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I mentioned that this Canadian whisky may very well act as a bridge for bourbon drinkers, and I’d like to drill down on that. Categorically speaking, Canadian whisky often does itself no favors—and I would argue it does the audience a disservice. I don’t think the liquid is inherently flawed; in fact, some of my favorite rye comes from Canada. My stance is simply a reaction to the legislation (or lack thereof) surrounding the category. It is convoluted and generally allows for entirely too much discretion on the part of the producer for my liking.

If a producer so desires, Canadian whisky can—by law—contain grain neutral spirits, coloring, or flavoring (looking at you, Crown Royal). Not to mention the loose terminology that allows a whisky to be labeled as “rye” regardless of the actual rye content in the bottle. I find it confusing at best and misleading at worst. It’s no wonder many American whiskey consumers have a bad taste in their mouth over the category… pun intended.

But for the bourbon drinker seeking a spirit that is 51% corn or more, it’s worth recognizing that the profiles you hold in high regard may come from a shelf you frequently walk by. Rich, layered flavor backed by the sweetness of corn doesn’t exist in just one place.

Enter Found North. Knowing what we know about the category, you can rest assured that Found North is here to break the cycle. They create enthusiast-grade products without the traditional opacity and murky terminology. No additives, no flavoring, no garbage. Peregrine stands out because—as Found North always does—they tell us exactly what is in the bottle. Everything.

The following 8 components were blended and then finished for 5 months in a combination of Armagnac, Cognac and new American oak casks.

• Two 21yr corn components
• Two 22yr corn components
• One 27yr corn component
• One 20yr rye component
• Two 21yr rye components

While NDAs prevent the brand from disclosing the exact source of the whisky, anyone with a search engine can do a bit of mild investigative journalism to draw their own conclusions.

Each component in a Found North product is a 100% grain mashbill. This means the corn components are 100% corn whisky, the rye is 100% rye whisky, and so on. This granular control allows Found North to create a derived liquid mashbill, which they proudly post on the label. For Peregrine 2026, that breakdown is 80% corn, 19% rye, and 1% malted barley.

We selected 17 of the 23 finishing casks for the final blend, resulting in 4,506 bottles. The cask composition by volume is as follows:

• 15.6% Armagnac Casks
• 58.4% Cognac Casks
• 15.6% 18-month Air-dried New American Oak, Medium Toast, Char #2
• 10.4% 18-month Air-dried New American Oak, Medium Toast, Char #1

I cannot stress enough how important this level of transparency is. I will always applaud brands with the wherewithal to share vital information, and Found North has set the gold standard here.

As a quick note on labeling, and in the interest of keeping things transparent for consumers, I checked-in with Found North in reference to the label where it reads “Product of Canada” to see why they chose to word things this way, rather than saying “Distilled in Canada”. Here’s what the brand had to say:

“This is really about being as clear as we can. Product of Canada implies that a significant amount of the aging took place in Canada. Distilled in Canada might imply that we are simply contract distilling. We don’t want to be misleading about the origin and aging of our products on the back label.”

Now for the juiciest bit: the tasting. I’ve had a little time with this whisky, and have put together a cumulative list of tasting notes to share with you. Remember, bourbon drinkers especially, that while this liquid is not (and can not) be classified as bourbon, we’re looking at an 80/19/1 derived liquid mashbill in this one, so you just might find your interest piqued.

Found North Peregrine 2026 (80/19/1 derived liquid mashbill, 20 year age-statement, a blend of eight Canadian whiskies, 119.8 proof): A grippy mouthfeel that really moves slowly across the palate, kettle corn, buttered corn bread, red fruits mingling with maple, crème brûlée, dark vanilla, rich caramel, autumn wildflower honey, charred spicy oak, a touch of dusty funkiness that reminds me of Fins Bois Cognac, I’m really enjoying how the finish rolls off slowly and (bourbon drinkers this is for you) leaves a twist of oak spice and caramel lingering.

Found North Whisky has absolutely nailed it with the release of Peregrine 2026. This is an expression that underlines the richness of a heavily corn-based whiskey, with all of the nuanced brightness and fruit backbone of the increasingly popular brandy cask finishes found on shelves today. I also think fans of the buttery texture of some of the ‘American whiskey’ and light whiskey that has floated around the market (think 99% corn) are going to immediately find a home here, albeit with far more complexity and oak structure holding the product together than those offerings tend to bring to the table.

Speaking of finished whiskey, I want to mention the elephant in the room. Many finished whiskies on the shelves today are so heavy-handed that it’s like being beaten over the head with the finishing cask. This—at least to me—is going entirely too far. I love a whiskey finished with enough subtlety to impart character without making me feel like I’m sipping Cabernet Sauvignon or chewing on Amburana. Blending and finishing is an art, and in that regard, Found North has created something worthy of genuine appreciation.

All in all, I have to say that the depth of flavor and the outstanding texture of Peregrine make this a contender for the best Found North product I have tried to date. Rye fans will find spice levels that scratch the itch, bourbon fans will find the familiarity and sweetness of those buttered corn and caramel notes, and everyone out there who enjoys intricate whiskey (or, whisky, in this case) will undoubtedly appreciate Peregrine 2026 for what it is: damn good whisky.

The Bourbon Finder thanks Found North Whisky for graciously providing samples of their product and images used in this post. Being able to try new things in the whiskey space, without strings attached, is an opportunity we greatly appreciate. Per our review ethos, we provide objective reviews and commentary on media samples of spirits and products; remember, friends, these are the good old days of whiskey!