Lost
Lantern is an American independent bottler
founded in 2018 by Nora
Ganley-Roper of Astor Wine & Spirits
and Adam Polonski of Whisky
Advocate; the duo is committed to releasing
whiskeys from distilleries they've personally visited. Nora handles production
and operations, and Adam handles marketing, sales, and sourcing. Currently,
Lost Lantern's whiskeys can be purchased from LostLanternWhiskey.com or
Seelbachs.com.
One
thing that I'm passionate about is transparency. I respect that some things
have to be held close to the vest. However, that gets exciting when
distilleries lay most or all of their cards on the table. The fact that Lost
Lantern is also big on transparency is much appreciated.
Lost
Lantern’s 2024 Summer Collection is slated for release on July 11th.
Indiana, New York, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are all represented. All are single
casks except for two. One is a blend from Indiana, New York, Mississippi, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin distilleries. The other is from a ghost distillery.
We’ll
explore each whiskey individually. Each is packaged at cask strength, non-chill
filtered, and naturally colored. Each was sipped neat from a fresh Glencairn
glass.
I
want to take a moment and thank Lost Lantern for providing me with samples of
each in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews.
Finally,
I am a 100% advocate for drinking responsibly. There is a lot of whiskey to
drink here, and the tastings didn’t occur in a single sitting. Aside from my
desire to avoid getting hammered, there is a thing called palate fatigue, which
is very real. My duty to you is to provide accurate tasting notes, but I can’t
do that after three consecutive pours.
Now,
let’s #DrinkCurious.
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Lost
Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon II
- Distilleries:
Starlight Distillery (IN), Kings
County Distillery (NY), Rich Grain Distilling Co.
(MS), Smooth Ambler (WV), and Wollersheim Distillery
(WI)
- Age: 5 years
- Mashbill: undisclosed
- Alcohol: 63.3% (126.68°)
- No. of Bottles: 697
- Price: $100.00
Appearance: This
whiskey was the color of rust. A medium rim released syrupy tears.
Nose: I
smelled caramel, brown sugar, corn, nutmeg, cinnamon, milk chocolate, orange
zest, and cherries. Drawing the air through my lips suggested oak.
Palate: This
blend’s mouthfeel was medium-bodied and silky. The very first thing I tasted
was barrel char. It was joined by cinnamon and nutmeg. Leather, tobacco, and
brown sugar were at the middle. The back consisted of dark chocolate, clove,
and cherries.
Finish: Dark
chocolate, clove, leather, tobacco, cherries, and barrel char stuck around for
1:16, pushing this into the medium-long category. The leather hung on the
longest.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I
enjoyed what I was sipping. Far Flung Bourbon II is a complex blend, a
testament to the terroirs involved. It drank slightly below its stated proof.
There are several blenders and independent bottlers who would price something
similar accordingly. I believe it is worth it; it takes my Bottle
rating.
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Lost
Lantern Mississippi Memory Straight Bourbon
- Distillery: Rich Grain Distilling Co.
- Age: 5 years
- Mashbill: Blend of traditional (66% corn, 17% rye, 17% malted barley) and wheated (66% corn, 17% wheat, 17% malted barley)
- Alcohol: 70% ABV (140°)
- No. of Bottles: 500
- Price: $90.00
Rich
Grain Distillery Co. was founded by David
Rich in 2016 and released the state’s first
legal Bourbon since Prohibition. The distillery shuttered in 2020, and this is
Lost Lantern’s first release from a ghost distillery.
Appearance: This
Bourbon was a deep, dark, burnt umber color. A massive rim formed while
shedding thick, wide tears.
Nose: At
140°, it should come as no surprise that this whiskey required plenty of time
to breathe. Each time I approached it, I got a faceful of ethanol. I then let
it be for about ten minutes. The aroma included corn, oak, cocoa, and caramel.
I found honey graham crackers when I brought the air into my mouth.
Palate: Mississippi
Memory had a thin, oily texture. It warmed my mouth while exposing the front of
my palate to nutmeg and chocolate. The middle tasted of thick molasses. The
back offered caramel and oak spices.
Finish: Flavors
of oak spice, dark chocolate, and molasses remained. Overall, the duration was very
long, clocking in at 2:03.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Sometimes,
hazmat whiskeys are flavor bombs, while others simply bomb on flavors.
