Had a good trip to Hokus Pokus today, as they got in a bottle of Found North Hover Hawk which I had been looking for since early January. Hover Hawk is Found North’s third release in the High Altitude Collection, being preceded by Peregrine and Hell Diver. This whisky has a fifteen year age statement, but, when it comes to Found North, that is going to be the youngest whiskey in the blend. there are rye whiskies that are 15 and 18 years old which makes up 9% of the blend, 1% is barley as a component of probably the rye whiskies, with 90% of the blend being corn whiskies that are 22, 23, 24, and 27 years old. The blend was then finished is newly charred American Oak cases and Moscatel casks. I had to look up what Moscatel was; it is a Spanish or Portuguese fortified dessert wine that is aged in casks as is Port and sherry; this just uses Muscat grapes, which are generally allowed to overly riped and begin to dry out in the sun. Most wine folks would generally classify Moscatel as a type of sherry, based on my research. This in an intriguing cask to use to finish whiskey. While Sherry and Port casks are commonly used to finish whiskey, I have never before run across a Moscatel finished whisky. The whiskey weighs in at 123.2 proof, and cost $150.

The color on this is a solid amber; by color, one would think this was a bourbon. This is one of the darkest Found North releases. On the swirl is a thin film but with a thick sheen and some thick legs that form ever so slowly. On the nose is a lot of vanilla, dark fruits, baked cinnamon rolls, and some really nice oak in the background. The nose, like the color, reads bourbon rather than simply long aged corn from Canada. The palate is also similar to bourbon at first; vanilla, lots of dark fruit, citrus notes, and baking spice, but then coriander seeds and honey join the mix, reminding me of a really good poppy seed cake with lots of butter and honey. One the finish, the Moscatel casks really start to show off, adding wonderful notes of jam and candied fruit notes (think Butterfield’s, particularly the Muscadine and Peach buds) to the spice and oak.

Overall, I have to say that this whisky is sublime. My only “objective” critique is that the sweetness of the finish could be off-putting to some (mostly because it is really different) but I really like it.

Which is to say that in late 2023, 2024, and now 2025, Found North has been a highlight of the whiskies I have reviewed and tried. Their releases are always consistently good (this is my eighth bottle), so I am willing to buy whatever they might put out. When I get a new release I come home smiling knowing that a new and different and wonderful flavorful journey awaits after I peel off the wax cap. Because each of the eight bottles has brought something different and exciting to the table.