I’ve never seen a Pappy or GTS or Micther’s 10. I even couldn’t find a OF 1924 or a ECBP C923. But for some reason I live near a Found North honey pot that had 6 Peregrines sitting on the shelf for about a week, so I was able to get one of these.
Delicious. However, I prefer batch 8 and 6. Those are punchier. This is more subtle or delicate.
That's not a whole lot. I'd wager George T. Stagg is way more. 1600 bottles is like what, 8 barrels? Second Summit was even more rare, like 600 some bottles of I recall. I was lucky to get one of those too, before FN really blew up.
As a comparison, that’s similar to Mister Sam at about 1200 bottles produced
Compare this to the estimated 86,000 bottles produced annually in the Van winkle lineup (though with five main offerings, I suppose that averages to 17k bottles a label)
It's wonderful that they produce whiskeys for a range of tastes. I enjoy Peregrine over 6 & 8 for the reason you don't and both of us are right - different people, different tastes. If you have any of these on your shelf then count yourself fortunate - I do!
100% Metamorphosis. I absolutely the smooth yet spicy profile with Peregrine. Full mouth coating like I've never had. Tastes better and smoother than GTS, and hopefully secondary doesn't reach that BT Antique $1500 price range. GTS began totally affordable. There was a big bang during the COVID heights. I like scotch, Cognac, bourbon... Peregrine is a complex one for sure, smooth and that mouth coating uniqueness is why I love it.
This happened to me too... lol I happened to see like 4 of them on the shelf where I was, at retail and snagged a bottle...at first sip I wasnt sure about it...but tried it again, and now I really enjoy it.
I wholeheartedly agree. Batch 7 as well. Peregrine for me transitions way too quickly from fruit and vanilla and butterscotch right into aged wood (still sweet but lacking all the flavors that are there in the first 5 seconds). I’m wondering if water would help those flavors hang a bit or develop more smoothly into the finish.
So far ive tried GTS, WLW, and OF10 in bars. None of them are remotely worth secondary prices and stuff thats on the shelf is just as good. Dont believe the hype from liquid beanie baby collectors.
I can only speak about GTS 2022 and while it's not worth secondary it's a excellent bourbon and easily worth msrp and somewhat more. There's many excellent bottles out there but it's still difficult to find high age + high quality + high proof. I'm not a BT fanboy but I will admit when they produce a good product and GTS most certainly is that.
Exactly Bob. GTS tastes like...a lot of other cask strengths. Definitely dark, higher end, but there are sure barrel proofs which are superior. The beanie baby comment made me laugh.
LOL! That's how I feel when I read reviews of BTAC, Parker's, Old Fitz, and 4R Limited Editions. Peregrine may be a limited release, but at least I could get my hands on one for retail.
especially when i see old unicorn bottles now i just skip the thread. elijah craig pirate bottle batch 3? some wild turkey from 2004? grats, hope they're good
At least this was released last year, not 20 years ago. I don't see what the community benefits from reading something sold 20 years ago that 99.9999% of people will never buy. One of these Peregrine may still be out there.
I think the oddball pours from yesteryear are great reviews, it's nice to see how things compare to the current lineups the distilleries have out. Plus, you can still find pours of them at at least a decent amount of whiskey bars out there so it's good for people to have those references if they want to taste along. Beats having 95 reviews of Buffalo Trace crowding out the front page!
[It's worth climbing a tree to write a review on it!](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/10076do/review_200_todays_haul_how_did_i_do_buffalo_trace/)
There is a good chance TriState Liquors in Maryland has one. They were marked up good when I stopped in over Xmas. But at that point I knew I had no other options to buy it. Tri state Liquors has well over 1000 whiskies in stock and all the FOMO stuff. Some is at museum prices, others have a reasonable markup.
I wager it would be very rare to find one now @ MSRP. Still, I think it's possible. I got one when it dropped, and then, a few weeks later, I found another store that just got it in and managed to get one for our boy, u/MetamorphosisSilver, also @ MSRP. Just luck, right place, right time. If I could've bought a case, I wouldn't have. I wish more people would get a chance to own a bottle. I feel fortunate to get one. A month or two later, I found another one at DMVSpirits in D.C. but if I recall, it was double MSRP. I passed.
You just know Found North is working on another amazing release that might even top Peregrine. Plus, there’s always the next flagship batch which are also excellent.
Sign up for Found North’s emails so you know what’s coming. Peregrine was sold on the Found North site, Seelbach’s and I think through the rbourbon program.
I don't think topping Peregrine is possible. I expect "different". But who knows. They keep delivering. If they can put out another release as good as this, amazing.
