Black Velvet first came out of the barrel in 1951 and has grown to become the second largest Canadian Whisky in the world. The brand was initially known as “Black Label,” but after Jack Napier, the original distiller, sampled the first batch, he changed the name to Black Velvet to reflect its uncommon velvety taste and smoothness. Using crystal clear Canadian water, plus the finest rye, grains, and corn, the whisky is painstakingly distilled, Blended at Birth™, and put up in premium oak barrels to gently mature. The result is an uncompressed flavor with steadfast popularity. Aged for 3 years, Black Velvet is a remarkably smooth, medium bodied whisky with hints of caramel, vanilla, coconut, and rye.