We've said it before and we'll say it again: if one really wanted to explore all that craft can offer under one umbrella brand, I would immediately point you to Lost Lantern. As an independent bottler of American whiskey, Lost Lantern routinely works with all styles of American whiskey - always advocating for unique, craft distilleries all across the map. Several of their releases made my various top lists in 2024, and I think that could be the same again in 2025.
The Lost Lantern Spring 2025 Collection is entirely focused on New American Finishing Traditions: newer types of cask finishes that are distinctly locally rooted while pushing the boundaries of flavor. From honey cask finish to tequila, and even to things like Pommeau ( a blend of apple brandy and apple juice) and Nocino (a liqueur made from unripe walnuts), there is no shortage of uniqueness in this release. We also roll out the third edition of their flagship Far-Flung Bourbon.
Far-Flung Bourbon III
The largest and most wide-ranging release yet of our flagship bourbon, which shows that great bourbon now comes from all across the country. This edition is a blend of bourbon from Frey Ranch (NV), Still Austin (TX), Rich Grain Distilling (MS), Smooth Ambler (WV), Wollersheim (WI), and Rock Town (AR). Already named one of VinePair's Best Bourbons of 2025. It has notes of rich oak spice, caramel, and chocolate covered espresso beans on the nose, caramel, warm oak, lemon bars, and toasted almonds on the palate, with a long, rich and spicy finish.
Opulent Orchard New York Distilling Co. Apple Brandy Finished Rye
New York Distilling Co. was the first rye whiskey distillery we ever worked with, and we are proud to once again shine a light on one of the most unique types of whiskey they produce: A 7-year apple brandy-finished rye whiskey, a unique style that adds the fresh fruit flavors of apple brandy to the warmth and spice of northern rye. This is part of our Single Distillery Series (not a single cask but a Lost Lantern-created blend of several barrels from this distillery). The nose has notes of fresh apples, rye spice, and black licorice, while the palate bursts with notes of cinnamon applesauce, fresh apple pie, warm oak, and wintergreen mint leading into a spicy and peppery finish.
Finger Lakes Distilling Pommeau Finished New York Straight Rye
Our first release from Finger Lakes is a 6-yr rye, which they finished especially for us for this Collection in a Pommeau barrel (apple brandy + fresh apple cider) from Finger Lakes Cider House for 3 additional months. Yes, this is cask strength despite the low proof - and it's extremely sippable. The nose bursts with notes of juicy apple, cinnamon, spice, and plum. The rich palate is warm and balanced, with hints of spiced apple cider, warm rye spice, and gentle oak.
Watershed Nocino Finished Ohio Straight Bourbon 8 Years Old
We love Watershed's unique nocino and nocino-finished bourbon, and this single cask is substantially older than the norm for them at 8-yrs old. And the finish alone was over 4 years long! It has notes of marzipan, butterscotch, and sweet oak on the nose, with dried mint, warm oak, and hints of toffee and candied walnuts on the palate. A rich and delectable spirit with a hint of herbaceousness.
Starlight Honey Finished Indiana Straight Bourbon
How could we do a finished collection without Starlight? Finished in a barrel that previously held honey from their own farm, this has beautiful and delicate floral notes uncommon in bourbon. And honey finishes tend to be true crowd-pleasers. A spirit that bursts with summer freshness, with notes of wildflower honey, white flowers, roses, and a honeyed yet not overly sweet palate.
Andalusia Whiskey Co. Tequila Finished Peated Texas Single Malt
This unique single cask from one of the rising stars of American Single Malt was made with 100% malted barley, 10% of which was peated in-house using Irish Peat. It was aged in a barrel that previously held Stryker, an Andalusia single malt smoked with Texas wood, for 2 years and six months, and then finished in an ex-Añejo tequila cask for six months. Flavorwise, this is a funky cross between whiskey and mezcal. The palate has a fresh grassy flavor, with hints of vanilla cream and a deep, complex smoke.
Santa Fe Spirits Apple Brandy Finished New Mexico Single Malt
An unusually smoky and fruity dram, this is mesquite-smoked single malt at its finest. This was made from 100% malted barley, with 30% of which was mesquite-smoked. It was aged for 3.5 years in a 53-gallon barrel and the finished for over a year in an ex-apple brandy barrel. Our first Santa Fe Spirits single cask release since 2020! It has a robust, bright, smoky nose, with hints of grilled apples and charred oranges and a pleasant maltiness. The palate is smoky, rich, deep, and enticing, with notes of smoked blood oranges and warm apple slices.
