Review: Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon: 100 Proof, Cask Strength, and 1776 Edition (2026)
Today, the United States marks its 250th anniversary. In the months surrounding the occasion, “America 250” became nearly impossible to avoid. Advertising campaigns, commemorative releases, and media coverage all joined the celebration, each offering its own interpretation of a quarter millennium of American history.
When people around the world picture the United States, certain images almost immediately come to mind. Apple pie. The New York Yankees. McDonald’s. The Statue of Liberty. Coca-Cola. Yet none of those icons were present on July 4, 1776. They became part of the American story over time, each earning its place through generations rather than appearing at the nation’s founding. However, adding an icon that was present at the founding… whiskey.
Whiskey’s place in that story is especially interesting because it was never the colonies’ original spirit of choice. Before independence, rum dominated American drinking culture. It also happened to support an industry that enriched Great Britain through taxes imposed on sugar and molasses. Long before colonists protested taxes on tea, they were already frustrated by British policies that disrupted the domestic rum trade. As relations deteriorated and British blockades made imported molasses increasingly scarce and expensive, many Americans turned away from rum and toward spirits distilled from grain grown at home.
Domestic whiskey soon became more than another drink. It represented independence, self-reliance, and one less way of filling Britain’s treasury.
That whiskey was primarily rye. Rye grain was readily available throughout much of the colonies, making rye whiskey the earliest American standard. As settlement expanded westward, corn became increasingly abundant, and distillers naturally made whiskey from what they had on hand. Those early corn whiskeys did not necessarily align with today’s legal standards of identity for bourbon, but they marked the beginning of bourbon’s evolution.
That evolution did not begin exclusively in Kentucky.
During the late eighteenth century, Kentucky had not yet become a state. Until June 1, 1792, it remained part of Virginia, and corn whiskey was being distilled anywhere corn was grown. Some of the earliest corn whiskey made within the borders of present-day Kentucky was, at the time, Virginia corn whiskey. Kentucky would eventually build an extraordinary reputation for bourbon, one that remains unmatched, but bourbon has never belonged solely to Kentucky at any point in American history.
Even today, some continue to insist that bourbon can only be distilled in Kentucky. Kentucky has unquestionably earned its reputation, but bourbon has long been made far beyond its borders, and the historical record leaves little room for debate.
To commemorate America 250, Lost Lantern Whiskey assembled the most diverse blending project ever attempted in American whiskey, and among the largest blending projects undertaken anywhere in the whiskey world. Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon brings together bourbon distilled in all 50 states into a single release. It is available in both 100 Proof and Cask Strength expressions. Joining them is Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 1776 Edition, which draws its components exclusively from the 13 original states.
The project extends beyond geography. Bourbon is now distilled in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii, and through visiting each distillery, Lost Lantern verified that every bourbon included in these releases was distilled by the distillery listed on the back label, in the state identified on that label, rather than sourced from contract distillation elsewhere. For anyone still convinced that bourbon belongs only to Kentucky, United States of Bourbon stands as tangible proof that the other 49 states are actively contributing to America’s native spirit.
The timing could hardly be more appropriate. As the nation marks 250 years of independence, Lost Lantern celebrates with a blend built from bourbon distilled across the entire country. It is certainly a conversation piece.
Prior to Lost Lantern, the largest multi-distillery American whiskey blend belonged to Field of Dreams All-Star Whiskey, which combined whiskey from every Major League Baseball market. That release generated plenty of attention, though the final result relied more on its concept than the whiskey itself. Lost Lantern’s America 250 collection raises the scale even further. Whether the whiskey matches the ambition remains to be seen.
For generations, America has been described as a melting pot. The country’s greatest strength has never come from a single place, tradition, or point of view. America’s greatness comes from bringing people, cultures, ideas, and experiences together into something greater than any one of them could become alone. Lost Lantern applies that same philosophy to bourbon, bringing together whiskey from across the nation in pursuit of a single unified expression. Did that vision achieve its goal? Let’s find out.
Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 1776 Edition Review
The 1776 Edition is a one-time release that will never be bottled again. The blend brings together bourbon distilled in each of the original 13 states, with components ranging from 4 to 8 years old. Lost Lantern has not disclosed the blending ratios, although it has shared that the largest portion came from Maryland’s Baltimore Spirits Company. While it would be easy to assume United States of Bourbon was assembled in response to the wave of America’s 250th anniversary releases arriving in 2026, barrel selection for the project actually began in 2021. The whiskey was reduced to 100 proof through a slow-proofing process.
