Found North Batch 8
Found North Batch 008
Cost: Cursory glance shows it can still be found through some online stores for ~$160 a bottle (I’m only trying a sample though)
Age: 18 years (blend of 18 to 26 year whiskies)
Proof: 124.4
Mash Bill: (derived) 87% corn, 12% rye, 1% barley
My first experience with Found North was with Batch T8ke-01, and I was very impressed (the hype might actually be real). After seeing a lot of positive reviews of Found North Batch 008, I reached out to u/fcleff69 for a sample swap to try it out for myself and see if the batch T8ke-01 I got was just particularly good or if Found North has consistent quality across all their expressions. Let’s dive in!
Reviewed neat in a glencairn.
Appearance: A nice deep Sherry color, very thick and syrupy looking.
Nose: One word – decadent. The aroma is absolutely intoxicating! Boat loads of sweetness! I’m specifically picking up on sugar coated berries, raspberry jam, or maybe like a brown sugar and red fruit reduction, and a hot, fresh glazed donut (Shipley’s…if you know, you know). There is a little baking spice that I’m picking up too – cinnamon and clove. I’m also picking up some aged notes of wood and barrel char.
Palate: Strawberry/raspberry jam, warm vanilla brioche loaf, brown sugar simple syrup, and there’s a note of butter and sugar creamed together with a dash of vanilla mixed in that shows up before starting to fade into the finish. There’s also a presence of some spice that shows up mid sip and carries into the finish, mostly clove to me; a faint backbone of aged oak through the whole thing provides ample depth and balance. For the age, the oak is by no means dominant, and I like that! (I’m not big into chewing on a log when I’m sipping my whiskey, but I do like when it adds complexity.) This has layers of flavor which I really enjoy and help make this a very complex and deep sip. I’m normally big on the mouthfeel, but the flavors completely overwhelmed me that I’m finished with my dram and still trying to pinpoint what the mouthfeel was like. That’s how complex and intriguing the flavor was! It does leave a very slight tingle on my palate letting me know this was a higher proof whiskey.
Finish: This has a very long finish, and while it’s quite drying on the palate in a tannic wine sort of way, the sweetness carries through to the very end. I’m picking up burnt brown sugar, a hint of cherry, and some light vanilla frosting, all on a bed of oak and clove that outlast the sweet notes. There is a slight sting from the proof that lingers at the back of the palate and throat, but only a faint hug making you think this is 25+ proof points lower than it really is.
Rating: 10/10
Overall: An incredible sip! I’m the “there’s always room for improvement” type, so giving out a 10/10 somewhat makes me feel uncomfortable. However, there’s no way I would give this anything less than a 9.8 with the only detractor being possibly the slightly stingy/proof notes at end of the palate and into the finish. But it’s 124+ proof, so I have to expect some of that and therefore won’t consider it a detractor. Overall, the flavor and complexity of this sip is absolutely incredible with so may well defined notes and a complete sample board of desserts in one sip. Take my 10 you beautiful sip, you!
So, is the Found North hype worthy? I think so based on the two different expressions I’ve tried now. In my review of Found North Batch T8ke-01, I had some folks commenting that they think Found North is an internet only bottle that select people have bought in to and are pushing positive reviews online for but that other people can’t get it and doubt it’s that good. So, let me just get in front of those people on this post – I’m in no way doing this review to push Found North, nor do I have any reason to. This is simply a damn good whiskey that I’m very disappointed that I don’t have a bottle of and only have this one sample, but I’m also very glad I got to at least experience one dram of it! (NOTE: it appears you can still buy a bottle at some online stores. The only reason I’m not is because I’ve spent too much this month already on whiskey and the Mrs. will kill me if I get another bottle. So I shall wait a bit… 😊 )
Behind the Bottle: Found North Batch 008 is a blend of whiskeys that includes:
- 18 yr rye whiskey aged in ex-Madeira casks
- 22 yr corn whiskey aged in “new wood” (assuming White Oak)
- 23 yr corn whiskey aged in “new wood” (assuming White Oak)
- 23 yr corn whiskey aged in ex-Bourbon casks
- 26 yr corn whiskey aged in Hungarian oak
- 19 year rye whiskey aged in Hungarian oak
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 many things I’d rather have.
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
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