‘Exciting and Dynamic’ Midwest Whiskey Distilleries Unite in Latest Lost Lantern Collection
Lost Lantern unveiled its latest whiskey collection, featuring sleeper hit distilleries from the Midwest. (Photo: Lost Lantern)
On Thursday, Lost Lantern debuted its Spring 2024 collection, which the independent bottler intends to use to shine a light on one of the United States’ more promising, under-the-radar regions: the Midwest.
This is the first regional collection from Lost Lantern, and it features the oldest whiskey the Vermont-based bottler has ever released.
The Midwest Collection will be available from Lost Lantern’s Vermont-based tasting room and online at the brand’s website. It will also be available from Seelbach’s beginning March 27.
“The Midwest is one of the most exciting and dynamic whiskey regions in the United States, yet it’s one that whiskey drinkers often overlook,” Lost Lantern co-founder Nora Ganley-Roper said in a news release. “Other regions like the Pacific Northwest and Texas may have a higher profile, but distilleries across the Midwest are making truly wonderful, world-class whiskeys. This is especially true for bourbon and rye, and we’ve found that many of the best whiskeys of the Midwest exhibit a complex yet soft and creamy character.”
The Spring Collection comprises seven bottlings from the region: Far-Flung Rye — a multi-distillery blended rye — and six single cask releases: Starlight Distillery (Indiana), Cedar Ridge (Iowa), Tom’s Foolery (Ohio), Wollersheim Distillery (Wisconsin), FEW Spirits (Illinois) and Middle West Spirits (Ohio.)
This is Lost Lantern’s first time bottling whiskeys from Wollersheim, FEW and Middle West.
The latest release marks several firsts for the independent bottler, including inaugural offerings from the states of Wisconsin and Illinois and its first rye blend sourced from multiple states. The collection also includes the oldest whiskey ever released by Lost Lantern, a 9-year-old rye from Tom’s Foolery.
In November, Lost Lantern released its Winter Whiskey 2023 collection, which featured whiskeys from brands like Cedar Ridge, McCarthy’s and King’s County Distillery.
Lost Lantern’s The Midwest Collection In-Depth
Far-Flung Rye
Far-Flung Rye clocks in at 121.6 proof, with just 486 bottles available and a suggested retail price of $100. The brand’s first blended rye whiskey is sourced from Cedar Ridge, Middle West Spirits, Starlight Distillery, Tom’s Foolery Distillery and Wollersheim Distillery. Aged for four years, the whiskey is described as bright with freshly cut grass aromas. On the palate, it is spicy and richly oaked with plenty of dark chocolate and warm bread aromas.
Starlight Distillery Indiana Straight Bourbon Single Cask
Starlight’s offering hosts a suggested retail price of $90 and comes in at 118.7 proof with just 132 bottles available. Founded in 2001 by Ted Huber, the distillery is part of Huber’s Orchard and Winery, which dates back to 1843. The whiskey was made from a mashbill of 60% corn, 20% malted barley, 10% rye and 10% wheat. It was aged for six years in a 53-gallon barrel and is described by the brand as very spicy and full-bodied. Starlight Indiana Straight Bourbon Single Cask has aromas of cherry, cream and nutmeg on the rich nose coupled with chocolate and oak on the palate, according to Lost Lantern.
Wollersheim Distillery Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Single Cask
With roots dating back to the 19th century, Wollersheim is a family-owned brand that produces grain-to-glass whiskeys. The 5-year-old bourbon clocks in at a hefty 131.2 proof and hosts a suggested retail price of $90. With a mashbill of 66% corn, 22% rye and 12% malted barley — all grown locally — this bourbon is described by Lost Lantern as “intense” and “powerful.” The whiskey has aromas of leather, chocolate-drizzled oranges and aromas of chocolate mousse. The palate has flavors of grain and grilled spicy meat, per Lost Lantern. Just 200 bottles are available.
FEW Spirits Illinois Straight Bourbon Single Cask
FEW is an urban distillery based out of Evanston, a city just north of Chicago. This release marks the first time the award-winning distillery has collaborated with Lost Lantern, and the bourbon hosts a proof of 124.6 and a suggested retail price of $90. Distilled from a mashbill of 70% corn, 20% rye and 10% malted barley, the whiskey was aged for five years. The brand describes this bourbon as warm, with aromas of baking spice like nutmeg and cinnamon coupled with French vanilla on the nose. FEW’s bourbon has a rich, round, creamy palate that brings cinnamon rolls and milk chocolate to the mind’s eye and finishes warm, according to Lost Lantern. Just 200 bottles are available.
Tom’s Foolery 9-Year-Old Ohio Straight Rye Single Cask
Tom’s Foolery is a family-owned whiskey distillery that uses wooden fermenters and pot still distillation. The whiskey hosts a proof of 116.5 and a suggested retail price of $120. Just 197 bottles are available. The mashbill is composed of 70% winter rye and 30% malted rye. Lost Lantern describes this rye as “fresh” and “elegant” with a citrus-driven and grassy nose, coupled with a palate of lemon custard and balanced oak and a finish that lingers and has plenty of warmth.
Middle West Ohio Straight Rye
This Columbus Ohio brand is considered one of the heavy-hitting indie distilleries emerging from the Midwest. The brand chose pumpernickel rye for this distinctive four-grain rye whiskey. It was aged for four years in a new oak, 53-gallon barrel from Speyside Cooperage, and the brand describes this chocolatey rye as possessing aromas of rich chocolate mousse, warm rye spice and a palate full of cocoa nib, nutmeg and leather. The whiskey clocks in at 126 proof and has a suggested retail price of $90. Just 197 bottles are available.
Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Wheat Single Cask
Lost Lantern claims that the dramatic temperature shifts at this Iowa-based distillery give its whiskeys a clean, spicy quality. Cedar Ridge Straight Wheat Single Cask whiskey is composed of 100% malted white winter wheat and spent six years resting in a 53-gallon barrel. With just 203 bottles available and a suggested retail price of $90, the whiskey clocks in at 123.1 proof. Lost Lantern describes this wheat whiskey as “elegant and powerful,” with a spicy nose of black cherry and vanilla shortbread. On the palate are aromas of baking spice and cinnamon coffee cake.
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