Caramel | Chocolate cake | Amaretto | Seasoned oak | Concord grape | Cigar box | Burnt butterscotch | Varnish | Leather | Slightly earthy

Cherry | Plum | Blueberry | Nutmeg | Dr. Pepper | Seasoned oak

Dry oak | Raspberry | White grape | Oak tannins | Cherry cobbler | Blackberry | Fig | Tobacco | Charcoal

As the United States celebrates its 250th Anniversary, many producers are releasing commemorative bottles to mark the occasion. Where many of them feature unique proof points, barrel finishing, blends, and stories to tie into the occasion, no one is going as far as Lost Lantern to release something truly special. Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 1776 Edition features a blend of bourbons distilled in the original 13 colonies when the new country signed its Declaration of Independence. This limited release is a subset of their new inaugural line of bourbons that celebrate America’s native spirit. Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon other two releases, which come in two different proof points, are blends of bourbon that were distilled in all 50 states, and the first release nicely coincides with the United States celebrating its 250th Anniversary. It’s an inspired and creative idea that has never been attempted before.

The aroma is deep-seated and very tight at first, but once it starts to open up, it reveals a wide array of scents. Caramel, chocolate cake, amaretto, and seasoned oak are the most dominating, but there are so many other scents layered in that it takes some teasing to pull them out. This is where the true variety resides. Concord grape gives way to cigar box, then burnt butterscotch, varnish, and leather with a slight earthy undertone to it all. I don’t doubt more scents will reveal themselves each time you sit with the bourbon, due to the sheer variety of distillate profiles used in the blend.

From there, the palate is thick right from the start as it coats your mouth with rich velvety notes of cherry, plum, and blueberry. It then transitions to non-fruit notes of nutmeg, Dr. Pepper, and seasoned oak. The finish takes it further by ramping up the complexity to an 11, with notes of dry oak, raspberry, white grape, oak tannins, cherry cobbler, blackberry, fig, tobacco, and charcoal.  Yes, it’s a lot, but it’s surprisingly easier to parse the bourbon’s flavors than you’d expect it to be with a 50-component blend.

That ends up being the rub here. Anyone familiar with bourbon likely has low expectations of a blend of this magnitude. But it all ends up coming together surprisingly well. Anyone who has tried to create their own blend of multiple distilleries can attest that it's easier said than done. In the whiskey world, where sourcing bourbon isn’t cheap, it took courage and a big leap of faith on Lost Lantern’s part to pull off such a project, especially for a company of its size.

To point out the obvious, Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Cask Strength is a bourbon that has a lot going on. Some will think it's too much, and that its flavor profile lacks focus, which, in a way, is true. But the kitchen sink approach rarely turns out well, yet the Lost Lantern folks found a way to make one of the most interesting bourbons of the year. It may be challenging pour for some, while others will revel in its never-ending complexity. But above all else, they found a way for it to be a reflection of the event it represents: the 50 individual bourbons, distinct with their own character, come together to form what might not always be a more perfect union, but something intrinsically special.  

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Cask Strength is a 3,300 bottle release.

‍*Participating Distilleries in United States of Bourbon (listed in order of statehood)

Painted Stave Distilling (DE), Liberty Pole Spirits (PA), Sourland Mountain Spirits (NJ), ASW Fiddler Distillery (GA), Litchfield Distillery (CT), Triple Eight Distillery (MA), Baltimore Spirits Co. (MD), High Wire Distilling Co. (SC), Cathedral Ledge Distillery (NH), Reservoir Distillery (VA), Kings County Distillery (NY), Broad Branch Distillery (NC), South County Distillers (RI), Stonecutter Spirits (VT), New Riff Distilling (KY), Leiper’s Fork Distillery (TN), Tom’s Foolery Distillery (OH), Distillerie Acadian (LA), Starlight Distillery (IN), Rich Grain Distilling (MS), Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. (IL), Dread River Distilling Co. (AL), Hardshore Distilling Co. (ME), J. Rieger & Co. (MO), Rock Town Distillery (AR), New Holland Distilling Co. (MI), St. Augustine Distillery (FL), Balcones Distilling (TX), Cedar Ridge Distillery (IA), Wollersheim Distillery (WI), Corbin Cash Distillery (CA), Far North Spirits (MN), Oregon Spirit Distillers (OR), Union Horse Distilling Co. (KS), Smooth Ambler Spirits (WV), Frey Ranch Distillery (NV), Brickway Distillery (NE), Boulder Spirits (CO), Proof Artisan Distillers (ND), Blackfork Farms (SD), Montgomery Distillery (MT), Woodinville Whiskey Co. (WA), Day’s Defile (ID), Backwards Distilling Co. (WY), High West Distillery (UT), Hochatown Distilling (OK), Safe House Distilling (NM), SanTan Distilling (AZ), Denali Spirits (AK), and Ko‘olau Distillery (HI).