Mississippi Memory just isn’t memorable. It provides only a few flavors; most
reside in the finish.
I tried it again, this time
with two drops of water. The aroma became heavy on chocolate and molasses. The mouthfeel
thickened; however, it still lacked depth and flavor.
Unfortunately, this Bourbon
doesn’t pass muster. It takes a Bust.
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Corbin
Cash California Straight Bourbon Single Cask
- Distillery: Corbin Cash
- Age: 7 years
- Mashbill: 75% locally-grown yellow corn, 15% rye, and 10% malted barley
- Alcohol: 73.1% ABV (146.2°)
- No. of Bottles: 299
- Price: $130.00
Corbin
Cash is a distillery I was first introduced to last year, and I found it
impressive. Its background is included in my review of its 1917 Merced Rye.
Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #5 charred oak from Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage.
Appearance: This
Bourbon was so dark it had no translucency at all. There were reds, browns, and
even a bit of black. A medium rim formed, and there were widely spaced, thick
tears.
Nose: I
didn’t even bother smelling this until it sat in my glass for a good ten
minutes. What I smelled included cherries, plums, strawberries, blueberries,
and caramel. No oak, no spices. When I drew the air into my mouth, I discovered
more blueberries.
Palate: The
texture was light and almost airy. I rechecked the label; it still said 146.7°.
Milk chocolate-covered blueberries rolled across the front of my palate. Next
came cherry cola and roasted almonds. The back featured cinnamon and oak
spices, along with caramel.
Finish: The
caramel and cherry cola continued, as did the blueberries and chocolate. Oak
spice was the last to fall off. The duration was 2:14, making it very long.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I can’t
swear by it, but this may be the highest-proof Bourbon I’ve tried. It drank
nowhere near its stated proof; I’d guess about 30 points less were I
blindfolded! It was also stunning. It was mesmerizing. It was delightful. Lost
Lantern’s Corbin Cash Single Cask may be one of the best hazmat whiskeys I’ve
tried. Yeah, this is an easy-as-pie Bottle rating.
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Woodinville
Washington Straight Bourbon Single Cask
- Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Distilling Co.
- Age: 6 years
- Mashbill: 72% locally-grown corn, 22% locally-grown rye, 6% malted barley
- Alcohol: 58.45% ABV (116.9°)
- No. of Bottles: 200
- Price: $100.00
Woodinville
Whiskey and I became acquaintances in 2019 with its standard Bourbon. Woodinville
Rye took the Whiskeyfellow
2020 Best American Rye award. The
distillery’s background can be found in my review. Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #5
charred oak from ISC.
Appearance: The
golden amber liquid created a thin rim with tiny tears that raced back to the
pool.
Nose: Cherries
and plums exploded from the glass. That’s typical of Woodinville’s Bourbons. I
also smelled caramel and brown sugar. I found more brown sugar when I took the
vapor into my mouth.
Palate: The
creamy mouthfeel highlighted the cherry influence. It was a smidge medicinal,
like cough syrup. Brown sugar and corn accompanied it. At mid-palate, I tasted orange
zest, marzipan, and caramel. The back offered toasted oak, vanilla, and caramel.
Finish: Man,
that cherry bomb continued through the very end! The finish included orange
zest, almonds, and caramel. It ran 1:46, easily qualifying for a long finish.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: This
Bourbon had no heat whatsoever despite the proof. It went down easy, almost too
easy, tossing it into that dangerous category. I would not want to drink
this and then have to go somewhere; it is definitely a porch sipper. It is
well-balanced and commands your attention. I’m happy to have this in my whiskey
library and find it deserves my Bottle rating.
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Union
Horse Kansas Straight Bourbon Single Cask
- Distillery: Union Horse Distilling
- Age: 5 years
- Mashbill: 80% corn, 20% rye
- Alcohol: 59.9% ABV (119.9°)
- No. of Bottles: 200
- Price: $90.00
Union
Horse Distilling is another distillery I first encountered in 2019. It is
located in Lenaxa, Kansas, and was founded in 2010, making it the first legal
post-Prohibition distillery in the state. Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #3
charred oak from ISC.
Appearance: This
Bourbon presented as an orange amber. A bold rim produced thick, wavy tears.
