Review #662 - Found North T8KE-04 'Johannes' Custom Blend - r/bourbon Pick

This custom blend from T8ke was picked for the r/bourbon community, a part of the Season 5 series of Found North private picks. The blend is comprised of the following components:

10 year rye whisky
12 year rye whisky
14 year corn whisky
16 year corn whisky
20 year rye whisky

The combination of these parts yields a final derived mashbill of 53% rye, 45% corn, and 2% malted barley; after initial maturation in undisclosed casks (likely ex-bourbon barrels), the blend is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry, Sauternes, and Pineau des Charentnes Blanc casks. That combination of old rye and exotic finishing casks has the potential to lead to a very unique flavor profile.

After blending, a total of 520 bottles were yielded at a strength of 55.4% ABV (110.8 proof), and the original retail price was set at $120.

Found North T8KE-04 'Johannes' Custom Blend - r/bourbon Pick

USA/Canada - Blend

Price: USD 120 (2024)

Age Statement: 10 Years

Strength: 55.4% ABV

Cask Makeup: Finished in PX sherry, Sauternes, and Pineau des Charentnes Blanc casks

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added, bottled 2024; 520 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 4 times over 8 months; bottles at 100%, 90%, 80% (blind tasting), and 60% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Butterscotch and caramel, creme brulee and mint candies, golden apple and strong bitter amaro. There are a lot of facets to this nose - each tasting brought something a bit different. Sugar cream, strong rye character, stroopwafel, cotton candy, and some red fruit like cherry also come and go; faint citrus, dill, and balsamic are detail notes.

Palate: Rye character is stronger now: herbal notes, eucalyptus, spearmint, a bit peppery and prickly. There's plenty of sweetness, too, from candied apple, vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch; maybe bruleed sugar and cherry soda, too. Dill, ginger ale, and leather build later.

Finish: Warming, full of baking notes like brown sugar, black pepper, honey, fresh ginger. Oak grows stronger, bringing cinnamon, leather, and a bit of tobacco bitterness; pears, apples, and a hint of cherry add orchard fruit. It's a long finish.

Final Note: This is a really nice rye - the grain element was more subtle in the nose, but it was more dominant in the palate. We found softer influences from those wine casks throughout the experience, especially in the orchard fruit elements, but overall, we felt that the rye character was stronger than the finishing casks in this bottle. Texture is very good, and the finish goes on for a long time, accented by those nice tobacco-like old oak flavors.

Value is about average; very good flavors, but also not a cheap bottle with a price around $120. Since these single barrel or custom blend bottles are a bit easier to find than some of the flagship Found North batch products, they can be a great introduction to the brand at a lower (in relative terms) price point.

Our Average Rating: 7.9 / 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: 6.39

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.