Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Lost Lantern, recently named the global Independent Bottler of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards, has launched their new Single Distillery Series! The series features three fantastic whiskeys from two different distilleries – Balcones Distilling out of Waco, Texas and Whiskey Del Bac from Tucson, Arizona.
Lost Lantern Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski enjoyed a highly collaborative relationship with the two distilleries for this series. Of the inaugural release the founders state, “We were thrilled to work closely with the Balcones and Whiskey Del Bac teams to create the inaugural releases in our Single Distillery Series. These limited-edition bottlings will appeal to whiskey enthusiasts seeking new flavor combinations and fans of Balcones and Whiskey Del Bac excited to explore the breadth of what those distilleries have to offer.”
Following a long running Single Cask Series, Lost Lantern wanted to continue to highlight unique distilleries that may be more difficult for some consumers to access by developing the Single Distillery Series, aiming to “showcase the versatility, breadth, and depth of some of Lost Lantern’s most beloved partners.”
Whiskey Del Bac blew me away the first time I tasted their Ode to Islay expression, and so I was thrilled to see two new releases in this Single Distillery Series. Whiskey Del Bac Desert Dessert was my first taste in the series, and I was thrilled to experience a new and equally impressive whiskey showcasing complexity between layers of smooth, aromatic sweetness.
Whiskey Del Bac Desert Dessert pulls from three casks including one that previously held Sauternes, the French dessert wine, that contributes to the sweet notes, with a mash bill of 60% unsmoked malted barley and 40% mesquite malted barley, with that mesquite really shining on the palate.
The experience of Whiskey Del Bac’s mesquite malt as opposed to the traditional single malt peated malt is exactly the kind of innovation that excites. Instead of attempting to completely break the mold, the distillery explored the wood native to their Southwest desert home and built their own flavor profile based off the classic Speyside Scotch style.
Desert Dessert was named “Best American Single Malt” at the Fall 2022 John Barleycorn Awards, further adding to the prestige of Lost Lantern’s Single Distillery Series!
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Tasting Notes: Lost Lantern “Desert Dessert” Whiskey Del Bac
Vital Stats: Aged one year. 113.8 Proof. 450 Bottles released at $100/750 ml. Mash Bill of 60% Unsmoked Malted Barley and 40% Mesquite Malted Barley. Maturation Barrel – Cask 1: 15-gallon barrels from the Barrel Mill; char 3; medium plus toast. Cask 2: 15-gallon second use American Oak for 1.5 years then into Ex-Sauternes cask for 2 months. Cask 3: 15-gallon barrels from the Barrel Mill; char 3; medium plus toast then into Ex-Pineau des Charentes cask for 3 months.
Appearance: A light, clear amber color.
Nose: The nose is surprisingly weak for the eventual impact of the flavor profile. Once the whiskey is allowed to open a bit, aromas of a carnival begin to emerge. Cotton candy, buttered popcorn, sweet but subtle, and notes of caramel.
Palate: Sweet, yes, but not cloying. Smoky, yes, but in a way that opens the palate to the smaller lingering notes the whiskey holds. On the back of the palate, I enjoyed oily, buttery notes, with the malt present but not overpowering. Butterscotch and maple join golden raisin, accentuated by the mesquite barley flavors that flow smoothly into the long finish.
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