Nose: The
aroma included notes of maple syrup, caramel, cornbread, and orange zest.
Inhaling the vapor into my mouth brought a blast of milk chocolate.
Palate: A
warming sensation hit the tip of my tongue. The texture was medium-bodied. The
front of my palate found cocoa powder, cornbread, and raspberries. Next came
nutmeg and caramel. The back consisted of oak, tobacco, and orange peel.
Finish: At only
36 seconds, this Bourbon’s finish was fairly short. Orange peel, chocolate,
cornbread, and tobacco remained.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Union
Horse’s Bourbon came across as mild in its proof and flavor. The nosing was
lovely. I’d have loved to experience more intense sensations. In my opinion,
this should be tried at a Bar first.
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High Wire
South Carolina Straight Bourbon Single Cask
- Distillery: High Wire Distilling
- Age: 3 years
- Mashbill: 100% Jimmy Red Corn
- Alcohol: 58.7% ABV (117.4°)
- No. of Bottles: 200
- Price: $120.00
I’m
not sure what’s so magical about 2019, but that’s when I first encountered High
Wire Distilling. You can read its background from my Jimmy Red Revival
review. Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #3 charred,
heavily-toasted oak from Charlois Cooperage.
Appearance: High
Wire’s Bourbon was the color of rust. A thin rim discharged a curtain of tears
that crashed back into the pool.
Nose: I
smelled walnuts, almonds, caramel, and orange peel. Inside my mouth, the aroma became
a vanilla bomb.
Palate: The
soft, airy texture coated the entirety of my mouth. The front of my palate experienced
butterscotch, vanilla, and orange zest, while the middle tasted of cornbread,
honey, and leather. The back consisted of oak spice, cinnamon, and tobacco.
Finish: Flavors
of butterscotch, tobacco, oak, and cinnamon spice remained for a 1:51 finish,
easily described as long.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: This
was one of those Bourbons I approached cautiously because, in 2019, I didn’t relish
what I tasted. The good news is that I enjoyed Lost Lantern’s release. My concern
is its price; at $120.00, I think this one is a tough sell. I don’t believe the
High Wire Single Cask is there, and, as such, it earns my Bar rating.
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Leiper’s
Fork Tennesse Whiskey Single Cask
- Distillery: Leiper’s Fork Distillery
- Age: 5 years
- Mashbill: 70% corn, 15% rye, 15% toasted malted barley
- Alcohol: 57.9% ABV (115.8°)
- No. of Bottles: 123
- Price: $100.00
Founded
in 2016 by Lee and Lynlee
Kennedy, Leiper’s Fork has been on my wish list
for several years. Lee built his first still in his mother’s basement when he
was only a teenager. Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #4 charred,
medium-toasted oak from Kelvin
Cooperage.
A
Tennessee Whiskey should, by its very nature, possess a mellow quality due to the
Lincoln County Process (LCP), which utilizes a deep pit of charcoal to filter
the whiskey. Contrary to popular opinion, Tennessee Whiskey meets every legal
requirement for Bourbon.
Appearance: This
whiskey had an intense red coloring to it. The microthin rim generated long,
wavy tears.
Nose: There
were two competing aspects to the nosing: one relied on vanilla, the other,
mint. It took effort to get past either. What I found included corn and
marshmallow. Inhaling the vapor through my lips presented me with toasted
coconut.
Palate: The
thin, oily mouthfeel yielded flavors of peppermint, cinnamon, and tarragon. At my
mid-palate, I tasted coconut, vanilla, and shredded tobacco. The back comprised
oak, eucalyptus, and chocolate.
Finish: Between
the peppermint, tobacco, eucalyptus, coconut, and chocolate, I had trouble
concentrating on which note closed first or last. It didn’t really matter.
Overall, it had a very long duration, clocking in at 1:49.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: If you
enjoy spicy, savory Bourbons, you’ll want to watch for Leiper’s Fork Single
Cask. This whiskey is all over those spectrums, even delving a smidge into the
sweet spectrum. It is fun; it is well-balanced. That finish was mesmerizing.
What I experienced today leaves
me damned curious about what else Leiper’s Fork has to offer. In the meantime,
I’d recommend buying a Bottle for yourself.
