old Legacy, which steps up to 45% ABV, carries an SRP of $50.

“What sets Black Velvet apart is we make our component whiskies ahead of time, make a blend, and then stick it back in the barrel and age it,” says Black Velvet master distiller Jonathan Goldberg. The blend has two main components: a rye whisky, with a mashbill of 90% rye and 10% malted barley, and a 100% corn whisky.

Everything ages in bourbon barrels for at least 2 years—largely barrels from parent company Heaven Hill, though some older stocks are maturing in Buffalo Trace barrels from when Barton owned the brand. Used oak develops a different balance than drinkers might expect from an American whiskey of comparable age, Goldberg says. “You get honey, coffee, and softer caramel notes, rather than the more forceful oak character of new barrels,” he says.

For the 12 year old Signature, the two components are blended, with a small amount of sherry and freshly distilled very light corn whisky added, and that mixture heads into bourbon barrels for maturation. The Tawny Port Finish completes its 12 years in bourbon, then gets an additional 6 months in tawny port casks. “It doesn’t need a long time to pick up sweetness, and the rancio character fortified wines are known for,” says Goldberg. “It adds a touch of French oak, too.” Both expressions are light sippers, delivering straightforward flavor profiles of vanilla, honey, and subtle baking spice, with the Tawny Port finish drinking slightly sweeter than the Signature.

The 15 year old Select rye is a blend of four distillation years of the same mashbill: 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010, so there’s liquid as old as 22 years in there. In the glass, there’s plenty to like, especially at $30. The nose opens with cardamom, ginger, and peppercorn balanced by mint, pine, orange zest, and brown sugar. Cinnamon and mint meld on the palate, carrying through to a finish with an herbal zing. It drinks above its 80 proof, with enough flavor and backbone to hold its own in a cocktail.

The 20 year old Legacy follows the same blending process, with roughly twice the rye content—about 10% of the blend—and a little more sherry, according to Goldberg. This is thinner than its age might suggest, though its silky mouthfeel and the assertive rye give it character and structure. Honeyed sweetness and orange crème cookies show up on the nose, with floral notes and an intense peppercorn aroma from the additional rye. Caramel, black pepper, and rye spice appear on the palate, a streak of heat cutting through the sweetness. Graham cracker and a touch of raisin carry the finish. It drinks a little below its 90 proof, but there’s enough to keep this $50 pour interesting.

Black Velvet brought back Christie Brinkley to help launch the Velvet Collection. Brinkley first appeared in the brand’s iconic portrait ads in 1978. “Those were so cool,” Brinkley tells us. “To do those ads felt important. I love that they’re doing this,” she says. “I’m 72, so I’m not quite as old as the brand, but we’re both celebrating the ages that we reach, and that’s fantastic.”