Apricot | Pear | Stone fruits | Light caramel | Light clove | Hint of cinnamon

Caramel | Sandalwood | Bright citrus | Dried apricot | Seasoned oak | Milky Way candy ba

Light baking spices | Green grape | Brown sugar | Smooth

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 100 Proof pays tribute to America’s native spirit in a unique way. The company created an ambitious project and attempted something that has never been done before – blending bourbons from 50 different distilleries, one from each state. Two of the bottles in the release feature 50-state bourbon blends: one bottled at 100 proof (the bottle under review) and the other at cask strength, marking the first editions in what are planned as future releases. The third bottle is the company’s limited edition 1776 blend, which features bourbons from the 13 original states that came together to form a new nation in 1776, and pays tribute to America’s 250th birthday.

The bourbon used in this release ages in a range from 2 to 10 years and was specifically chosen for this blend. Adam Polonski, co-founder and Head of Whiskey Sourcing at Lost Lantern, states, “The United States of Bourbon has truly been years in the making and has been part of the vision for Lost Lantern since before we launched the company. From the earliest stages of dreaming up Lost Lantern, we envisioned crafting a fifty-state blend to showcase the diversity and breadth of bourbon. Shortly after, in 2021, we began sourcing barrels specifically for this whiskey, work that continued through 2025. I have visited and vetted every distillery in this blend in person.”

Pulling together a 50-distillery blend from such a vast array of distilleries with a wide range of flavor profiles that actually come together nicely is a massive feat, especially for a company that is so small, yet Lost Lantern somehow pulled it off. The most accessible blend in the limited edition series, United States of Bourbon 100 Proof has a well-composed flavor profile that tastes surprisingly less adventurous than it sounds, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The flavor profile leans sweet and is quite fruity. Apricot, pear, and stone fruits combine with light caramel, clove, and a hint of cinnamon on the nose. On the palate, deeper caramel and sandalwood merge with bright citrus, dried apricot, and seasoned oak to form a familiar midpoint. A hint of Milky Way candy bar on the backend gives way to light baking spices, green grape, and brown sugar on the finish.

The sip is surprisingly smooth overall, with a nice viscosity and tempered intensity. What’s most shocking is how close to “traditional” it tastes, touching on a range of flavors and some slight pulls off center, but still maintaining an overall familiarity. Though it lacks the dynamic theatrics of its cask strength version, for the asking price of $80, this addition to the world of bourbon is a must-have for anyone interested in this unique piece of history.  

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 100 Proof is a 6,780 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).