Review of Lost Lantern's Spring 2026 Collection

 

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.

 

One thing that I’m passionate about is transparency. I respect that some things have to be kept confidential. However, things get exciting when distilleries and non-distilling producers lay most, if not all, of their cards on the table. The fact that Lost Lantern is also committed to transparency is greatly appreciated. It will tell you just about anything you want to know about each offering.

 

Normally, Lost Lantern’s collections have a theme. The Spring 2026 Collection compares pairs of high-proof versus low-proof whiskeys of the same type. The theme’s purpose is to demonstrate how proof interacts with distillery character, grain composition, age, and regional style. Lost Lantern’s whiskeys can be purchased from LostLanternWhiskey.com, Seelbachs.com, the Lost Lantern Tasting Room in Vermont, and select California, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island retailers.

 

I’m grateful to Lost Lantern for providing me with ten samples, one of each bottling, in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews.

 

To avoid repetition, I used a fresh Glencairn glass to explore these whiskeys neat. I gave each whiskey about 15 minutes to breathe before nosing. Also, these reviews required multiple sessions to avoid palate fatigue (and getting bombed). Finally, all of the photos sans the last are courtesy of Lost Lantern.

 

Let’s #DrinkCurious!

 

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Up first are two blended Bourbons. They’re both the same blends of seven Bourbons from seven distilleries, all located in different states; one version is at cask strength and the other at 100°.

 

Far-Flung Bourbon IV

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distillers: Baltimore Spirits Co. (Baltimore, MD), High Wire Distilling Co. (Charleston, SC), Rich Grain Distilling Co. (Canton, MS), SanTan Spirits (Chandler, AZ), Still Austin Whiskey Co. (Austin, TX), Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. (DeKalb, IL), Wollersheim Distillery (Prairie du Sac, WI)
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 60.35% ABV (120.7°)
• Price per 750mL: $100.00
• Bottle Yield: 120
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: The bronze colored Bourbon formed a medium rim with randomly spaced, thick, fast tears.

 

Nose: Chocolate, molasses, leather, tobacco leaf, figs, and dry oak formed a pleasing aroma. When I took the air into my mouth, I tasted milk chocolate.

 

Palate: Far-Flung IV’s texture was dense and somewhat creamy. It lacked any punch to my palate, which I found unusual considering the proof. On the front were flavors of toffee, milk chocolate, and cola. The middle featured notes of lime zest, tobacco, and rye spice, while the back included oak, black pepper, and espresso.

 

Finish: The relatively level finish coated my tongue and throat. Espresso, toffee, milk chocolate, oak, and black pepper melded into a slightly warming, 48-second duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Yes, Far-Flung IV carries only a 4-year age statement. That’s the youngest whiskey in the blend. Reviewing which distilleries are involved and Lost Lantern’s history of single cask releases, some of the component Bourbons are far older.

 

I would have preferred a longer finish only because its qualities were so tasty. The world, however, is far from perfect. There’s a lot to enjoy with Far-Flung IV, and I was shocked how mild the alcohol was – it drank perhaps 10 points below its stated number. It is a great example of blending artistry and deserves my Bottle rating.

 

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Far Flung Bourbon 100

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distillers: Baltimore Spirits Co. (Baltimore, MD), High Wire Distilling Co. (Charleston, SC), Rich Grain Distilling Co. (Canton, MS), SanTan Spirits (Chandler, AZ), Still Austin Whiskey Co. (Austin, TX), Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. (DeKalb, IL), Wollersheim Distillery (Prairie du Sac, WI)
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
• Price per 750mL: $80.00
• Bottle Yield: 758
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: The Bourbon’s color appeared as an orange amber. It created a thin rim with massive, slow tears.

 

Nose: Far-Flung 100’s aroma included notes of chocolate, leather, tobacco, cherries, figs, and cedar. When I drew the air through my lips, I found caramel and tobacco.

 

Palate: I encountered a slightly oily texture, with no palate shock. I detected toffee, lime zest, and cola on the front. My mid-palate found notes of leather, cocoa, and tobacco. The back included oak, espresso, and black pepper.

