Found North's "Batch 004" (The fourth overall release, and the second release of their bourbon-like corn dominant blends) was built around a 21 year corn whisky with lovely caramel, butterscotch and vanilla notes and a highly viscous and naturally sweet 25 year corn whisky aged in Hungarian oak that was positively dripping in molasses character. The sweetness and viscosity is balanced with spice and fruit from a combination of two different style ryes, both aged for 18 years. The first was aged in ex-Speyside scotch casks, providing bright, fresh fruit notes. The second was aged in rechar American oak, which cut the viscosity in the mid palate with a distinct tingling cardamom and ginger quality. The spice from the rye teases out the concentrated burnt sugar quality of the 25-year-old casks. The final blend comes out to 80% corn, 19% rye, and 1% malted barley, and is bottled at a cask strength of 62.4% abv.
The nose hits you initially with sticky maple syrup, leather and mahogany wood extract. It is like bubbling-hot butterscotch drizzled on top of a Tahitian vanilla bean affogato mixed with caramelized red fruits, reminiscent of old French-style rum. The slick, viscous palate presents shortbread and chocolate-covered cashews dunked in a demerara river of oil and pure, liquefied sugarcane, followed by a spicy warm finish with light fruity notes of melon, plum, and berries alongside ginger and a peppery twinge that tingles and envelopes your chest. This stuff is big and brash, but at the same time lush and luring.
