Description

The blend, finish, reblend process that has defined the High Altitude Collection since the 2023 release of Peregrine has allowed us to make some of our most compelling whiskies. This whisky-making practice is quite different from our Batches, which demand meticulous precision. Blending our Batch releases is like sculpting a whisky, it requires persistence and time. We chisel. We sand. We polish. With enough time, we can shape the whisky into exactly the form we want. It is direct and intentional.

In contrast, our High Altitude process of blending, further maturing and then reblending is akin to tending a garden. We nurture and coax the best flavors out of the whisky. There is a level of unpredictability inherent in further maturation. You need timing, finesse and a bit of luck. The initial blend plants the seeds of flavor and then we yield to the whims of the barrels. We wait for the whisky to fully blossom, plucking them from the vine once they have peaked, before finally reknitting the best casks into an intricate tapestry.

Hover Hawk began as a blend of 22, 23, 24 and 27 year old corn and 15 and 18 year old rye components, forming a foundation of fruit notes well-suited to the sweet and citric qualities of our planned finishing casks – Moscatel and New American Oak. Following four additional months of maturation, Hover Hawk captures the bright, lively white fruit of the Moscatel and the soft tannins and vanillins of the New American Oak, setting a new stylistic pillar in our High Altitude Collection. We chose the North American Kestrel to represent this whisky.

Nicknamed “Hover Hawk,” the kestrel is the smallest American Falcon and yet it flourishes in the North American tundra, thriving in fields and prairies across the continent. It is not particularly fast or powerful. Its success relies on its patience and uncanny ability to ride the wind, dancing on the unseen currents. The kestrel embodies the High Altitude process and exemplifies the acuity required to work with these particular casks.