Whiskey del Bac Arizona Single Malt Spring 2021 Single Cask #5 (Lost Lantern)

Score: 15/23. I wasn't a fan of the Del Bac Mesquite I purchased some years back, but this is cask strength and released by Lost Lantern, so I'm somewhat optimistic it will be a significant improvement. Nose: Very similar to the standard Del Bac Mesquite, but richer with more smoke and vanilla. The mesquite smoke has a dry tartness, and there's a black licorice aspect. The smoked meat is less sweet, leaning more towards beef or lamb than the pork-to-beef of the original. The apple note is still present but muted, and the burnt grass note is slightly more pronounced. I prefer this aroma so far, but I still have some reservations. Palate: The elevated proof really enriches this. It's smoky and dry, offering a peaty quality akin to Laphroaig, alongside other complex flavors. I detect dry grass, a hint of minerality, and some herbs, specifically wintergreen, along with pork, black licorice, vanilla, subtle apple and orange, and a robust malty foundation that isn't excessively sweet. There's a noticeable burn, as expected for the proof, but not much spice. Finish: A numbing, peaty smoke, though not entirely. Wintergreen, barbecued pork, burnt grass, a little wood, and a gentle malty layer. Wintergreen is quite prominent in both the palate and the finish. Conclusion: This entire experience is quite peculiar, but it somehow functions. I'm not amazed, but it makes me recall how much I disliked Ardbeg Wee Beastie and ponder if additional aging would resolve its issues. I'd be keen to taste this at 6 to 8 years old. Does this surpass the standard Del Bac Mesquite (13/23)? Yes. Does it outperform Corsair Wildfire? No. It's not necessarily that I favor Corsair's hickory smoke over Del Bac's mesquite; rather, I believe the Corsair is a superior product overall. Beyond the smoke, it's more harmonious and intricate, integrating smoke, grain, malting, wood, and oxidation in a manner that introduces smoke to American single malts without overwhelming them or creating an unbalanced profile. Comparing it to Westland Peated (15/23), they are quite comparable. This expression is clearly bolder, while the Westland is (unusually) more balanced. The Shin 10 (16/23) is another unconventional, young-seeming whiskey, but I find it to be more balanced and refined than this, so I would choose it. I'm most likely assigning this a 15. My thanks to the individual who shared it! I'm eager to sample some mesquite-smoked American single malts that have seen more barrel time as they potentially enter the market, but these young versions aren't for me.

My initial encounter with this distillery years back involved their mesquite smoked expression, which I greatly admired. Their yearly special releases also impressed, particularly one aged in calvados, delivering a superb smoky, apple-forward profile. I've been eager to sample the Lost Lantern selections, anticipating a bold, young, and costly product. Actually, that's three assumptions. This pour was provided by a friend. This immediately assaults the senses with intense caramel and honeycomb, followed by BBQ notes, leaning towards a sweeter style, perhaps Carolina or Memphis rather than Texas. Dark chocolate and a hint of pepper emerge. It's a solid drink. Not every spirit needs to be mind-blowing. Eventually, one can become jaded. However, any spirit priced over $100 should provide considerable enjoyment. This one meets that standard for me. The majority of Lost Lantern releases tend to be bold and edgy, which is fantastic if you're a supporter of that distillery's style. You get to experience their expressions at their limits, potentially revealing characteristics not found in their standard offerings. Some are exceptional (a Balcones bottling caused the Seelbach website to crash). Others are unconventional (a California Sloe gin). So, when investing around $120 in these Lost Lanterns, be aware you're getting something edgy, not universally appealing, but ideal for fans of the specific distillery. This was surprising because I didn't find it dramatically different from their regular releases, and likely a step below their special annual batches. I like this and would happily purchase a bottle, but I'd expect a lower price point, as it doesn't surpass their standard Cask Strength or private selections, which are more affordable. Another immense thank you to a friend for this sample!

Nose: toffee, peanut butter fudge, buttercream, mesquite smoke, vanilla, apple, orange blossom, honey, leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, pencil shavings, cherry, grape, sweet florals, grass, black pepper, with a noticeable ethanol presence. Palate: lemon-lime soda, cherry, ginger, chili pepper, butterscotch, vanilla, smoked meats, grass, honey, grape, leather, mesquite, sweet florals, cocoa, orange zest, pecan, clove, allspice, with a significant alcohol sting. The finish is medium-long, featuring cherry, sweet citrus, and wood smoke. This is the final of three recent Lost Lantern releases I've tried, marking my first experience with Whiskey Del Bac. The aroma is intricate. The BBQ smoke is prominent, balanced by pleasant fudge, ripe red fruit, and honey scents. A subtle flinty note, like pencil eraser, even evokes young Springbank. The initial taste is a vibrant combination of Sprite and cherry, reminiscent of childhood Shirley Temples. The flavors then deepen into savory notes of BBQ, leather, and assertive baking spices. Following the impressive Ironroot Republic and Balcones single casks from Lost Lantern, this feels like a slight downgrade. While the flavors are rich and complete, it seems younger and fiercer, with a shorter, less satisfying conclusion compared to the others. Nevertheless, this is an excellent spirit that brings Whiskey Del Bac to my attention. I will be reviewing the Dorado expression tomorrow.

The nose is rich, beginning with a light smoke and butterscotch that shifts to notes of pear tart, apple pie filling, and maraschino cherries. This transitions to smoked brisket, then light floral notes and vanilla pudding, before evolving into spices like cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, ginger, and glowing embers of mesquite wood, with a high ethanol burn. The taste presents a rich mouthfeel, starting with honeycomb and moderate smoke, along with Carolina BBQ sauced baby back ribs. This fades into McDonalds baked apple pie, orange peel, and maraschino cherries, followed by a highly drying spice that gives way to spicy dark chocolate, smoked paprika, ginger, leather, and ashy tannic mesquite wood, with a high ethanol burn. The finish is long, featuring mesquite smoked brisket, honeycomb, spicy dark chocolate, caramel apples, orange peel, canned peaches, leather, and drying ashy oak. This provider often releases bold, flavorful single casks, and this one is no different. It offers a blend of barbecue, citrus, and spices on the nose, which carries through to the taste with more meaty and smoky elements than the aroma. However, it veers towards a strong drying spice mid-palate, later revealing some spicy chocolate notes and ashy mesquite oak. The finish includes pleasant barbecue and citrus notes, but the excessive tannic oak detracts from it. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample for my review.

It impacts me much like my private barrel, meaning it hits with the raw power of sweet caramel and brisket smoke. It's a flavor that calls to me infrequently since I've had the bottle, but it's well-crafted and enjoyable when the mood strikes. The Lost Lantern seems to have a bit more sweetness, but just as intense mesquite smoke. I don't know the price, but I'm guessing it was more than the $80 I paid for the private barrel, so when considering value, I'm uncertain if there's any difference here. As has been mentioned before, this is superior to the similar smoky Balcones Brimstone, but the one Del Bac Distiller's Cut I tried is on another level. However, it's released seasonally, and the contents and finishing vary with each release, so your experience may differ. The unmesquited regular release single malt (Classic) isn't bad either. Thanks to a friend for the sample of this one!