Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes
Distilled In Canada: Blended at cask strength and bottled by Found North Whisky. No additives, non-chill filtered.
Proof: 126.2.
Age: A blend of 20-27-year-old whiskies finished in American ex-Cognac, New American, and French Limousin Casks.
Grain Ratio: 76% Corn/23% Rye/1% Malted Barley.
Price: $199.00.
Appearance: Golden caramel.
Nose
Caramelized brown sugar, toffee, dark chocolate, butterscotch, vanilla bean, cloves, fennel, peaches, red berries, allspice, subtle smoke, toasted hazelnuts. There’s a lot going on, with an array of flavors hitting your senses almost all at once, with others taking turns being in focus. Sweet, rich caramel and herbaceous rye flavors are usually upfront, followed right behind a mix of stone fruit and berries with subtle smoke as various oak flavors come and go. This nose is complex and incredible, with no proof heat getting in the way.
Palate
The nose transfers to the palate, starting with brown sugar and toffee, with upfront herbal notes of cloves and fennel. Mid-sip flavors of subtle smoke, cacao, and vanilla enter with peaches, red berries, and toasted oak. A creamy mouthfeel delivers a good balance of allspice that covers the whole palate. As the session continues, the profile noticeably changes, with the caramel flavors getting richer and sweeter while the herbal, fruit, and oak flavors remain elevated. This combination of flavors not only adds to Peregrine’s complexity but takes the pour to a new level. Peregrine does this consistently with very little proof heat.
Finish
Allspice lingers throughout the palate, along with stone fruit, berries, cloves, and vanilla, with slight wood smoke that comes back around. The finish lasts a long time, with allspice and very tasty, mature oak that never presents any dryness or bitterness.
Conclusion
Peregrine is a “slow burn” that started out great and just kept getting better with every pour. It’s a whisky that is layered and complex and, in some ways, subtle. Until I compared Peregrine to other Found North Batches 006, 007, and 008, I wasn’t sure where it stood in comparison. Though every Found North batch has many of the same basic characteristics, there are many factors that make each batch unique, and all of them excellent. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Peregrine different from other Found North flagship (as opposed to private club) releases.
Peregrine’s biggest and most obvious feature is its 20-year age statement, with its oldest whisky being 27 years old. Even for a Canadian whisky, that’s impressive. All other Found North batches include whisky that ranges from 16 to 26 years. A closer look under the hood shows Peregrine contains a 25% rye grain ratio. Except for Found North rye whisky Batches 001 and 003, Peregrine has a higher rye content than all the corn-dominant Found North flagship batches, which are between 12% and 19%. For example, Batch 007, with its 16% rye grain ratio, has more rye-influenced herbaceous flavors compared to the 12% rye grain ratio of Batches 006 and 008. To put that in perspective, Nick Taylor once told me, “A 4% increase in rye for us (in a grain ratio) would be like increasing the rye by about 8% if it was a bourbon mash bill.” Finally, 5 different barrel types were used in crafting Peregrine, whereas the most barrel types used in previous flagship batches were 4-barrel types. Peregrine features an ex-Scotch cask, which isn’t something we’ve seen since Batch 004, and an ex-Cognac finishing we’ve not seen before in a Found North flagship release.
I am not saying Peregrine is better than all the Found North releases I’ve tried in every way or that Peregrine diminishes the unique qualities that I love in other Found North batches, either. After living with Peregrine for months and comparing it multiple times to previous batches, I can say that Peregrine is the strongest all-around Found North release I’ve had to date, and that’s saying a lot. Peregrine’s secret weapon is its rich and sweet caramel flavors, which stand out in comparison to other Found North batches. All that, combined with its perfect balance of incredible fruit, complex herbal, and well-aged oak flavors, is what makes Peregrine the champion heavyweight contender. I can see why Peregrine has earned a 10/10 from so many people, but it always comes down to personal tastes. I gave Lux Row 12-Year Double Barrel a 9.6, and there are days I think I should have given it a 10. So, for whatever that’s worth, Peregrine deserves the praise it’s getting, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.
Rating: 9.5/10.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.
