Gold (San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023)
Batch 006 is a thunderous cask strength whisky. At 128.2 proof, Found North presents its weightiest whisky to date. The primary component, making up 65% of this 5-whisky blend, is the same foundational whisky that Batch 002 was built around, only 20 months more mature. What it's gained in age has manifested in a deep resonance. We used two other corn components in this blend, capturing the demerara note from the 26 year old Hungarian oak aged whisky and a butterscotch texture from a lively 17 year old corn aged in ex-bourbon barrels.
The combination of these three corn components laid a thick, almost chewy, foundation for the pair of 18 year and 19 year old rye whiskies we blended in. One rye was aged in Hungarian oak, lending a white pepper and mesquite spiciness. The other, aged in rechar American oak, provided the counter melody of bright fruit notes, sweet melon, lychee tea and raspberry jam.
The nose pops out of the glass with rich maple syrup, caramelized red apple and worked leather. Batch 006 rolls across the palate like a river of molten lava made of treacle, honey and molasses. The finish lingers like a grizzly bear’s last pancake breakfast before hibernating through an arctic winter, presenting layer after layer of warm butterscotch syrup, sugared strawberries, figs, a hint of nutmeg and dark chocolate truffle power. Underneath the weight of all this whisky a few drops of water reveals cantaloupe, chestnuts, rose water, rich vanilla and the wonderful reminder that winter is not that bad if you have the right whisky.
We made Batch 006 because we’ve discovered a profile with Batches 002 and 004 that is exciting and novel and we want to see how deep this rabbit hole goes. Every whisky drinker has the experience of cracking open the door of the whisky world and finding a massive hidden vault of flavor possibilities. The same is true for us.
