By Richard Thomas
Rating: A-
Pushing forward off their outstanding start last year, Lost Lantern has been combining the function of a European negociant — buying casks from distillers for either single barrel bottlings or in-house crafty blends — with the unique scene of American craft distilling. That is where this particular whiskey comes from: Lost Lantern picked up several barrels from Arizona’s Hamilton Distillers, makers of Whiskey del Bac. As part of their Spring 2021 collection, they released several as single barrel bottlings.
I can’t say which one my review was drawn from. The sample bottle did not say, and there were three. However, I can tell you it was from the mesquite-smoked variety of American single malt that Hamilton makes, with 60% smoked malt and 40% unsmoked. Since I don’t know which cask I tried, I also don’t know the exact alcohol strength, but they were all bottled at cask strength and came in above 120 proof (60% ABV). No age statement was attached either, but it was aged in a second-fill barrel, not new oak.
The Whiskey
This Arizona malt has a light, dulled amber look in the glass, and a scent oily, smoky with creosote, and malty. Sipping on it is a smokehead’s delight: it has all the oily, thick textured and smoky character that came across in the nose, with a layer of Christmas Cake spices slid into the mid. The finish lets the smoke go to wind down on toasted, cracked grains and malty honey.
The pour reminded me a little of Islay whiskies, truth be told, but only a little. The American character ran too deep for it to be more than a touch reminiscent, and the difference between mesquite and peat smoking really stands out here. That is what makes it such a lovely sipper, especially for those who know and adore smoky whiskies.
The Price
The suggested retail price for whiskeys in this series is $90 a bottle.