Lost Lantern — United States of Bourbon Cask Strength: The Blend at Full Potential Review

Everything the 100-proof release hints at finally comes alive in a bold, flavorful cask strength blend from all 50 states.

Explore the United States of Bourbon Collection

The United States of Bourbon project includes three limited releases celebrating American whiskey from coast to coast. I’ve reviewed each bottle below.

Bottle	My Verdict
United States of Bourbon (100 Proof)	⭐ Ambitious concept with surprising cohesion
You’re Reading: United States of Bourbon Cask Strength	🏆 Best Overall
United States of Bourbon: First 13 States	🪵 Best for oak lovers

→ View the complete United States of Bourbon collection

Stats

Type: Bourbon
Age: 2-10 years
Proof: 123 (61.5% ABV)
Mashbill: Not disclosed (variety)
Distillation Style: Not disclosed (variety)
Origin: 50 different distilleries, one for each state
Cask: Unknown
Release: Limited release, blended, cask strength
MSRP: $99.99 (via Lost Lantern)

Tasting Notes

Nose: Instead of brown sugar, the nose explodes with maple syrup over buckwheat pancakes, stewed cinnamon apples, butter, amaretto, and leather. It’s dramatically richer, deeper, and far more expressive than the 100-proof version.
Palate: Layers of cherry, blueberry, strawberry, and cinnamon sugar lead before the proof arrives with authority. The whiskey feels bold and vibrant, although the mid-palate becomes surprisingly quick and slightly thinner than expected.
Finish: The finish opens with drying oak, Cinnamon Red Hots, and pepper spice before evolving into molasses, figs, Concord grape, cola, dark chocolate sauce, and brown sweet breads. The lingering transition from spice into dark sweetness is exceptional.

*_{Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon collection samples lying on eagle}*

Bottled at 123 proof, this cask strength edition again blends bourbon from all 50 states, aged 2-10 years, with 3,300 bottles released.

Rather than simply increasing the proof, it completely transforms the personality of the blend.

United States of Bourbon at a Glance

50 participating distilleries
50 U.S. states represented
3 limited releases

2–10 years (50 States blends)
4–8 years (First 13 States)
1,776, 3,300, and 6,780 bottles released

Distilleries Featured in the United States of Bourbon Project

The United States of Bourbon series showcases whiskey from independent distilleries across America. Distilleries marked with ★ also contributed to the First 13 States blend. Click a distillery to read my review or distillery visit where available.

Alabama

Dread River Distilling Co.

Alaska

Denali Spirits

Arizona

SanTan Distilling

Arkansas

Rock Town Distillery

California

Corbin Cash Distillery

Colorado

Boulder Spirits

Connecticut ★

Litchfield Distillery

Delaware ★

Painted Stave Distilling

Florida

St. Augustine Distillery

Georgia ★

ASW Fiddler Distillery

Hawaii

Koʻolau Distillery

Idaho

Day’s Defile

Illinois

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

Indiana

Starlight Distillery

Iowa

Cedar Ridge Distillery

Kansas

Union Horse Distilling Co.

Kentucky

New Riff Distilling

Louisiana

Distillerie Acadian

Maine

Hardshore Distilling Co.

Maryland ★

Baltimore Spirits Co.

Massachusetts ★

Triple Eight Distillery

Michigan

New Holland Distilling Co.

Minnesota

Far North Spirits

Mississippi

Rich Grain Distilling

Missouri

J. Rieger & Co.

Montana

Montgomery Distillery

Nebraska

Brickway Distillery

Nevada

Frey Ranch Distillery

New Hampshire ★

Cathedral Ledge Distillery

New Jersey ★

Sourland Mountain Spirits

New Mexico

Safe House Distilling

New York ★

Kings County Distillery

North Carolina ★

Broad Branch Distillery

North Dakota

Proof Artisan Distillers

Ohio

Tom’s Foolery Distillery

Oklahoma

Hochatown Distilling

Oregon

Oregon Spirit Distillers

Pennsylvania ★

Liberty Pole Spirits

Rhode Island ★

South County Distillers

South Carolina ★

High Wire Distilling Co.