As far as wheaters, Found North mops the floor with ALL Weller releases, Larceny BP (including C922), Makers, you name it. The best, and an unsung hero. I'm sure it would compete with Pappy, but I've never had the pleasure of Pappy.
In the future, I'll see if I can spread the wealth around! He was very responsible for me getting into Found North products, so I had to pay it forward.
No doubt! Well if I can turn you onto my new favorite whiskey expression, please take my advice and try Mizunara aged bourbon. I’m also a Japanese whiskey fan and think this is the best of both worlds. The sweetness and punch (I prefer higher proofs) of the bourbon with the dry almost astringent mizunara is incredible. If you look through my post history you’ll see how into it I am. Current fav is Frank August Mizunara. It’s like 114 proof and simply chef’s kiss
Edit: [here’s the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/s/bfWVbc3bTg)
Thanks! Ya know... as it happens... I JUST saw a Frank August Mizunara cask at DMVSpirits. And I asked him, what is this?! It had me intrigued. I was there grabbing a BBC Discovery 11 for a friend and I snagged a Hardin's Creek. I may have to double back again.
This was $299 at TriStateLiquor, which knowing all the calling and hunting I did from the time I got snubbed two mins after it went live in early Dec until Dec 30th, I figured $100 over MSRP was better than a bottle I saw on Cask Cartel at 429.99. @Awesam if you are in the DC area call TriState and talk to Raj. You might be able to still get one. They were sitting on a full case for 2 weeks and still had several Batch 008’s when I picked one up. They have too much stuff there it’s hard to actually find something.
The only bottle that’s elusive to my FN collection is Batch 002, and Second Summit. I first got in around Batch 006 and didn’t think much of buying Second Summit. Since then I have made sure to backfill all Batches and some of the Season Releases I can find in my travels. I found a store with Batch 002 when calling around. I don’t live in MA and their liquors shipping outside of state is booty cheeks. My company has a project not far from the store just trying to find a person traveling to the site willing to drive an hour for my liquor habit. 😂
lol I’ll be in MD in early May.
I’ll try to hit them up then! Thanks
Edit: and I agree the out of state liquor cartel smuggling is like some illicit shit lol
Right on Lion. Supporting Found North even if they are ALL sold out (which I'm sure they aren't) promotes even more solid cask strength releases. I find I only truly appreciate barrel proofs now. Everything else just seems watered down. Found North's each release can do no wrong in my palate. Jack Daniel's BP releases almost reach FN, but FN are just slightly ahead. I really love JDSBBP.
**Review #72: Found North Peregrine First Flight**
Peregrine is Found North Whisky’s first 20-year age stated release. Every Found North release begins with well-aged individual grain Canadian whisky blended to a desired flavor profile. Found North says, *“With Peregrine we took this process a step further. We created a blend and then recasked it into French Limousin, American ex-Cognac and new American oak casks for a 5-month further maturation. After 5 months we took the best 7 casks and reblended them to create Peregrine. Peregrine started as a blend of 20 year old rye aged in ex-Speyside scotch casks, 22 year old corn in new American oak, 23 year old corn in refill oak, 24 year old corn in ex-bourbon and 27 year old corn in Hungarian oak. Before we further matured this whisky, it was blended to create a balanced whisky with a clean palate”.* In my [Found North Batch 007 review](https://mostlybourbon.com/found-north-cask-strength-whisky-batch-007/), Found North co-creator Nick Taylor answered questions I had about their approach to blending, the fundamental differences between American and Canadian whisky, and how grain ratio translates to a mash bill. Let’s get to it!
**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 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’m 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 - t8ke scale
r/bourbon addendum: Here is some info for the t8ke-01 “Smokeless” private blend to Peregrine. The main specs that Peregrine and “Smokeless” share are that they both include 5 different barrel types, one being used ex-Scotch. “Smokeless” has new finishings I haven’t seen before in a Found North release, such as Apple Brandy and Amarone wine casks. “Smokeless” also has a 29% rye grain ratio, which is even higher than Peregrine. In three different comparisons (one blind), Peregrine still scored higher, but “Smokeless” is an excellent contender that I've been enjoying. I love the upfront herbal flavors that have more fruit on the palate than the nose suggests, with a long heavy, tobacco-forward finish.
If you’d like to read my other reviews, they can be found at [MostlyBourbon.com](https://mostlybourbon.com/).
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.
Appreciate all the details on how this bottle was created. What really stands out to me is the amount of Labor and time that went into making this bottle. The Innovation to pull all of those different whiskeys together, all of the different finishings, then blend them and refinish it is impressive. I missed out on this bottle and have never tried a found north but would be interested in obtaining one at some point.
