Cherry | Peppermint patty | Baking spices | Apple pie | Musty oak | Vanilla custard

Cherry | Chocolate | Vanilla | Gentle charred oak | Roasted mixed nuts | Minerals

Aged oak | Oak tannins | Leather | Butterscotch | Touch of root beer | Lingering dark fruits

Cascade Hollow Distilling has been relatively quiet lately. Like some of their peers, they’ve slowed production as their warehouses are packed with aging whiskey. In particular, they have a hefty amount of high aged whiskey sitting in barrels that needs to be sold. This is why the company sells their 15 year old George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey for only $60 and has begun blending their high aged bourbon into other releases. Yet, they price their 18 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey at a premium at around $400-$500 a bottle, making this release from Lost Lantern a great value from that point of view.

One of the most interesting aspects of high aged George Dickel whiskey is how low proof it tends to be straight from the barrel. It’s rare to see an 82 proof cask strength bourbon, and the company chalks it up to Tennessee’s humid climate, which zaps the alcohol from the barrels but leaves the flavor behind.    

George Dickel whiskey can be polarizing, and many who have been around whiskey for the past decade know by now whether they like it. Lost Lantern 2026 Single Cask #9 isn’t likely to change anyone’s mind per se, but those with an open mind may find a lot to enjoy with this Lost Lantern release.

At only 82 proof, the whiskey is quite flavorful, which is a major selling point for whiskey drinkers who like a lower proof pour but still want flavor. On top of that, its age also deepens George Dickel's cherry, chocolate, vanilla, and assorted dark fruit profile, without relying on proof to do it. Furthermore, oak plays a major role, offering charred oak, aged oak, and silky oak tannins throughout its sip.

Overall, Lost Lantern 2026 Single Cask #9 is a gentle, subtle sipper. It tastes like Dickel whiskey and, though not inexpensive, is a solid value for its age, with a considerable discount from what Cascade Hollow Distilling sells it for themselves. It’s not a major change from what you can buy at a fraction of the price in their 15 Year Old release, but it has subtle differences that make it a slightly better pour overall. It likely won’t convert a Dickel-hater, but anyone who enjoys a Dickel pour from time to time will appreciate what it offers.

The whiskey in review is one of 130 bottles.