Red apple | Cranberry | Plum | Leather | Tobacco | Burnt cinnamon streusel

Mixed nuts | Pink peppercorn | Dry oak | Cocoa powder | Barrel char | Touch of smoke

Leather | Sun-dried tomatoes | Red meat | Seasoned oak

Wollersheim Distillery, a family-owned gain-to-glass winery and distillery based in Wisconsin, has acquired something of a cult following over the last few years. While distribution remains limited, they’ve been open to partnerships like this one with Lost Lantern, which has allowed more people to experience their unique style of whiskey. On paper, a 5 year old, 131 proof, 66% corn, 22% rye, 12% malted barley bourbon isn’t out of the ordinary, but one sip will prove how wrong that sentiment is.

Lost Lantern 2024 Single Cask #2 opens with an array of red fruits, but not in the typical strawberry, cherry, and red raspberry variety, and more in the red apple, cranberry, and plum type. The palate and finish are difficult to fully pin down, as none of the flavors quite fit into a familiar box. It is nutty but not any one specific kind. It’s peppery but more so in the pink peppercorn variety. The finish features a sun-dried tomato and red meat note that sounds odd, but surprisingly isn’t offensive and quite intriguing. I thought I was crazy thinking I was tasting a meaty flavor note, but Lost Lantern’s own tasting notes align with this sentiment.

Much like how Tom’s Foolery and other similar distilleries that are making a name for themselves based on a unique flavor profile, Wollersheim Distillery also stands out for this reason. There isn’t anything on the market that tastes quite like this bourbon from Wollersheim Distillery, but with that, they also run the risk of lacking broad appeal. While the flavor profile might not agree with everyone, it's a stretch to call this bourbon flawed in any way. This bourbon by Wollersheim Distillery is a good example of where craft distilleries are beginning to dig into the market by offering something much more unique than we’ve gotten in the past and is hard for others to replicate. It should be celebrated for the boundaries it pushes and for bucking the expectations of what a bourbon should taste like.

Lost Lantern 2024 Single Cask #2: Wollersheim Distillery is a 200 bottle release.