Bigger, hotter, and less restrained — intensity over balance.
The highest proof in the lineup, bringing deeper flavors and significantly more spice, though not always in balance.
About Lost Woods
Built on passion, grounded in nature, and designed to give back.
Founded in 2018 in Minnesota by outdoorsman Tom Schaeppi, Lost Woods was created to bring people together outdoors while supporting environmental preservation.
The brand commits 1% of all sales to organizations focused on conservation, education, and climate action. It positions itself not as a luxury whiskey, but as a human-centered American single malt built around community, conversation, and stewardship.
Production uses 100% locally sourced malted barley and Minnesota oak, along with a proprietary accelerated aging process that incorporates sherry-soaked oak staves. The intent is to extract more from less — reducing resource use while still developing character.
The 88 proof expression has earned multiple Double Gold awards and a Platinum at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, helping establish recognition for both the brand and Minnesota-produced whiskey.
“I have always wanted to evolve my work into a give back entity… creating the best human-centered American Single Malt Whiskey company… known for exceptional whiskey and a relentless approach to contributing to solutions for the climate crisis.”
— Tom Schaeppi, Founder & CEO
Stats
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 110 (55% ABV)
- Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
- Origin: Contract distilled by Dashfire Distillery — Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Finish: Sherry-soaked oak staves
- Aging: Propietary accelerated aging process
- Release: Wide Release
- MSRP: $129.00 (Ace Spirits)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Grain-forward and slightly funky with gummy candy, raw honey, and a wood texture reminiscent of amburana. Hints of tropical fruit and cinnamon underneath.
- Palate: Deeper sweetness with toasted cereal that quickly shifts into funk and allspice. The mid-palate is short.
- Finish: A strong punch of peppery heat that drinks hotter than stated proof. Long linger with a green grape note.
There’s added depth, but also less control.
The proof amplifies both strengths and weaknesses, particularly the spice dominance and short mid-palate.
Best suited for those who prioritize intensity over balance.
Presentation
A standard bottle shape with textured glass designed to mimic tree bark. Labels are minimal, each featuring a different sunset over wooded imagery that reinforces the nature theme.
The execution is cohesive, though the label can feel slightly lower in perceived quality due to the textured surface.
Wooden toppers round out the presentation.
Distinctiveness
Funk and wood texture notes push this into more unusual territory for American single malt, though dominant spice can overshadow nuance.
Transparency
Clear on 100% malted barley, Minnesota sourcing, and distillation at Dashfire (contract distilled).
An age statement is not provided, which makes value harder to assess and may give some enthusiasts pause.
The use of a proprietary accelerated aging process with sherry-soaked oak staves adds another layer to that conversation. Without an age disclosed, it invites questions around how young the whiskey is and whether that omission is intentional.
Greater upfront clarity here would strengthen trust, particularly acknowledging that the whiskey may be younger than traditional expectations, while reinforcing that the accelerated aging method is designed to build depth and character in a shorter timeframe.
Value
At $129, expectations are high. While it delivers intensity, imbalance makes it harder to justify on liquid alone.
There is added value tied to the brand’s conservation efforts, though it’s unclear how much of an impact 1% of all sales had made towards these initiatives.
Buy this if you:
- You prefer high-proof, spice-forward whiskies
- You enjoy funky grain notes
- You want the uncut version of this profile
Skip if you:
- You’re sensitive to heat or heavy spice
- You want balance and mid-palate development
- You expect refinement at cask strength
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 3.75 / 7
- Palate: 3.5 / 7
- Finish: 4.25 / 7
- Presentation: 4.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5 / 7
- Transparency: 5 / 7
- Value: 2.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 4.07 / 7 – Angelic
Good to great. High value for the price.
| 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 sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. 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.
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.
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