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Rock Town
Arkansas Straight Bourbon Single Cask
- Distillery: Rock Town Distillery
- Age: 4 years
- Mashbill: 82% locally-grown corn, 9% locally-grown wheat, 9% malted barley
- Alcohol: 58.8% ABV (117.6°)
- No. of Bottles: 200
- Price: $90.00
Rock
Town is Arkansas’ first legal post-Prohibition distillery. I first stumbled
upon it about a year ago, and its background can be found in that review. Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #4
charred oak from Kelvin Cooperage.
Appearance: The mahogany-colored
Bourbon formed a thick rim and sticky droplets that clung to the wall of my
glass.
Nose: My
olfactory sense plucked lemon curd, oak, and strawberries. Pulling the air
through my lips produced a sensation of vanilla.
Palate: Rock
Town’s mouthfeel was thin and dry. The front of my palate found roasted almonds,
coconut, and corn. At mid-palate, I tasted vanilla. The back tasted of oak,
clove, and nutmeg.
Finish: Out of
nowhere, I picked out cherries and strawberries, along with corn, almonds, and
oak. The longer finish lasted 1:44.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Rock
Town Spirits is another distillery I was underwhelmed with the first time I
tried its whiskeys. And, again, I approached this single-cask Bourbon
cautiously.
The good news is that this
Bourbon drank under its stated proof and went down easy. There was no ethanol
blast. There was nothing harsh. However, it was also uninteresting and lacked
depth.
I remain in the same place
as before tasting Lost Lantern’s Rock Town Spirits expression: underwhelmed. It
isn’t bad at all; I found it lacked anything noteworthy. As such, it deserves
my Bar rating.
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Boulder
Spirits Amragnac Finished Colorado Straight Bourbon Single Cask
- Distillery: Boulder Spirits
- Age: 7 years
- Mashbill: 51% corn, 44% malted barley, 5% rye
- Alcohol: 62.75% ABV (125.5°)
- No. of Bottles: 300
- Price: $120.00
Boulder
Spirits was founded by a Scotsman who distills by traditional Scottish methods.
I was introduced to this distillery in 2020. It was founded in 2007, and the
background story is unique. You can read more about that here. Lost Lantern’s release is aged in #3
charred oak from Kelvin Cooperage and finished in a 300-liter former Armagnac
cask.
Appearance: The liquid
was the color of burnt sienna. The medium rim created fat, sticky, slow
droplets.
Nose: The
nose was fruity, with apples, pears, and raisins. It was accompanied by brown
sugar, caramel, and oak. Inside my mouth, the vapor tasted of chocolate.
Palate: The soft,
oily texture offered a warming sensation to my lips and tongue. Flavors of dried
cherries, raisins, and baked apples engaged the front of my palate. The middle
featured tobacco, chocolate, and toffee, while the back consisted of French
oak, clove, and nutmeg.
Finish: The chocolate,
nutmeg, toffee, clove, and baked apples remained in my mouth and throat. It was
definitively warming, yet not uncomfortable.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Contrast
Boulder Spirits with Rock Town Spirits, and you’ll have a distillery that
consistently puts out excellent pours. I’ve also found, for the most part, that
Armagnac makes for a decent Bourbon finishing barrel. The recipe for success is
there.
Boulder Spirits Armagnac
Finish Single Cask offered classical notes on Armagnac-finished whiskeys. The
fruity spiciness is almost a required component. The quality hinges on how much
the core Bourbon permeates it. With its 44% malted barley, Boulder Spirits
allowed that, leading to a positive sipping experience.
Is it worth $120.00? I believe
you’re buying something unique enough to keep your attention with each draw. You’ll
spend time analyzing this whiskey. I see that as worth a premium and find that
Lost Lantern is knocking on the value ceiling. I’m happy to have this in my
whiskey library, and it deserves my Bottle rating.
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Final Thoughts: There
are nine whiskeys here; few can afford the entire collection. The big question is,
What would I get if I could only buy a few?
Here’s my recommended
order:
- Corbin Cash
- Woodinville Whiskey
- Boulder Spirits
- Far Flung II
- Leiper’s Fork
- Union Horse
- High Wire Distilling
- Mississippi Memory
- Rock Town Spirits
And there you have it. Thanks
for reading this incredibly long review. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
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