Found North has been carving out a niche in the whisky world with their High Altitude Collection, which focuses on well-aged Canadian grain whiskies finished in innovative cask types. I have enjoyed Peregrine and Hell Diver, both second and first flights, and expected another release of Hover Hawk would be next. But, nope, we have another first. Their latest release, Goldfinch First Flight, represents the fourth bird in this collection and continues their tradition of pushing boundaries with creative barrel finishing techniques. This 15 year old whisky is a blend of corn and rye whiskies aged between 15 and 22 years, with the bulk finished in French Sauternes wine casks—a departure from the red wine and port finishes that typically dominate the American whiskey landscape. My wife’s favorite scotch, Glenmorangie Nector D’Or, is finished in Sauternes casks, so I am familiar with the flavors those sweet wine barrels can impart to whisky.
The mashbill breaks down to 91% corn, 8% rye, and 1% malted barley. The core blend includes 15 year old corn whisky matured in new American oak, 22 year old corn whisky in both new and used American oak, 20 year old corn whisky in used American oak, and 20 year old rye whisky also in used oak. Two-thirds of this blend was finished in Sauternes casks, with the remaining third split evenly between Cognac casks and air-dried, heavy toast, char level 1 new American oak from Kelvin Cooperage. This three-month finishing process aimed to layer orchard fruit from the Cognac, vanilla and caramel richness from the Kelvin oak, and the honeyed, creamy texture from the Sauternes. The whisky is bottled non-chill filtered at cask strength of 58.1% ABV (116.2 proof), with no added color. The batch produced 8,546 bottles from 36 barrels. The suggested retail price is $160, though secondary market pricing varies wildly.
The color on this is a light to medium golden amber—lighter than you would expect for 15 years minimum in barrel, which likely reflects the corn-forward mashbill and the use of used cooperage for much of the maturation. On the swirl is a nice thin oily film that coats the glass with slowly developing thick legs, indicating good viscosity and that the whisky wasn’t proofed down excessively to reach cask strength.
On the nose, this whisky opens with layers of vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel sweetness that is rich and inviting. There are notes of orange citrus and apple cider, along with golden raisins and tinned pears. Baking spices emerge—cinnamon and clove—along with hints of leather and oak tannin in the background. With time in the glass, notes of stewed apples, honey, and a touch of floral character develop. The nose is engaging and complex, balancing sweet corn spirit with the influence of those dessert wine casks.
On the palate, Goldfinch starts surprisingly rich and darker than expected given the Sauternes influence. The initial impression centers around caramel, vanilla, and baking spices—specifically cinnamon and clove—with a sticky-sweet texture and a warm grip. Fresh sweet corn notes are prominent, evoking buttered white corn on the cob. As the whisky develops mid-palate, the fruit profile shifts from dense red orchard fruit toward white fruit—pear, apple, and hints of citrus. There are notes of graham cracker, chocolate, banana cream, pineapple, and candied apples. The mouthfeel is creamy and medium-thick, with nice oiliness. Toward the latter part of the palate, wood tannins begin to emerge along with seasoned oak, leather, and burley pipe tobacco notes, providing structure and balance to the sweetness. The proof is noticeable with a gentle warmth, but never harsh or overly hot.
The finish is long and evolving. White pepper and oak tannins come to the fore, along with almonds, dark baking chocolate, and a drying quality that wasn’t present earlier. The fruit fades while the wood character intensifies—there are notes of leather, bitter rhubarb, clove, and hints of mint. A custard-like texture lingers, tempered by the oak tannins and a subtle smokey essence. After the finish fades, red fruit returns with a cinnamon echo and soft butterscotch in the aftertaste. The balance between sweet and spicy, fruit and oak, is well-calibrated.
This is a fascinating whisky that rewards patience. One of the hallmarks of Found North releases is their depth and complexity, which really opens up with time and aeration. The oxidative character from years in used oak barrels provides layers that continue to unfold in the glass. Goldfinch starts darker and oakier than you’d anticipate from a Sauternes-finished whisky, but the middle portion of the palate delivers that burst of white fruit, creamy vanilla, and honey that the finishing casks were intended to provide. The interplay between the corn-driven sweetness, the orchard fruit from the wine casks, and the robust oak influence creates a dynamic sipping experience that shifts and evolves.
The Sauternes influence is subtle but effective, adding brightness, creaminess, and layers of fruit without overwhelming the whisky’s core identity. The Cognac casks contribute additional orchard fruit depth, while the Kelvin oak barrels add structure and caramelized sugar notes. The high corn content provides a viscous, buttery mouthfeel that carries all these flavors beautifully, while the aged rye component adds just enough spice and herbal character to keep things interesting without becoming grassy or overly peppery.
Catherine tried it and she really liked it, and noted how that, despite the 116.2 proof, there was zero burn. I hope the Goldfinch isn’t a replacement for a second flight of Hover Hawk, but if it is, I’m not mad. If my friend Nick Taylor is blending it and bottling it, I want it. (See my interview with him at the end of the linked post). While a lot of other producers are marketing long aged corn whiskey (read American Whiskey) as a luxury item, Found North just really does this style so much better than others, and really does Canadian whisky more justice than Canadian producers.
At $160, this is definitely a premium bottle, but for what Found North is delivering—well-aged Canadian whisky with thoughtful blending and creative finishing—the price feels justified. This isn’t a whisky for those looking for bold, in-your-face flavors or heavily sherried, fruit-bomb profiles. Rather, it’s for those who appreciate nuance, complexity, and whiskies that evolve and transform in the glass. Although I do have to say that Goldfinch is very different from other High Altitude Series whiskies as to the flavor profile. This is a whisky for true whisky nerds – folks that aren’t just into bourbon, folks who have tried all manner of different styles of whisky and appreciate them.
And I think I found the whisky I will be enjoying after Thanksgiving dinner this year; this is a wonderfully desserty whisky, and will pair well with a pipe or cigar, or even a piece of pie.