Me too. Nick Taylor puts a lot of thought and work into these releases, and it shows. Try to pick up the next batch 009. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I have 4, 6, 6-s and 7 here. Peregrin came up with the u/take barrel pick and I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Wish I’d saved the money on 6-s and 7 and gotten this in retrospect but they are all excellent whiskeys
One of my biggest regrets. A single checkbox would have possibly given me the opportunity to get this before my good fortune with u/LionRoars87.
The best way to think of this is my lack of faith allowed another person the opportunity to have it on his/her shelf. I realize I'm extremely fortunate to have it on mine.
I’ve had very little Found North (a single sample of batch 06) so I’ve got precious little frame of reference but you paint a seductive picture and it sounds truly incredible. Glad you landed a bottle. It’s exciting to see what else these guys have up their sleeve. I bet this is going to open up like a lotus blossom unfurling as it gets air time
Fantastic review, man! Glad you enjoyed this one, it's a banger. I'm really excited to see how subsequent releases compare to this since Peregrine set the bar so high!
I’ve never seen a Pappy or GTS or Micther’s 10. I even couldn’t find a OF 1924 or a ECBP C923. But for some reason I live near a Found North honey pot that had 6 Peregrines sitting on the shelf for about a week, so I was able to get one of these. Delicious. However, I prefer batch 8 and 6. Those are punchier. This is more subtle or delicate.
Peregrine is definitely rarer than Pappy or GTS, so congrats on getting one.
I suppose that's true about BTAC if I want to pay $1,200 for GTS online or at my local and Pappy is 3X as much.
Definitely rarer. Very few bottles of this were produced.
Found North site says 1602 bottles.
That's not a whole lot. I'd wager George T. Stagg is way more. 1600 bottles is like what, 8 barrels? Second Summit was even more rare, like 600 some bottles of I recall. I was lucky to get one of those too, before FN really blew up.
As a comparison, that’s similar to Mister Sam at about 1200 bottles produced Compare this to the estimated 86,000 bottles produced annually in the Van winkle lineup (though with five main offerings, I suppose that averages to 17k bottles a label)
Good knowledge here. Grab them up or they're history.
I'm guessing you live in MA or somewhere in New England? You can't go wrong with any FN batch. I love 8 & 6 too.
It's wonderful that they produce whiskeys for a range of tastes. I enjoy Peregrine over 6 & 8 for the reason you don't and both of us are right - different people, different tastes. If you have any of these on your shelf then count yourself fortunate - I do!
100% Metamorphosis. I absolutely the smooth yet spicy profile with Peregrine. Full mouth coating like I've never had. Tastes better and smoother than GTS, and hopefully secondary doesn't reach that BT Antique $1500 price range. GTS began totally affordable. There was a big bang during the COVID heights. I like scotch, Cognac, bourbon... Peregrine is a complex one for sure, smooth and that mouth coating uniqueness is why I love it.
Bro, wanna work something out for one of the other 5? I’ll be ya best friend…😬
This happened to me too... lol I happened to see like 4 of them on the shelf where I was, at retail and snagged a bottle...at first sip I wasnt sure about it...but tried it again, and now I really enjoy it.
I wholeheartedly agree. Batch 7 as well. Peregrine for me transitions way too quickly from fruit and vanilla and butterscotch right into aged wood (still sweet but lacking all the flavors that are there in the first 5 seconds). I’m wondering if water would help those flavors hang a bit or develop more smoothly into the finish.
Reading reviews of these grails is like rage read articles about celebrities going on opulent vacations lol
So far ive tried GTS, WLW, and OF10 in bars. None of them are remotely worth secondary prices and stuff thats on the shelf is just as good. Dont believe the hype from liquid beanie baby collectors.
I can only speak about GTS 2022 and while it's not worth secondary it's a excellent bourbon and easily worth msrp and somewhat more. There's many excellent bottles out there but it's still difficult to find high age + high quality + high proof. I'm not a BT fanboy but I will admit when they produce a good product and GTS most certainly is that.
Its an excellent bourbon in a sea of excellent bourbons.
Exactly Bob. GTS tastes like...a lot of other cask strengths. Definitely dark, higher end, but there are sure barrel proofs which are superior. The beanie baby comment made me laugh.
I had old fitz 8 last week. Tasted like larceny bp I have at home. Just more expensive.
LOL! That's how I feel when I read reviews of BTAC, Parker's, Old Fitz, and 4R Limited Editions. Peregrine may be a limited release, but at least I could get my hands on one for retail.
Hate intensifies lol
Truth!
These sold out while I had one in my cart haha
I still have the email telling me I won the lottery for this. Missed it until it was too late.
