Review #437 - Found North Batch 009
In 2024, we've now seen several more Found North releases - a couple of their batch products, as well as some more limited special releases (they're all a bit special, really). Here we have Batch 009, which sports their highest age statement yet for their batch products: a minimum of 19 years.
The blenders generally choose one component of each blend to be the focus, or cornerstone, of the release. In this case, they chose a rye whisky aged in Port barrels; Found North actually combined 8 different components, which they list on their website:
19 year rye whisky aged in Ruby Port hogsheads
23 year corn whisky aged in new American oak
Another 23 year corn whisky aged in new American oak
23 year corn whisky aged in ex-bourbon barrels
19 year corn whisky
19 year rye whisky
22 year corn whisky
26 year corn whisky
Combining all of these components, we get an overall mashbill of 91% corn, 8% rye, and 1% malted barley; while the bottle carries that 19 year age statement, which is already impressive, there's whisky up to 26 years old included in the batch. It's also bottled at a hefty 62.3% ABV (124.6 proof), and there's no chill filtration employed.
Found North Batch 009
USA/Canada - Blend
Current Locally Available Price: USD 205 (2024, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: 19 Years
Strength: 62.3% ABV
Cask Makeup: New American oak, used American oak, Hungarian oak, and Ruby Port casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added, bottled 2024; 6,253 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times (once blind) over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Perfume, chocolate, blackberry jam, and cherry jam start us off - lots of sweet notes, butterscotch too. There's plenty of oak, which brings some old furniture wood scents, a bit of wood smoke; dark brown sugar, cream soda, cranberry, and oatmeal raisin cookies bring more sweet notes. Chai spices, bay leaf, and toasted bread add more of a baking or cooking side.
Palate: The mouthfeel is thick - a blast of rich flavor. There's a lot of oak influence, but also tons of fruit: cranberry, blackberry, acai, orange, raspberry, and cherry across our tasting sessions. Spices arrive in the form of cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger; there's a bit of a smoky side to the oak, as well as wood tannins. Leather shows more age, and at the end, even more sweetness: butterscotch and soda.
Finish: Medium-long, great oily texture, quite juicy. Oak is still at the front, adding leather, wood spice, and hints of smoke, but it starts to mellow; cherry cola and blood orange bring that fruit dimension back. Nice subtleties are mixed in, too: maple syrup, cream, ginger, tannins, ash. It's warming and spirity, quite cozy.
Final Note: Such great complexity, so punchy - this is an excellent whisky... Found North has made a habit of this. For a bottle with a strength over 60% ABV, this drinks in a remarkably mellow fashion; that high strength also ensures that the flavor is extremely dense, never lacking. Lots of maturity from the oak, but we especially love the fruity side of this whisky, which adds amazing sweetness.
Value is okay, even at the high price point, because this delivers such amazing flavor. That said, as Found North gets more recognition and their whiskies become more sought-after, secondary prices are rising. Don't overpay a ludicrous amount at auction for this, but it's worth some effort to seek out for the occasional splurge.
Our Average Rating: 8.9 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.05
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Found North reviews:
Review #232 - Found North Batch 008
