 Black Velvet Canadian Whisky | |
| Type | Canadian whisky |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Heaven Hill |
| Country of origin | Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada |
| Alcohol by volume | 40.00% |
| Proof (US) | 80 |
Black Velvet Whisky is aCanadian whisky brand owned byHeaven Hill and produced in the Black Velvet Distillery inLethbridge, Alberta. It has a smooth taste and is known for its black labeling.
Black Velvet was originally produced atSchenley Industries in Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. Schenley's Black Velvet DeLuxe was the only liquor available tosubmarine officers atMidway inWorld War II, where it was held in low regard and known as "Schenley's Black Death".[1]
Original ownerHeublein was sold toGrand Metropolitan in 1987. Grand Metropolitan andGuinness merged in 1997 to formDiageo.
In 1999 the distillery was sold by Diageo toCanandaigua Brands. They owned the distillery and brand for 20 years before selling them, along with an inventory of maturing whisky, toHeaven Hill for $266 million (USD).[2][3]
Originally called "Black Label", the name was changed to "Black Velvet" at the suggestion, in the late 1940s, by the Master Distiller Jack Napier because he thought it had a velvety taste and smoothness.
Black Velvet produces four expressions which are primarily sold on the export market to the United States: Black Velvet Original, Black Velvet Reserve (aged eight years), Black Velvet Toasted Caramel (introduced in 2012), and Black Velvet Cinnamon Rush (introduced in 2013). This brand is ranked number two in Canadian Whisky market share behindCrown Royal.[4]
The firstBlack Velvet Lady, Patricia Victoria Miller, was introduced to the world in 1969 as an advertisement tool for Black Velvet. Since that time, such famous names asChristie Brinkley,Cybill Shepherd,Kim Alexis,Cheryl Tiegs,Micah Wylde, andKelly Emberg have all been Black Velvet Ladies. In addition, actorsTelly Savalas,Larry Hagman,George Burns, and country singerTanya Tucker have appeared in the ads. The current Black Velvet Lady isTami Donaldson, born and raised in Hollywood, Florida.
{{cite journal}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)
Media related toBlack Velvet whisky at Wikimedia Commons