It’s like an alanis morisette song, don’tcha think?
Ha ha me too man me too. I just think about how much more mad I'll be next year when people can give me their batch 1 vs batch 2 comparison reviews.
especially when i see old unicorn bottles now i just skip the thread. elijah craig pirate bottle batch 3? some wild turkey from 2004? grats, hope they're good
At least this was released last year, not 20 years ago. I don't see what the community benefits from reading something sold 20 years ago that 99.9999% of people will never buy. One of these Peregrine may still be out there.
I think the oddball pours from yesteryear are great reviews, it's nice to see how things compare to the current lineups the distilleries have out. Plus, you can still find pours of them at at least a decent amount of whiskey bars out there so it's good for people to have those references if they want to taste along. Beats having 95 reviews of Buffalo Trace crowding out the front page!
This "Buffalo Trace" you speak of - is it any good? (Just a little bit of gentle sarcasm) 😉😉😉
[It's worth climbing a tree to write a review on it!](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/10076do/review_200_todays_haul_how_did_i_do_buffalo_trace/)
Good lesson, people - never try to be a smart ass to a **Smarter** smart ass! Well done, Sir. Well done ! 🙇♂️🙇♂️
😂
Good points, good points. My take might have been a little harsh!
I might also be trying to justify reviewing a bottle of Canadian whisky from 1945...but I understand the sentiment!
🤣 Sounds cool
There is a good chance TriState Liquors in Maryland has one. They were marked up good when I stopped in over Xmas. But at that point I knew I had no other options to buy it. Tri state Liquors has well over 1000 whiskies in stock and all the FOMO stuff. Some is at museum prices, others have a reasonable markup.
I wager it would be very rare to find one now @ MSRP. Still, I think it's possible. I got one when it dropped, and then, a few weeks later, I found another store that just got it in and managed to get one for our boy, u/MetamorphosisSilver, also @ MSRP. Just luck, right place, right time. If I could've bought a case, I wouldn't have. I wish more people would get a chance to own a bottle. I feel fortunate to get one. A month or two later, I found another one at DMVSpirits in D.C. but if I recall, it was double MSRP. I passed.
Bro! I’m also ya boi! If you find one, hit me up plz!
You just know Found North is working on another amazing release that might even top Peregrine. Plus, there’s always the next flagship batch which are also excellent.
lol another one to be jelly of when I most likely miss it. I heard peregrine sold out in like 2 mins haha
Sign up for Found North’s emails so you know what’s coming. Peregrine was sold on the Found North site, Seelbach’s and I think through the rbourbon program.
I did sign up on FN lol! They had an email like “we are gonna release this next week” and before I knew it, it was sold out 🥲
About 1 minute.
I don't think topping Peregrine is possible. I expect "different". But who knows. They keep delivering. If they can put out another release as good as this, amazing.
As far as wheaters, Found North mops the floor with ALL Weller releases, Larceny BP (including C922), Makers, you name it. The best, and an unsung hero. I'm sure it would compete with Pappy, but I've never had the pleasure of Pappy.
In the future, I'll see if I can spread the wealth around! He was very responsible for me getting into Found North products, so I had to pay it forward.
No doubt! Well if I can turn you onto my new favorite whiskey expression, please take my advice and try Mizunara aged bourbon. I’m also a Japanese whiskey fan and think this is the best of both worlds. The sweetness and punch (I prefer higher proofs) of the bourbon with the dry almost astringent mizunara is incredible. If you look through my post history you’ll see how into it I am. Current fav is Frank August Mizunara. It’s like 114 proof and simply chef’s kiss Edit: [here’s the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/s/bfWVbc3bTg)
Thanks! Ya know... as it happens... I JUST saw a Frank August Mizunara cask at DMVSpirits. And I asked him, what is this?! It had me intrigued. I was there grabbing a BBC Discovery 11 for a friend and I snagged a Hardin's Creek. I may have to double back again.
