Lost Lantern Launches the United States of Bourbon, the First-Ever Blend of Straight Bourbon from All 50 States

 The inaugural release includes a recurring 100 Proof expression, a recurring Cask Strength expression, and a limited 1776 Edition created for America’s 250th anniversary.

VERGENNES, VT  — Award-winning independent bottler Lost Lantern today announces the launch of the United States of Bourbon, the first-ever blend of bourbon from all 50 states, and the widest-ranging American whiskey ever created.

At a time when bourbon is being made everywhere from Hawaii to Alaska, Vermont to Texas, the United States of Bourbon captures a remarkable moment in American whiskey history. Bringing together one distillery from every state into a single blend, the project serves as a snapshot of the extraordinary growth, diversity, and creativity that has transformed American bourbon in recent years.

The culmination of a vision that predates Lost Lantern itself, the United States of Bourbon has been in development for more than five years. Over that time, Lost Lantern co-founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski traveled extensively across the country, visiting distilleries and evaluating whiskey in pursuit of a bourbon worthy of representing each state. In some cases, multiple distilleries and countless samples were considered before the final whiskey was identified for the project. Every cask in the blend was hand-selected from distilleries personally visited and vetted by the founders, providing the foundation for what would become one of the most ambitious blending projects in American whiskey.

The inaugural release debuts in three expressions: United States of Bourbon 100 Proof (SRP $79.99), United States of Bourbon Cask Strength (SRP $99.99), and the limited United States of Bourbon 1776 Edition (SRP $199.99), a one-time-only 13-state blend created to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. In keeping with Lost Lantern’s commitment to full transparency, every component distillery is listed on each label.

While bourbon has historically been associated with a handful of states, the United States of Bourbon reflects the dramatic rise of craft distilling across the country over the last two decades. The blend includes bourbons aged in coastal climates influenced by salty sea air, estate whiskey from family-run grain-to-glass distilleries, bourbon from states with generations of moonshining traditions, and whiskey from some of the country’s newest distilleries, including producers younger than the idea for United States of Bourbon itself. Together, they create a singular portrait of the diversity, innovation, and character defining American whiskey today.

“The United States of Bourbon has truly been years in the making and has been part of the vision for Lost Lantern since before we launched the company,” says Adam Polonski, co-founder and Head of Whiskey Sourcing at Lost Lantern. “From the earliest stages of dreaming up Lost Lantern, we envisioned crafting a fifty-state blend to showcase the diversity and breadth of bourbon. Shortly after, in 2021, we began sourcing barrels specifically for this whiskey, work that continued through 2025. I have visited and vetted every distillery in this blend in person.”

“This is certainly the most ambitious whiskey Lost Lantern has ever made,” says Nora Ganley-Roper, co-founder and Head Blender at Lost Lantern. “But it has also always had true clarity of vision. I blended this to give a bird’s-eye view of bourbon from across the country. This whiskey provides a snapshot of the complexity and current landscape of bourbon.”

While the United States of Bourbon celebrates the extraordinary diversity of bourbon today, the 1776 Edition offers a more historical perspective. Created to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States, this limited release blends bourbon from the first 13 states that came together to form a new nation. Unlike the recurring 50-state expressions, the 1776 Edition was conceived as a one-time release, serving as both a tribute to America’s founding and a snapshot of the bourbon being produced across those original states today.

THE INAUGURAL EXPRESSIONS

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 100 Proof

This first-of-its-kind release is a blend of straight bourbon whiskies from all 50 states, sourced from distilleries personally visited and vetted by Lost Lantern. Blended in Vermont and carefully slow-proofed to 50% ABV, the 100 Proof expression presents a warmer, more approachable profile while maintaining the whiskey’s depth and complexity. Tasting Notes: Warm vanilla and wood spice on the nose, with hints of nutmeg and clove. On the palate, notes of chocolate, raspberry, and orange zest. Balanced and deep.

• SRP: $79.99
• Proof: 100
• Quantity: 6,780 bottles
• Age Statement: 2 years; components range from 2–10 years old
• Non-chill filtered; no color added 

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon Cask Strength

The Cask Strength expression features the same blend of bourbons from all 50 states as the 100 Proof release, blended in Vermont and bottled at its natural proof. Tasting Notes: Rich wood spice and vanilla on the nose. On the palate, oak, spice, and fruit intermingle into a deep and balanced whole, with notes of black raspberry, dark chocolate, and leather.

• SRP: $99.99
• Proof: 122.9
• Quantity: 3,300 bottles
• Age Statement: 2 years; components range from 2–10 years old
• Non-chill filtered; no color added 

Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon 1776 Edition

Created especially for America’s 250th anniversary, the limited 1776 Edition is a special 13-state blend of straight bourbon whiskies sourced from the first states that came together to form a new nation in 1776. Blended in Vermont, bottled at cask strength, and limited to just 1,776 hand-numbered bottles, this one-time-only release will never be repeated. Tasting Notes: Warm, complex, and spicy on the nose, with orange zest, dark chocolate, and walnut notes. The palate bursts with fruit and spice, with hints of fresh-baked bread and notes of leather leading into a very long, spicy finish.

• SRP: $199.99
• Proof: 121.4
• Quantity: 1,776 bottles
• Age Statement: 4 years; components range from 4–8 years old
• Non-chill filtered; no color added

United States of Bourbon is available via LostLanternWhiskey.com, Seelbachs.com, at select retailers in CA, IL, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT, and VA, and at the Lost Lantern Tasting Room in Vergennes, VT. 

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey based in Vergennes, Vermont. Inspired by the tradition of independent bottling in Scotland, Lost Lantern seeks out distinctive whiskies from across the U.S., releasing them as single casks and blends with a commitment to transparency.

