Updated March 2026.
These are different legal classes, not two bourbons in a taste-off. Buffalo Trace is Kentucky straight bourbon at 90 proof / 45% on the brand page. Crown Royal Deluxe is Canadian whisky and commonly prints 40% ABV — one NIAAA drink per 1.5 ounces versus 1.13 drinks for the Buffalo Trace pour. This is not a 2022 winner.
Canadian whisky is mashed, distilled, and aged in Canada at least three years in small wood. Bourbon is a US class. Related: is Crown Royal bourbon, Crown Royal, Buffalo Trace.
Class first, then proof
| Buffalo Trace | Crown Royal Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Kentucky straight bourbon | Canadian whisky |
| Typical US ABV | 45% / 90 | 40% / 80 |
| 1.5 oz drinks | 1.13 | 1.00 |
| Age floor | Straight ≥2 years | Canada ≥3 years small wood |
A 750 mL 45% bottle is about 19 drinks; 40% is about 17. Four Crown pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- Buffalo Trace: Proof 90 (45%); Mash Bill #1. buffalotracedistillery.com.
- Crown Royal Deluxe typically 40% — prior brand nutrition / SAQ. Confirm the neck. other SKUs.
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143. FDR B.02.020–B.02.023. NIAAA December 2025.