The aroma gets off to an encouraging start with toasted marshmallows and citronella candles. Given a few extra minutes in the glass, roasted espresso beans move in alongside a fleeting note of Big Red gum. Eventually, maraschino cherry syrup arrives in force and remains front and center. Anyone questioning whether bourbon from 13 different states could come together successfully should find plenty to appreciate here. There is no shortage of tannin, yet it stays in check rather than becoming unruly.
The first sip quickly introduces a sizable wave of oak, along with an astringency that never quite lands in my wheelhouse. That oak influence dominates the opening moments before giving way to a slightly bitter cola note. Across the middle, dark chocolate and less-sweet cherry preserves combine into something that closely resembles Black Forest cake, all accompanied by an oak-driven dryness.
The finish continues the same direction with additional oak, fresh mint, black pepper, cold black coffee, and even the dusty aroma of an old attic.
I genuinely enjoy the concept behind the 1776 Edition, but the whiskey itself falls short of matching the idea. It works better as a conversation piece than as a bottle I’d regularly reach for. My own preferences have never favored bourbons driven by mature oak, and this release simply pushes that element farther than I enjoy while offering too little sweetness in return. Drinkers who seek out oak-first profiles will likely have a much different reaction, although even then the overall presentation tilts farther toward wood than I would have preferred. 121.4 proof. B / $200
Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 100 Proof Review
Unlike the 1776 Edition, this release is intended to become an annual tradition. The inaugural bottling combines bourbon distilled in all 50 states, with whiskey ranging from 2 to 10 years old. Only two or three of the fifty components are 2-year-old bourbons, included because they represented states where bourbon production is still in its early stages, such as Hawaii, where older inventories are not yet available. The oldest whiskey in the blend comes from Ohio’s Tom’s Foolery, while the average age lands around five years. Cedar Ridge in Iowa contributes the largest share at 14%. Interestingly, Cedar Ridge also supplied the largest component in Field of Dreams All-Star Whiskey, previously recognized as the largest multi-distillery blend in American whiskey history before United States of Bourbon surpassed it.
The aroma opens with frosted animal crackers, crème brûlée, and the light sweetness of dried apricots. With additional time in the glass, cinnamon applesauce gradually takes center stage. It is an enjoyable nose from beginning to end, avoiding excessive tannin or oak despite the enormous scope of the project.
The palate begins with tart raspberry before shifting toward orange pith. Milk chocolate and salted caramel arrive across the middle, while the medium-thick viscosity suits the whiskey nicely and the proof lands in a very comfortable place.
Chocolate-covered pretzels headline the finish, joined by burnt brown sugar and nutmeg.
From beginning to end, Lost Lantern assembled an impressive bourbon while working within remarkably specific parameters. Will it go down as the best patriotic bourbon released during America’s 250th anniversary in 2026? No, but what is already clear is that this is an easy bottle to enjoy without hesitation. The biggest takeaway is how successfully Lost Lantern handled an undertaking of this scale, resulting in a blend that surpasses Field of Dreams All-Star while accomplishing an even more demanding geographic challenge. 100 proof. B+ / $80
Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Cask Strength Review
The Cask Strength release uses the exact same blend found in the 100 proof version, only bottled without proof reduction.
The nose opens with the scent of a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil alongside unsweetened chai tea. A brief note of asphalt after a summer rain passes through before shifting toward waxy red licorice. Oak remains well controlled throughout, while the spice stays right where it should.
Gingerbread and dark chocolate introduce the palate. Tannins arrive immediately without becoming overdone, followed by black raspberry bramble and Big Red gum through the middle. That cinnamon gum note supplies a welcome dose of juiciness against an otherwise dry mouthfeel.
The finish doesn’t quite maintain the same momentum established earlier. Dryness becomes more pronounced, bringing grape seeds, coffee grounds, and tobacco before cranberry juice concentrate adds a tart splash near the end.
Even with that slight drop-off in the closing moments, Cask Strength is the version I would reach for every time. The higher proof certainly helps, but the real advantage comes from the added range of flavors compared to the 100 proof release. More importantly, Lost Lantern has shown that a blending project of this magnitude can succeed on its own merits rather than relying solely on the novelty of the concept. If future editions maintain this standard, this should become an annual release worth seeking out. 122.9 proof. A- / $90
Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Cask Strength
USD90
