Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
American independent bottlers are a new and emerging category on the domestic whiskey scene. Mirroring practices of similar outfits in Scotland, this niche of producers seeks out high-quality expressions from distilleries across the United States, making them single bottlings or blended whiskeys. They also tend to believe in transparency, putting alongside their brand the name of the distillery, where the whiskey came from, and as much other relevant information as possible.
One of the leaders of this movement is Lost Lantern, who is out of Vermont. Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, they were recently named Independent Bottler of the Year at the global Icons of Whisky Awards in London. They take very seriously where they source from and the transparency of information, regularly releasing blended and single distillery expressions with unique identities.
This past November, they offered four new expressions as part of their Lost Lantern Winter 2023 Collection. Crafted “specifically to be enjoyed during the coldest season of the year,” the one I’m reviewing today is Lost Lantern Brooklyn Bakery Kings County New York Straight Bourbon. Sourced from Kings County Distillery, the oldest distillery in New York City, this non-chill-filtered, natural-colored bourbon is a marriage of eight different barrels of 5-year-old and 6-year-old Kings County bourbons. It has a mash bill of 80% New York-grown corn and 20% malted barley.
The whiskey has been bottled at a hearty 133 proof and priced at $100, with just 396 bottles available.
Latest On The Whiskey Wash
Latest News