For its latest collection, Lost Lantern has gone regional with a focus on the Midwest.
Midwestern whiskies stand out in the American whiskey landscape through a combination of the region’s agricultural legacy, climate conditions, and a culture that marries tradition with innovation. With access to diverse local grains, Midwestern distillers make spirits that deeply reflect their local terroir, drawing on a farming heritage that can be savored in every bottle.
Lost Lantern’s new Spring Collection celebrates these regional attributes. The release features seven distinct bottlings, each highlighting what makes whiskey from the Midwest so compelling: Far-Flung Rye (a multi-distillery blend of rye whiskies from across the Midwest) and six single casks from distilleries across the region. The collection features the return of three previous Lost Lantern partners—Starlight Distillery, Cedar Ridge, and Tom’s Foolery, as well as three new distillery partners, Wisconsin’s’ Wollersheim Distillery, Illinois’ Few Spirits, and Ohio’s Middle West Spirits. This release includes Lost Lantern’s first-ever whiskies from Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as its first multi-state rye blend.
If you’re not yet talking about whiskey from there, Lost Lantern plans to change that. “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,” says Lost Lantern Co-Founder Nora Ganley-Roper. “Other regions like the Pacific Northwest and Texas may have a higher profile, but distilleries across the Midwest are making truly wonderful, world-class whiskies. This is especially true for bourbon and rye, and we’ve found that many of the best whiskies of the Midwest exhibit a complex yet soft and creamy character. Lost Lantern’s Midwest Collection is designed to showcase some of these whiskies and help whiskey lovers explore a region that has truly come into its own.”
Far-Flung Rye is Lost Lantern’s first blend of straight rye whiskey proves that some of the country’s best rye whiskey comes from the Midwest. This special release brings together a blend of straight ryes, ranging from four to nine years old, from five of the finest distilleries in the region: Cedar Ridge, Middle West Spirits, Starlight Distillery , Tom’s Foolery Distillery, and Wollersheim Distillery Aged 4 years, this expression is 121.6 proof and yielded 486 bottles.
Starlight Distillery is part of Huber’s Orchard & Winery, an Indiana institution since 1843. Ted Huber started Starlight in 2001 to capture the flavors of Indiana grain and fruit from the place his family has farmed for seven generations. This straight bourbon whiskey was aged in a 53-gallon barrel for 6 years, including two years in Vermont. It was made with 60% corn, 20% malted barley, 10% rye, and 10% wheat. It has a rich and creamy nose, with notes of cherry, nutmeg, fresh oak, and chocolate on the palate. Very spicy and full, with a long finish. Aged 6 years, Starlight Distillery Indiana Straight Bourbon Single Cask is bottled at 118.7 proof and yielded 132 bottles.
Established in the 19th century, Wollersheim is a family-owned winery and distillery. Its grain-to-glass whiskies truly reflect Wisconsin’s climate and agricultural heritage. This 5-year-old straight bourbon whiskey was made from 66% corn, 22% rye, and 12% malted barley, all locally grown. An intense and powerful cool-climate northern bourbon with notes of leather, chocolate oranges, and pipe tobacco on the nose, and hints of chocolate mousse, dry grain, and spice-blackened meat on the palate. Aged 5 years, Wollersheim Distillery Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Single Caskis bottled at 131.2 proof and yielded 200 bottles.
A pioneer of American craft spirits, FEW has distilled award-winning grain-to-glass whiskies since 2011 in a unique urban setting outside Chicago. This straight bourbon whiskey, Lost Lantern’s first from FEW Spirits and Illinois, was distilled from 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley and aged for 5 years in a 53-gallon new American oak barrel. It has warm, sweet notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and French vanilla on the nose. The palate has a rich and rounded spice, a soft, creamy texture, and notes of milk chocolate and cinnamon rolls. The finish is long and warming. Aged 5 years, Few Spirits Illinois Straight Bourbon Single Cask is bottled at 124.6 Proof and yielded 200 bottles.
This family-owned distillery uses traditional, labor-intensive methods to make whiskey, including wooden fermenters and pot still distillation. Their whiskies embody the cold, snowy climate of Ohio’s snowbelt. Aged for 9 years in a 53-gallon barrel, making it the oldest whiskey Lost Lantern has released, this straight rye whiskey was made from 70% winter rye and 30% malted rye. It is fresh and elegant, with hints of fresh-cut grass and lemon on the nose and rich rye spice, lemon custard, and balanced oak on the palate. It has an extremely long, warm finish. Aged 9 years, Tom’s Foolery 9-Year-Old Ohio Straight Rye Single Cask is bottled at 116.5 proof and yielded 170 bottles.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Middle West Spirits is one of the Midwest’s largest and most ambitious independent distilleries. This four-grain straight rye whiskey is made with dark pumpernickel rye grain, giving it a full, toasty, chocolatey, and earthy flavor. It was aged for 4 years in a 53-gallon new oak barrel from Speyside Cooperage. It has notes of rich chocolate mousse and warm rye spice on the nose, with cocoa nibs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and leatherbound books on the palate. It is Lost Lantern’s first release from Middle West. Aged 4 years, Middle West Ohio Straight Rye Single Cask is bottled at 126 Proof and yielded 197 bottles.
Cedar Ridge has been farming and distilling spirits in Swisher, Iowa, owned by the Quint family, for decades. The area’s dramatic seasonal temperature swings help create whiskies with a soft, clean, yet spicy character. An exceptional cask, this is an elegant and powerful wheat whiskey made from 100% malted white winter wheat that was aged for 6 years in a 53-gallon barrel. It has a very spicy nose, with notes of black cherry and vanilla shortbread on the nose. The palate is bold and warm, with hints of baking spice and cinnamon coffee cake. Aged 6 years, Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Wheat Single Cask is bottled at 123.1 Proof and yielded 203 bottles.
Far-Flung Rye retails for $100, Starlight Distillery Indiana Straight Bourbon Single Cask retails for $90. Wollersheim Distillery Wisconsin Straight Bourbon Single Cask retails for $90. Few Spirits Illinois Straight Bourbon Single Cask retails for $90. Tom’s Foolery 9-Year-Old Ohio Straight Rye Single Cask retails for $120. Middle West Ohio Straight Rye Single Cask for $90. Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Wheat Single Cask retails for $90.
Lost Lantern’s Midwest collection will be available for purchase at its new tasting room in Vergennes, VTÂ and online.