 

Finish: Once I swallowed, the Bourbon seemed mild in my throat, then a quick ramping up of spices sat on my tongue, including clove, black pepper, oak tannins, espresso, and cocoa nibs. Its longer duration ran 1:46.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: While spicy, I found Far-Flung 100 to be an incredibly easy sipper that drank right at its stated proof. Between the nose, texture, palate, and finish, it is a solid Bourbon. Without repeating what I said about the cask-strength version, the ages of some of the component Bourbons add value. I’ve run across other similarly aged blends, and while Lost Lantern’s is a bit on the pricey side, it is worth picking up. It takes my Bottle rating.

 

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Final Thoughts on the Blends: There were, as I expected, many similarities. Yet the mouthfeel and finish were worlds apart. The 100° version, while easy to sip, seemed warmer than the cask strength. That happens occasionally. These are a perfect example of what a critical role proof plays. Between the two, I preferred the cask strength, but just by a hair.

 

Just for kicks, I had equal amounts of these blends left over, so I blended them. At about 110°, it was a very creamy, sipping experience (and quite tasty!).

 

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The following eight are all single-barrel, cask-strength whiskeys; two are American Single Malts, four Bourbons, and two American Ryes.

 

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Boulder Spirits Colorado Single Malt

 

• Whiskey Type: American Single Malt
• Distiller: Boulder Spirits (Boulder, CO)
• Age: 7 years
• Mashbill: 100% unpeated malted barley
• Cooperage: New American oak cask
• Alcohol Content: 69.35% ABV (138.7°)
• Price per 750mL: $140.00
• Bottle Yield: 173
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: This American Single Malt was the color of raw honey. A thin, jagged rim glued to the wall of my glass after shedding a wild curtain that never quite made it to a tears stage.

 

Nose: As I was waiting for the whiskey to acclimate, the air in my whiskey library smelled like berries. When I brought the glass to my nostrils and inhaled, I discovered a fragrance of strawberries, red currants, and pears, with a gentle kiss of toffee, and, inside my mouth, the air had a leathery quality.

 

Palate: With my first sip, I found a blast of leather that quickly rolled across my tongue and down my throat. The mouthfeel was full-bodied. The second sip unveiled notes of cherries, strawberries, and pears on the front of my palate. My mid-palate was highlighted with flavors of caramel, toffee, and cedar. The back included clove, cinnamon Red Hots, and fresh leather.

 

Finish: Fresh leather, clove, cedar, cinnamon Red Hots, and tea rounded things out. The finish began on the warm side while slowly mellowing. When it started its fade, dark chocolate came out of nowhere and hogged the stage. The long duration ran 1:48.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: It is a shame that Boulder Spirits doesn’t garner as much attention as it should; nearly everything I’ve had out of this distillery has been excellent, and this Lost Lantern pick fits that description perfectly. It isn’t shy about its proof; it won’t curl your nose hairs, but it will demand your attention while in your mouth and throat. At the same time, it isn’t going to wear out your palate. It is typical of Master Distiller Alastair Brogan’s whiskey-making style.

 

For a 7-year-old cask-strength American Single Malt, you’re getting what you pay for, and it earns my Bottle rating.

 

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Copperworks Distilling Washington Single Malt

 

• Whiskey Type: American Single Malt
• Distiller: Copperworks Distilling Co (Seattle, WA)
• Age: 3 years
• Mashbill: 5 types of different roasted, unpeated malted barley
• Cooperage: New American oak cask
• Alcohol Content: 60.3% ABV (120.6°)
• Price per 750mL: $100.00
• Bottle Yield: 210
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: Copperworks’ whiskey possessed a rich amber hue. It formed a thin, fragile rim that required me to try several times even to generate. The crazed legs were thick and fast.

 

Nose: The malty aroma consisted of milk chocolate, raspberries, strawberries, coffee, and clove. When I pulled the vapor through my lips, there was a taste of English toffee.

 

Palate: A dense, creamy mouthfeel led to flavors of raw honey, oatmeal, and strawberries on the front of my palate. The middle featured milk chocolate, peaches, and figs, while the back had notes of leather, caramel, and toffee.

 

Finish: The very malty finish faded quickly – then resurrected just as fast. English toffee, strawberries, figs, peaches, and chocolate stuck to my tongue like glue, although I didn’t feel the same sensation in my throat. The 1:38 duration was long, wavy, and pleasing.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve had many, many American Single Malts from Copperworks Distilling, and the nose on this one was unlike any I’ve experienced. There was no palate shock despite its higher proof. The fruity notes were welcomed and enriched my sipping session. It drank far below its stated proof, and that finish was an attention-getter.

