Honey | Lemon meringue | Vanilla cream | Ash | Earthy

Honey | Caramel | Golden raisin | Fresh bread | Passion fruit | Cantaloupe | Light oak

Peat | Burnt caramel | Toasted oak | Light, lingering smoke

Based on Nantucket Island, Triple Eight Distillery is a pioneer in American single malts. Founded in 2000, they are one of the country’s oldest dedicated single-malt whiskey programs. The distillery takes its name from its original water source, well #888, whose clean island aquifer helped inspire these artisanal distillers long before craft spirits became a national movement. What began as a project with the island’s Cisco Brewers and Nantucket Vineyard soon evolved into a working distillery with a grain-to-glass philosophy and island-driven inspiration. The company currently produces vodka, gin, and rum, and due to its early commitment to American single malts, it continually releases some of the oldest American single malts in the country. This release is part of Lost Lantern’s trio of the first Triple Eight single casks ever released. The American single malt was crafted with 100% malted barley, smoked with peat from the Scottish Highlands, and aged for 6 years and 6 months in an ex-bourbon barrel.

One notable feature of Lost Lantern’s Single Cask #17 is how crisp and clean the delivery of its flavors is. The aroma hits quickly with sharp scents of honey, lemon meringue, and vanilla cream. There is an underlying scent of ash that pervades the aroma, lending it an earthy complexity. The palate is sweet and fruity with fresh tasting notes of honey, caramel, golden raisin, bread, passion fruit, and cantaloupe. However, it’s during the single malt’s finish where things turn decidedly smoky. Peat leads, with burnt caramel, toasted oak, and a lingering smoke note that stays with you. This smokeiness isn’t heavy on your palate, but follows nicely, and definitely lingers, likely outstaying its welcome for many.

This single malt is well-balanced and drinks well below its proof except for a sudden push of smoke during its finish. Overall, the flavors are pleasant and well-structured, although I would like to see what additional aging would do to its non-smoky/peated flavors in the hopes of making them a bit more assertive. Ultimately, Lost Lantern’s Single Cask #17 by Triple Eight is an elegant sip that nicely showcases its single malt heritage.

Lost Lantern Triple Eight Peated Massachusetts Single Malt is a 196 bottle release.