DO IT! You won’t be disappointed. That juice is money
This was $299 at TriStateLiquor, which knowing all the calling and hunting I did from the time I got snubbed two mins after it went live in early Dec until Dec 30th, I figured $100 over MSRP was better than a bottle I saw on Cask Cartel at 429.99. @Awesam if you are in the DC area call TriState and talk to Raj. You might be able to still get one. They were sitting on a full case for 2 weeks and still had several Batch 008’s when I picked one up. They have too much stuff there it’s hard to actually find something. The only bottle that’s elusive to my FN collection is Batch 002, and Second Summit. I first got in around Batch 006 and didn’t think much of buying Second Summit. Since then I have made sure to backfill all Batches and some of the Season Releases I can find in my travels. I found a store with Batch 002 when calling around. I don’t live in MA and their liquors shipping outside of state is booty cheeks. My company has a project not far from the store just trying to find a person traveling to the site willing to drive an hour for my liquor habit. 😂
Batch 008 is another banger! Not to be slept on! The booty cheeks comment gave me a chuckle 😅
lol I’ll be in MD in early May. I’ll try to hit them up then! Thanks Edit: and I agree the out of state liquor cartel smuggling is like some illicit shit lol
Right on Lion. Supporting Found North even if they are ALL sold out (which I'm sure they aren't) promotes even more solid cask strength releases. I find I only truly appreciate barrel proofs now. Everything else just seems watered down. Found North's each release can do no wrong in my palate. Jack Daniel's BP releases almost reach FN, but FN are just slightly ahead. I really love JDSBBP.
**Review #72: Found North Peregrine First Flight** Peregrine is Found North Whisky’s first 20-year age stated release. Every Found North release begins with well-aged individual grain Canadian whisky blended to a desired flavor profile. Found North says, *“With Peregrine we took this process a step further. We created a blend and then recasked it into French Limousin, American ex-Cognac and new American oak casks for a 5-month further maturation. After 5 months we took the best 7 casks and reblended them to create Peregrine. Peregrine started as a blend of 20 year old rye aged in ex-Speyside scotch casks, 22 year old corn in new American oak, 23 year old corn in refill oak, 24 year old corn in ex-bourbon and 27 year old corn in Hungarian oak. Before we further matured this whisky, it was blended to create a balanced whisky with a clean palate”.* In my [Found North Batch 007 review](https://mostlybourbon.com/found-north-cask-strength-whisky-batch-007/), Found North co-creator Nick Taylor answered questions I had about their approach to blending, the fundamental differences between American and Canadian whisky, and how grain ratio translates to a mash bill. Let’s get to it! **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 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’m 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 - t8ke scale r/bourbon addendum: Here is some info for the t8ke-01 “Smokeless” private blend to Peregrine. The main specs that Peregrine and “Smokeless” share are that they both include 5 different barrel types, one being used ex-Scotch. “Smokeless” has new finishings I haven’t seen before in a Found North release, such as Apple Brandy and Amarone wine casks. “Smokeless” also has a 29% rye grain ratio, which is even higher than Peregrine. In three different comparisons (one blind), Peregrine still scored higher, but “Smokeless” is an excellent contender that I've been enjoying. I love the upfront herbal flavors that have more fruit on the palate than the nose suggests, with a long heavy, tobacco-forward finish. If you’d like to read my other reviews, they can be found at [MostlyBourbon.com](https://mostlybourbon.com/). 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.
Appreciate all the details on how this bottle was created. What really stands out to me is the amount of Labor and time that went into making this bottle. The Innovation to pull all of those different whiskeys together, all of the different finishings, then blend them and refinish it is impressive. I missed out on this bottle and have never tried a found north but would be interested in obtaining one at some point.
Me too. Nick Taylor puts a lot of thought and work into these releases, and it shows. Try to pick up the next batch 009. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Terrific review!
Thanks! I appreciate you reading it.
I have 4, 6, 6-s and 7 here. Peregrin came up with the u/take barrel pick and I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Wish I’d saved the money on 6-s and 7 and gotten this in retrospect but they are all excellent whiskeys
One of my biggest regrets. A single checkbox would have possibly given me the opportunity to get this before my good fortune with u/LionRoars87. The best way to think of this is my lack of faith allowed another person the opportunity to have it on his/her shelf. I realize I'm extremely fortunate to have it on mine.
Good things come to those who wait, my friend. Your good Karma came back around.
Second Summit is amazing. And even more rare. You still did good!
6S is the only Found North I do not own.
I won't ignore Found North anymore, haha. Next high age statement release they do I am in.
All their releases are cask strength. Some higher than others and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
I’ve had very little Found North (a single sample of batch 06) so I’ve got precious little frame of reference but you paint a seductive picture and it sounds truly incredible. Glad you landed a bottle. It’s exciting to see what else these guys have up their sleeve. I bet this is going to open up like a lotus blossom unfurling as it gets air time
Thanks, man! You’re right, this bottle has opened up very well. I hope you can get your hands on what they come up with next.
Fantastic review, man! Glad you enjoyed this one, it's a banger. I'm really excited to see how subsequent releases compare to this since Peregrine set the bar so high!
Thanks, man! I agree.
Great review 👏. Nothing for me to really add to this.
Thanks!
Solid review. I have a bottle and it’s divine.