 

This expression is another winner from Copperworks, and while it is slightly more expensive than what the distillery charges for single barrels, it is still worth picking up. My Bottle rating is well-warranted.  

 

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Final Thoughts on the Single Malts: This was a fun comparison because I’m a longtime fan of both distilleries, though what they produce is worlds apart. I don’t understand the link; Boulder and Seattle terroirs are so different, and Boulder Spirits is more of a Scotch-like distillery while Copperworks is very American.

 

I also didn’t understand the low-high proof matchup. Both of these were higher than average; 120° is nothing to sneeze at, and that’s the lower of the two!

 

Some may balk at the three-year age statement for the Copperworks expression, but that’s plenty of time for an American Single Malt. These whiskeys mature much faster than Bourbon or American Rye. Seven years in oak for American Single Malts is akin to about a dozen or so years in those other whiskey types.

 

You really can’t go wrong with either of these expressions, although I believe Copperworks slightly edges out Boulder Spirits in this matchup.

 

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Day’s Defile Idaho Straight Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed, shuttered Idaho distillery
• Producer: Day’s Defile (Shelly, ID)
• Age: 10 years (oldest Idaho whiskey ever released)
• Mashbill: 76% corn, 11% triticale, 13% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrel
• Alcohol Content: 77.2% ABV (155.4°)
• Price per 750mL: $140.00
• Bottle Yield: 126
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: Inside my glass, the Bourbon possessed a caramel-like color. A thin rim led to thick, tightly packed, fast tears.

 

Nose: The initial aroma of Day’s Defile was a cherry bomb. As I continued sniffing, toffee, vanilla bean, and butter pecan joined it. I pulled the air into my mouth and wound up with intense butter pecan.

 

Palate: A thick, buttery texture greeted my tongue and throat. There was nothing that overwhelmed my palate. The lack of burn took me aback. On the front of my palate, I tasted vanilla, butter pecan, and a kiss of cinnamon. The middle included caramel, chocolate, and graham crackers. Clove, oak, and leather were on the back.

 

Finish: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla cream, and butter pecan remained, giving the finish a very dessert-like quality. The cinnamon rose slightly in intensity, but it never approached its stated proof. I timed it at 3:13, which is exceptionally long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve never heard of Day’s Defile before, so today’s tasting was an exciting adventure. I relished the nosing because I love butter pecan ice cream. The fact that it carried through into the palate and finish was a bonus. Also, this was 155°? No way. It drank closer to 120°-130 °.

 

What stinks is that Day’s Defile wasn’t the distiller, which means this experience is absolutely unique. I wish I knew who the distiller was because I’d chase down other whiskeys it created. Day’s Defile is an experience whiskey, which means I don’t even care what it costs. Buy a Bottle, you won’t regret it!

 

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Montgomery Distillery Montana Straight Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Montgomery Distillery (Missoula, MT)
• Age: 4 years
• Mashbill: 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrel
• Alcohol Content: 52.3% ABV (104.6°)
• Price per 750mL: $100.00
• Bottle Yield: 207
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: In my Glencairn glass, this Bourbon had a golden-amber hue. A thick rim formed, jettisoning even thicker, crazed, slow tears.

 

Nose: This wheater smelled of cinnamon dust, lemon zest, vanilla, and milk chocolate. It was quite muted and required repetitive effort to pull those. When I drew the air into my mouth, I found an equally elusive sensation of milk chocolate.

 

Palate: With the first sip, I discovered a soft, yet oily texture. There was no palate shock whatsoever. Lemon zest and vanilla sugar cookies were evident on the front of my palate. Midway through, I tasted mild chocolate and cinnamon, while the back included nutmeg and oak.

 

Finish: Nutmeg, vanilla sugar cookies, light oak, and a dash of cinnamon offered a short, slightly ramped-up finish that petered out at 28 seconds.   

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Today’s pour was my introduction to Montgomery Distillery. In fact, I’ve only had one Montana whiskey before, and that was back in 2021. This particular Bourbon had a low entry proof, but that exact number wasn’t disclosed. If you blindfolded me, I would guess this was bottled at about 86°, based on the very gentle notes during the nosing, palate, and finish.