South Dakota

Blackfork Farms

Tennessee

Leiper’s Fork Distillery

Texas

Balcones Distilling

Utah

High West Distillery

Vermont

Stonecutter Spirits

Virginia ★

Reservoir Distillery

Washington

Woodinville Whiskey Co.

West Virginia

Smooth Ambler Spirits

Wisconsin

Wollersheim Distillery

Wyoming

Backwards Distilling Co.

*This page will be periodically updated when new distillery reviews are added. I’ve reviewed many of these brands but it was done on my instagram account before my website existed.

Distinctiveness

This bottle possesses far more personality than the 100-proof release.

The higher proof amplifies the malt character while adding qualities reminiscent of older American single malt and wheat whiskey, creating a blend unlike anything else currently on the market.

_{(Author’s Note: Presentation is not judged when a small sample is provided)}

*_{Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon cask strength sample focus in box}*

“On paper, it sounds almost impossible. In the glass, it’s both surprisingly familiar and unmistakably craft-driven.”

Transparency

Lost Lantern deserves credit for openly sharing every participating distillery.

However, for a release that invites whiskey geeks to obsess over the blend, I’d love to see more specifics on ages, mashbills, and proportions from each contributor.

If you’re going to build the ultimate bourbon puzzle, let us see all the pieces.

*_{Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon collection samples}*

Value

This is easily the strongest value of the trilogy.

For just $20 more than the standard release, you receive a dramatically richer whiskey whose complexity and cask strength justify the premium.

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon cask strength sample angled

Buy if:

Prefer cask strength bourbon.
Love big maple, dark fruit, and spice flavors.
Want the best value of the United States series.
Enjoy exploring complex American whiskey.

Skip if:

Prefer easy-drinking lower-proof pours.
Dislike bold oak and pepper spice.
Want a soft, mellow bourbon.
Are sensitive to higher proof heat.

Verdict

Everything the 100-proof release hinted at finally arrives here in full force. The richer sweetness, darker fruit, deeper spice, and more expressive barrel character make this feel like the version the blend was always meant to become. Instead of emphasizing youthful craft notes, the higher proof gives the whiskey confidence and cohesion.

Even more impressive, the extra proof doesn’t simply mean more intensity. It creates more clarity. The transitions from bright fruit into dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, and baking spice feel deliberate rather than chaotic. For me, this is not only the best whiskey of the three, but the one that most fully justifies Lost Lantern’s ambitious 50-state vision.

Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:

Spend the extra $20—the cask strength release unlocks everything this remarkable 50-state blend is capable of.

For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:

Nose: 6.4 / 7
Palate: 6 / 7
Finish: 6.4 / 7
Presentation: N/A
Distinctiveness: 6 / 7
Transparency: 3.5 / 7
Value: 5.5 / 7

Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.63 / 7 – Divine

Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.

Score	Descriptor	Notes
0–1	Hell No	Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable.
1.1–2	Purgatory	Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases.
2.1–3	Only Earthly	Just okay. Best used as a mixer.
3.1–4	Bliss	Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails.
4.1–5	Angelic	Good to great. Often high value for the price.
5.1–6	Divine	Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
6.1–7	Holy Heaven	Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn.

_{Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.}

About Lost Lantern

Lost Lantern was founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, two longtime whiskey professionals who set out to build an American version of the independent bottler. Before launching the company, the pair spent eight months traveling across the United States, visiting more than 100 distilleries to better understand how regional climate, production methods, and local traditions shape American whiskey. Today, they continue to work only with distilleries they’ve visited in person.

Rather than producing whiskey themselves, Lost Lantern specializes in hand-selecting barrels from independent distilleries and releasing them with exceptional transparency. Their bottles proudly identify where the whiskey was distilled, are presented non-chill filtered, with natural color, and often at cask strength. Their mission, “Shining a Light on the Independent Spirit”, is about introducing whiskey lovers to outstanding distilleries that deserve a wider audience while demonstrating just how diverse American whiskey has become.