A light, malt-forward single malt that favors subtlety over intensity.
Distilled at Dashfire Distillery in Minnesota using 100% locally sourced malted barley and aged in Minnesota white oak, this is the most approachable entry in the lineup. It leans light, malt-forward, and quietly expressive rather than bold.
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: 80 (40% 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: $64.00 (Ace Spirits)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Light and malt-forward with notes of apple juice, soft cereal, and a faint wisp of smoke. A gentle sweetness leans more toward simple syrup than confection.
- Palate: Soft entry with simple syrup sweetness, toasted cereal, and mild smokiness. Fruit shows up, but indistinct — more of a general stone fruit impression than anything defined.
- Finish: A touch of pepper on the tip of the tongue fades into light smoke and subtle peach candy sweetness. Short overall, but lingers slightly longer than expected for the proof.
Very light and easygoing.
It leans grain-forward, but there’s a quiet complexity that keeps it from feeling flat.
This will resonate most with Irish whiskey drinkers or those who prefer softer malt profiles over oak or proof.
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
This leans into malt purity and softness rather than oak or sweetness.
Compared to many American single malts, it’s less bourbon-influenced, but globally, this is a more familiar, less distinctive profile.
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 $64, this sits toward the higher end for a light, non-age-stated single malt.
Quality is solid, but pricing leans ambitious for the profile.
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 enjoy lighter, malt-forward whiskies
- You’re coming from Irish whiskey
- You value approachability
Skip if you:
- You want bold flavor or oak influence
- You’re sensitive to grain-forward profiles
- You expect strong fruit or a long finish at this price
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 2 / 7
- Palate: 2.2 / 7
- Finish: 2.3 / 7
- Presentation: 4.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 3 / 7
- Transparency: 5 / 7
- Value: 2.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 3.07 / 7 – Only Earthly
Just okay. Best used as a mixer.
| 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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