 

For $100.00, I would expect something that didn’t require this much effort to identify flavors and smells. I enjoy a challenge, but the Lost Lantern’s Montgomery Distillery barrel was so soft that it was distracting. It isn’t a bad whiskey per se; it’s just very forgettable. Hence, my Bust rating.

 

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Dread River Distilling Co. Alabama Straight Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Dread River Distilling Co. (Birmingham, AL)
• Age: 6 years
• Mashbill: 60% white corn, 30% winter wheat, 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrel
• Alcohol Content: 70.9% ABV (141.8°)
• Price per 750mL: $140.00
• Bottle Yield: 158
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: Dread River’s Bourbon was dark with a reddish hue. The whiskey created a medium rim with thick, crazed tears.

 

Nose: I immediately smelled cherries, blueberries, and chocolate. As I continued to explore, I found nutmeg and oak. Pulling the air through my lips, I ran into newer leather.  

 

Palate: A smooth, silky mouthfeel produced a slight palate shock of oak and nutmeg. Subsequently, I discovered tastes of cocoa nibs, nutmeg, and old leather on the front. Flavors of vanilla, chocolate, and cherries came next. The back offered bold oak, caramel, and clove.  

 

Finish: Thick caramel, dense cocoa, cherries, oak, and clove harmoniously offset one another. I experienced a very level finish that produced a drying effect on my tongue and in my throat. The duration lasted 1:19, making it just shy of long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The last time I tasted anything from Dread River Distilling Co. was its Master Series Batch 2 in 2023, and I really wasn’t a fan.

 

Lost Lantern’s cask has no rye component to generate the spicy notes – those had to come from the barrel itself. You’d never, ever guess that this Bourbon was into hazmat territory. It was warm but nowhere near “hot,” and it drank probably 25 points lower than its stated proof! That’s wild. The only clue to its potency was when I stood up. Dread River’s barrel is such an easy sipper, and there’s no need at all to add water to it. I found this one to be such a worthwhile pour, and even though it is pricey, you should pick up a Bottle.     

 

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Fiddler Soloist George Straight Bourbon

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: ASW Distillery (Atlanta, GA)
• Age: 7 years
• Mashbill: 56% corn, 14% malted wheat, 10% malted rye, 10% malted barley, 7% smoked malt, 3% chocolate malted rye
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrel
• Alcohol Content: 64.95% ABV (129.9°)
• Price per 750mL: $100.00
• Bottle Yield:146
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: Fiddler Soloist was the color of butterscotch. The Bourbon produced a medium rim with thick, randomly spaced, lightning-fast tears.

 

Nose: My nosing journey revealed smells of pimento wood, cocoa nibs, heavy char, and dark chocolate. There was also a mineral component. Inside my mouth, the aroma tasted of lime juice.

 

Palate: I experienced a chocolatey palate shock with my first sip. The Bourbon’s texture was thick and full-bodied. I identified cocoa powder, dark chocolate, and very dry leather on the front of my palate with the second sip. Midway through, flavors of oak, allspice, and earth emerged. Next came tobacco leaf, nutmeg, and coffee.  

 

Finish: Cocoa powder and dark chocolate competed heavily for my attention, while allspice, coffee, and earth interevened. Leather and oak added to its drying quality. Coffee was the last to exit. The warming, long finish lasted 1:43.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’ve had several whiskeys from ASW Distillery, and it is, overall, an impressive operation. Concerning this single-barrel Bourbon, it was a savory spice-lover’s dream. It lacked any typical sweet notes, which were likely smothered by the malted rye and barley. The wheat component would only have intensified them. It was, all in all, an interesting, unusual Bourbon; if you’ve followed me for any time, you know that I relish the unusual. Fidler Soloist is captivating and will force you to slow down and appreciate what’s in your glass. It takes my Bottle rating.  

 

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Final Thoughts on the Single Cask Bourbons: These Bourbons hit the entire spectrum, from shy to aggressive, from sweet to spicy, and everywhere in between. I didn’t necessarily understand Lost Lantern’s pairings, and at the end of the day, it didn’t matter.

 

In order of preference, I’d say that Day’s Defile was in my headlights, Dread River Distillery and Fiddler Soloist were in the car, and Montgomery Distillery was hanging out in the rearview mirror.  

