Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1

I recently became aware of this brand through a weekly feature. What an impressive selection! A single barrel, cask strength, mesquite-smoked whiskey from a particular distillery? Sign me up. A cask strength corn whiskey from a specific distillery? I've been searching for a certain bottling from them without success. Excellent! A cask strength blended American malt featuring whiskeys from seven highly-regarded U.S. single malt producers? I want this immediately. I placed an order without delay. I managed to secure this superb blended malt, along with the mesquite-smoked whiskey and a rye finished with apple brandy from a New York distillery. Unfortunately, the corn whiskey was already sold out. My order arrived late last week, and I opened the blended malt right away. We all know that high expectations can sometimes lead to letdown, but that was not the case here. The aroma is quite different from what I anticipated. It's sweet, fruity, and perhaps a bit floral, yet powerful. It evokes more of a Speyside or unpeated Japanese spirit at full strength than a typical American malt whiskey. Overall, the taste was more in line with my predictions, but it also delivered some pleasant surprises. It begins as a full, rich, mocha and malt profile, which fans of a certain brand will find very familiar. As the taste develops, there's a fruitiness – apples and grapes – as well as a slightly spicy, vegetal note (perhaps fennel?) that integrates nicely. The finish offers hints of citrus and ginger with more maltiness, eventually fading to an oaky vanilla. It's a distinctive and intricate journey. I found it slightly aggressive straight from the newly opened bottle, but the intensity mellowed after about 15 minutes of resting in a glass. I anticipate a similar change after the bottle has been open for several weeks. I have an open bottle of the first release of a different blended malt, and a direct comparison was unavoidable. That other blend also uses only American malts but tastes noticeably more like Scotch in contrast. This one came across as distinctly American, with a flair. Which is superior? That will undoubtedly be a matter of personal preference; I find both to be outstanding. Expect reviews of my other two bottles from this brand soon. I am eager to discover what else they have to offer.

Nose - salted caramel, sweet floral notes, apple, peach, honey, yeast, plum, cocoa, vanilla, black pepper, clove, dry oak, grass, clay, subtle peat, cereal grain, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - sweet caramel, honey, green apple, orange blossom, clove, floral notes, citrus zest, black pepper, ginger, mint, plum, cereal grain, peach, spicy oak, light smoke, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium length with caramel, citrus zest, sweet floral, and spicy oak flavors. This product is a great example of the quality of American single malts. I concur with a friend’s opinion that it resembles a Speyside, one that has been very lightly peated. It’s not as potent and distinct as a Benromach or Craigellachie, but perhaps more like a Balvenie or a high-quality Glenlivet. The palate arrives with a rich caramel sweetness, balanced by pleasant floral, tart fruit, spice, and smoke notes. It’s deep and rich but also light and fruity. Overall, this is really good and rivals my top American single malts. I'm contemplating buying a bottle, but the $120 price point seems a bit high. This concludes my Lost Lantern tasting series. I truly appreciate what the company is doing and have subscribed to their newsletter, so I'm kept aware when they release new products. My favorite is definitely the Ironroot Republic single cask corn whiskey, but this is not far behind. Another big thanks to a friend for providing all the Lost Lantern samples. This is a company worth following. Next, I'll be returning to Scotland to review a selection of popular Glenmorangie products.

The aroma is delicate and subtle, beginning with notes of canned peaches in syrup, orchard apples on a cool autumn day, and golden plums, followed by a gentle smoke revealing bacon-wrapped dates and bit-o-honey candy. This transitions into moderate spices like ginger, cloves, nutmeg, leather, and cherry wood, with a noticeable ethanol presence. The taste has a thin to medium body, starting with caramelized brown sugar on grilled peaches, apple cider simmered with cinnamon and cloves, and golden raisins. A medium level of smoke and spice emerges mid-palate, gradually fading to a rubbery sensation similar to a visit to a tire shop, accompanied by mild youthful astringency, ginger, nutmeg spices, and slight oak bitterness, with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is of medium duration, featuring chocolate-covered bacon-wrapped dates, apple bread pudding, cloves, ginger, light oak, and mild astringency. In summary, this is an enjoyable and intriguing whiskey. It boasts an incredible nose with a blend of citrus, light smoked meats, rich candy, and balanced oak and spice. However, the taste is thinner than expected, beginning with pleasant citrus notes before the smoke becomes prominent in a rubbery fashion, alongside either astringency or floral hop notes. The finish presents barbecue elements, citrus, and youthful astringency or hop notes. Gratitude to a friend for the generous sample.

NOSE: Orchard fruit, butterscotch, herbal, woody, vanilla, char, spice, honey, a hint of menthol citrus and hazelnuts. It's a bit raw, but generally sweet with a warm, mid-matured craft profile, the woodiness is in the middle rather than upfront. It lacks mature fullness, but it's not bad. PALATE: More woody and brown sugar/butterscotch notes here with some added biscuity elements, but its essence is similar to the aroma with an added touch of apricot. Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition 1 has a bit more herbal and raw grain notes on the palate than on the nose, but again, it's not bad. FINISH: Medium-long -> Grainy, woody, lemon peels, honey, and butterscotch, which dries out and becomes herbal, almost like an IPA (Westward).

Tasting neat: Nose shows sweet honey, fresh berries, peanut brittle, nougat, and a very slight wood smoke. Palate offers more honey and vanilla, with the faintest peat smoke and cinnamon spice. Finish lasts with more wood spice and nougat.

A pleasant, consistent, and smooth whiskey with a malty, almost burnt caramel taste.