Amaretto | Cranberry | Walnut | French vanilla | Punchy oak

Chocolate mousse | Toasted pecans | Cinnamon Raisin | Earthy grain

Baking chocolate | Maple | Oak | Sharp oak | Touch dry | Lingering spice

Lost Lantern’s fall release this year centers around four whiskeys all aged 10 years. Tom's Foolery isn’t new to the Lost Lantern brand, previously offering a 9 year old rye in March this year, and an 8-9 year bourbon in July 2023, both of which were well received. Hitting the 10 year mark is an accomplishment for any distillery no matter their size, and this release comes from a short barrel, giving up only 82 bottles.

The bourbon opens with big amaretto notes that, when combined with punchy oak, immediately make an impression. This is followed by scents of tart cranberry, hearty walnut, and classic French vanilla, adding the overall allure of the bourbon. The palate then offers creamy chocolate mousse layering on toasted pecan, cinnamon raisin, and noticeable earthy grain, which is possibly the result of the high amount of malted barley present in the mashbill. The finish hits harder thanks to bold baking chocolate and a splash of maple before hearty sharp oak interjects. It ends with lingering spice.

Producing just 82 bottles from the barrel typically means a high concentration of flavor due to evaporation loss. In that vein, the flavor profile is rather tight, with a sharp interjection of oak weaved throughout. The oak, in particular, is quite concentrated, which likely contributes to its sharpness. This 10 year old Tom Foolery’s bourbon doesn’t quite reach the heights of Lost Lantern’s previous release from the distillery, but it also doesn’t come up short in its own right either. Tom's Foolery’s pot stills, along with their mashbill and distillation process, definitely give their whiskeys distinct characteristics that make them stand out from other cookie cutter brands. Being one of the first 10 year old bourbons from Tom Foolery released on a wider scale (due to Lost Lantern's larger shipping distribution, not the 82 bottle count), there is a ton of curiosity on offer here, but also some room to nip and tuck. Tom's Foolery remains one of whiskey’s hidden gems, and as such, a continued curiosity.