 

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New Riff Distilling Kentucky Straight Rye

 

• Whiskey Type: American Rye
• Distiller: New Riff Distilling (Newport, KY)
• Age: 6 years
• Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted rye
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrel
• Alcohol Content: 57.55% ABV (115.1°)
• Price per 750mL: $100.00
• Bottle Yield: 172
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: This American Rye was the color of burnt sienna. A medium-thick rim created tightly spaced, thicker, fast tears.

 

Nose: New Riff’s aroma included a ton of cherries and strawberries, along with fresh rye bread, milk chocolate, clove, and orange zest. Inhaling the vapor through my lips exposed me to more milk chocolate.

 

Palate: I found this Rye’s mouthfeel to be silky with a slight punch of mint. The second sip revealed flavors of rye bread, plums, and milk chocolate on the front of my palate. Next came black tea, spearmint, and dried tobacco leaf. The back shone a spotlight on oak, leather, and clove.

 

Finish: Clocking in at 1:08, spearmint, rye bread, leather, black tea, and clove produced an even-keeled, medium finish. It faded away softly.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: New Riff is known for some off-the-beaten-path mashbills. Malted rye is always a crazy adventure. Many times, it behaves similarly to wheat, offering a rounded, softer texture. Other times, it lends a significantly grassy quality. I was pleased that the former occurred.

 

Generally, I’m not a fan of spearmint and black tea, but in this case, it worked. The rye bread, plums, and chocolate were an interesting combination; not quite dessert-like, but they helped tame the aforementioned notes I don’t relish. I can picture myself enjoying this, surprisingly, on a warmer summer evening on my back deck. It is worth picking up a Bottle.  

 

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Broad Branch Distillery North Carolina Straight Rye

 

• Whiskey Type: American Rye
• Distiller: Broad Branch Distillery (Winston-Salem, NC)
• Age: 8 years
• Mashbill: 100% prairie rye
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon #4 charred oak barrel
• Alcohol Content: 70.8% ABV (141.6°)
• Price per 750mL: $140.00
• Bottle Yield: 174
• Non-chill filtered, naturally colored

 

Appearance: This American Rye had the appearance of gingerbread. A thin rim produced crazed, medium tears that raced back to the pool.

 

Nose: As I began my nosing journey, I stumbled upon a bold note of maple syrup, joined by grass, clove, figs, and oak. Inside my mouth, the air tasted of rich butterscotch. It made me wonder if I was in for a wild ride.

 

Palate: Broad Branch’s texture was oily, and it was a mint bomb. After letting that pass, I took another sip that revealed notes of lemongrass and spearmint on the front, with tastes of intense oak, dark chocolate, and cinnamon Red Hots on my mid-palate. The back included dry leather and a hint of dill.

 

Finish: Spearmint, lemongrass, black tea, oak, cinnamon, and dry leather remained, lasting 1:19. It was even, but only offered aggressive sensations in my mouth.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: No matter how many times I let this Rye oxidize for a few more minutes, I couldn’t get past the explosive tastes of mint and lemongrass. It acted every bit of its hazmat-proof and not in a pleasant manner. I tried adding two drops of distilled water to see if that would calm things down, and it did – but only slightly.

 

I love high-proof whiskeys and have always found hazmat proofs exciting. But, this North Carolina Straight Rye didn’t do me any favors. I can’t find a reason to recommend it; hence, my Bust rating.

 

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Final Thoughts on the Ryes: Obviously, I preferred the lower-proofed New Riff compared to the Broad Branch. I’ve had many pours of New Riff over the years; this was my introduction to Broad Branch. Is it typical of what the distillery has to offer? Only time will tell.

 

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Epilogue: The Spring 2026 Collection is a fun excursion exploring the differences between low- and high-proofed whiskeys. It would be more exciting to have it more like the Far-Flung blends with the single cask at barrel proof and then, say, at 100°, so that we could compare apples to apples.

 

Regardless, Lost Lantern proves it is great at sourcing whiskeys of all types, and I look forward to the next collection. I am very appreciative of this opportunity and found this a very entertaining experience.

 

Oh, one last thing. If I could only buy one of these whiskeys, it would be the Day’s Defile Bourbon. WOW. 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.