You use "house" or "club" booze when you mix it with pop or juice ... actual good booze is straight up, on ice or with a bit of water only.
As a Canadian (with plenty of options at the liquor store when it comes to Rye Whisky) I'm always surprised as to how popular Crown Royal is with American rye drinkers. It's good booze, but not as popular here as in America.
When we go for a decent standard-priced Rye (same price as the rotgut 3-year olds, like Canadian Club), it's more likely to be Wiser's Deluxe for "regular" good rye, and then usually the Wiser's 18-year old premium whisky for special occasions. Wiser's makes a few other premium whiskies, and of course there are numerous small distillery options, just like you have many Bourbon choices in the liquor stores down there.
Deluxe is a blend of five to nine year aged Canadian whiskies. It's the #1 sales leader in Canada.
You can get Wiser's in the 'States, although maybe not every state. Try it sometime.