Review #643 - Found North Hover Hawk First Flight

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Found North's first year of their High Altitude series encompassed three releases: Peregrine, Hell Diver, and this bottle, Hover Hawk. As this was the inaugural year of the series, each of these releases was sub-labeled as the 'First Flight' of their type. This Hover Hawk edition is named for the kestrel, a small falcon found across the Americas.

Found North employs a process of blending, finishing, and then re-blending on these High Altitude releases. These are the components that they started with for Hover Hawk:

  • 15 year old rye whisky

  • 18 year old rye whisky

  • 22 year old corn whisky

  • 23 year old corn whisky

  • 24 year old corn whisky

  • 27 year old corn whisky

After the initial round of blending, a 4 month finish was done in new American oak casks and ex-Moscatel casks - this could add a mix of stronger oak and tannins, as well as some light fruit flavors, according to Found North.

The final blending process saw the production of 4,536 bottles at a cask strength of 61.6% ABV (123.2 proof); the overall derived mashbill is 90% corn, 9% rye, and 1% malted barley, which is quite corn-heavy, even for Found North. Like all whiskies from the brand, this blend is not chill filtered, and there are no additives or added coloring.

Found North Hover Hawk First Flight

USA/Canada - Blend

MSRP: USD 160 (2024)

Available Price: USD 260 (2025, based on recent auction results)

Age Statement: 15 Years

Strength: 61.6% ABV

Cask Makeup: Finished in new American oak and Moscatel casks

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; bottled 2024; 4,536 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 5 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Rounded and subtle at first, but it opens to sweet notes of caramel and butterscotch, dark caramelized sugars in general. Leathery oak builds, and we get a hint of barbecued wood; then it's red fruit, with blackberry, candied strawberry, red berry compote. Bruleed sugar and wood smoke are accents, and we get some tobacco as well.

Palate: The mouthfeel is thick; there's a strong, leathery blast of oak up front, quite spicy; after that, it's waves of syrupy sweetness. Bruleed sugar, oversweet blackberry, ripe raspberry and strawberry, tart cherry. Cinnamon and peppery spice bring back the dry side, and there's a savory side to the oak. Later, we get just a hint of rye.

Finish: Great viscosity lingers - flavors are still strong, with leathery oak, tannins, and cherry fruit being dominant. Red wine, cinnamon, burnt sugar, and cranberry sauce come in time, and we finish with more oak spice and a fizzy sensation. It's a long finish.

Final Note: Delicious whisky from Found North - another blend of theirs that gets high marks. The oaky side of this whisky is quite strong; we didn't get as much of the light fruit or stone fruit as they suggested from the Moscatel, but we did find waves of red fruit like strawberry, cherry, and raspberry. It's quite a punchy whisky, and while there were both extremely drying notes and extremely sweet notes, it has a nice balance overall. Great texture, too - great whisky, period.

Value-wise, this bottle is okay - as we write this, the secondary or resale market for the bottle is the weakest of the High Altitude series. It's still more than the original MSRP, but with auction prices 'only' at about $250, it could be worth the splurge for a special bottle with this much flavor.

Our Average Rating: 8.8 / 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 (MSRP): 6.48

Value Rating (Available Price): 5.52

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.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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