Review #484 - Found North Peregrine 2024 Release
The original bottling of Found North's Peregrine - the First Flight - arrived at the very end of 2023, with most of the distribution occurring in the beginning of 2024. They've now followed that release up with another member of the High Altitude Collection, a second edition of Peregrine - the 2024 Release, as it was blended in bottled in the latter half of 2024. Distribution is set to start in February 2025, starting with a lottery drawing that's accessible through Found North's website - that lottery opens on February 12th.
The 2024 release of Peregrine gets a 1 year bump in age statement compared to the previous version: 21 years now, though as usual, there's some older whisky included, and Found North gives us a breakdown of the ages of the different components:
25 Year Corn whisky
24 Year Corn whisky
23 Year Corn whisky
24 Year Rye whisky
21 Year Rye whisky
The overall mashbill after combining these pieces is 78% corn, 21% rye, and 1% malted barley; the finishing casks involved are new American oak and ex-Cognac casks. These are the same types used in Peregrine First Flight, though the ratios have been adjusted for this current release: instead of the previous 60% ex-Cognac and 40% new oak, the 2024 release uses roughly 70% ex-Cognac and 30% new American oak, with the goal of thicker texture and a less spicy finish.
As always, Found North gives us excellent bottling quality: there's no added color, no chill filtration, and the strength is a hefty 57.1% ABV (114.2 proof); a total of 3,345 bottles were produced.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Found North for review at no cost. All opinions expressed in this review are our own.
Found North Peregrine 2024 Release
USA/Canada - Blend
Price: USD 225 (2025)
Age Statement: 21 Years
Strength: 57.1% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in ex-Cognac casks and new American oak
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added, bottled 2024; 3,345 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 1 month from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 30+ minutes
Nose: Strong oak notes, but also sugary notes: wood varnish, leather, and shoe polish mix with rich butterscotch, cream soda, and creme brulee. There's a mild toast note to that oak, too; fruits arrive in time, especially raisin, candied strawberry, and blackberry jam. Adding a few drops of water brings out dusty bookcase, peach custard, and a subtle pear scent.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel, very rich and warming. Oak, especially leather notes, is quite strong up front - it's also bringing interesting spices, specifically a chai mix, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Caramel adds some sweetness, and then we get purple fruits: raisin, prune, and fig. There is a bit of a rye grain note hiding in the background, and at the end of the palate, it's black pepper and coffee.
Finish: Toasted bread, peppery tannins - the oak is still a strong theme. Warming and cozy, very oily, and the flavor lingers for a long time. Vanilla, smooth caramels, Cognac, and subtle grape add sweetness; cocoa powder, barrel-aged maple syrup, and a strong leathery flavor add more depth. In the aftertaste, we found a subtle golden apple note.
Final Note: Gorgeous whisky, and one that definitely benefits from some time to evolve in the glass. We let ours sit for 30 minutes to an hour to open up, and some experimentation with water also brings out new flavors, especially on the palate.
This has great complexity, a great mix of facets to the flavor profile, but still manages to give a very cohesive tasting experience. Sweetness from baking spices and fruit was balanced by spice from the rye grain and oak. It is definitely an oak-forward experience overall - not a huge surprise, given the 21 year minimum age statement - but there was plenty of room for the more subtle flavors to show up, too. We especially enjoyed the mix of fruit notes - lots of red and purple fruits, but also some lighter notes like the golden apple in the finish.
Now, onto value - there's no way to get around it, this is a very expensive bottle. With a suggested retail price of $225, it has to pack some serious flavor to offer a decent value. That's indeed the case - Found North has a history of making standout blends, and this is another one of those. Value is decent, even at this price point.
Our Average Rating: 9.2 / 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: 6.03
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 #437 - Found North Batch 009
Review #232 - Found North Batch 008