Named Independent Bottler of the Year at the 2026 Icons of Whisky America Awards and the 2023 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Lost Lantern has also seen both founders honored as Drinks Visionaries of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine, Drinks Innovators of the Year by SevenFifty Daily, named to the VermontBiz Rising Stars list, and named to Beverage Information Group’s 40 Under 40.

For more information, explore current and past releases, visit the tasting room, or sign up for the newsletter or Discovery Club at LostLanternWhiskey.com. Follow @lostlanternwhiskey on Instagram and Facebook.

Participating Distilleries in United States of Bourbon (listed in order of statehood)

*Part of the 1776 Edition blend

Painted Stave Distilling (DE)*, Liberty Pole Spirits (PA)*, Sourland Mountain Spirits (NJ)*, ASW Fiddler Distillery (GA)*, Litchfield Distillery (CT)*, Triple Eight Distillery (MA)*, Baltimore Spirits Co. (MD)*, High Wire Distilling Co. (SC)*, Cathedral Ledge Distillery (NH)*, Reservoir Distillery (VA)*, Kings County Distillery (NY)*, Broad Branch Distillery (NC)*, South County Distillers (RI)*, Stonecutter Spirits (VT), New Riff Distilling (KY), Leiper’s Fork Distillery (TN), Tom’s Foolery Distillery (OH), Distillerie Acadian (LA), Starlight Distillery (IN), Rich Grain Distilling (MS), Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. (IL), Dread River Distilling Co. (AL), Hardshore Distilling Co. (ME), J. Rieger & Co. (MO), Rock Town Distillery (AR), New Holland Distilling Co. (MI), St. Augustine Distillery (FL), Balcones Distilling (TX), Cedar Ridge Distillery (IA), Wollersheim Distillery (WI), Corbin Cash Distillery (CA), Far North Spirits (MN), Oregon Spirit Distillers (OR), Union Horse Distilling Co. (KS), Smooth Ambler Spirits (WV), Frey Ranch Distillery (NV), Brickway Distillery (NE), Boulder Spirits (CO), Proof Artisan Distillers (ND), Blackfork Farms (SD), Montgomery Distillery (MT), Woodinville Whiskey Co. (WA), Day’s Defile (ID), Backwards Distilling Co. (WY), High West Distillery (UT), Hochatown Distilling (OK), Safe House Distilling (NM), SanTan Distilling (AZ), Denali Spirits (AK), and Ko‘olau Distillery (HI).

Knob Creek Marks America’s 250th With a First-Ever Blue Wax Seal

For the first time in Knob Creek Bourbon’s history, we’re changing the color of our signature wax seal to mark a truly historic milestone.

To celebrate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, James B. Beam Distilling Co. has announced Knob Creek 9 Year Old: Independence Edition, a limited-edition expression of our iconic 9-year-old bourbon featuring a blue wax seal and patriotic red, white, and blue label, joining a commemorative collection alongside Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark.

Founded in 1992 and named for the Kentucky creek at Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home, Knob Creek was created by sixth generation Master Distiller Booker Noe to revive pre-Prohibition bourbon. Today, his son Fred Noe and grandson Freddie Noe continue to uphold that legacy – with this release celebrating both America’s 250th anniversary and James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s 230 years of American whiskey heritage.

While the look is new, the liquid remains the same full-flavored bourbon fans expect: aged nine years in American white oak, bottled at 100 proof, and featuring notes of smooth vanilla, deep caramel, and bold charred oak. It is available nationwide for a limited time at $36.99 SRP.

Spend more to save more on American whiskey

There are few things we love more than American whiskey, but announcing an offer like this might be one of them! For a limited time, if you spend over £80 on 2 bottles of American whiskey, you’ll get £10 off; and if you spend over £150 on 2 bottles of American whiskey, you’ll get £20 off.

To redeem, simply add two eligible bottles to your basket and enter BRBN10 or BRBN20 at checkout to claim your discount.

SHOP NOW

Booker’s Bourbon Unveils Batch #2 The “Milkshake Batch”

The second release from Booker’s Bourbon this year – The Milkshake Batch – inspired by one of Booker Noe’s favorite indulgences: a homemade chocolate malted milkshake spiked with a generous pour of bourbon.

Named after a cherished Beam family tradition, the “Milkshake Batch” pays tribute to the late Booker Noe’s inventive spirit. The story traces back to Fred Noe’s childhood fishing trips with his father, where chocolate malted milkshakes became a well-earned reward after a day on the water. Booker eventually began adding bourbon to the mix, creating a family ritual that lives on today between Fred and Freddie.

The “Milkshake Batch” delivers everything bourbon enthusiasts expect from Booker’s: uncut, unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottled at a robust 124.4 proof and aged 7 years, 6 months, and 12 days. The batch showcases rich aromas of vanilla and oak, a bold, full-bodied palate, and the long, lingering finish that Booker’s is known for.

The breakdown is as follows:

•  26% was stored on the fifth floor of warehouse 3, a seven-story house.
•  23% was stored on the third floor of warehouse L, a seven-story house.
•  19% was stored on the third floor of warehouse M, a seven-story house.
•  32% was stored on the fifth floor of warehouse G at waterfall, a seven-story house.

(PRNewsfoto/Heaven’s Door Spirits, LLC)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 608: Heaven’s Door Straight Rye Whiskey

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, celebrates Independence Day with an American whiskey. Heaven’s Door is a relatively new whiskey brand from Chicago, founded in collaboration with the legendary artist Bob Dylan. Their first whiskey appeared in 2018, but by now they already have a track record of more than 60 whiskies. In the glass is one of the first releases: a young rye whiskey that received a finish in wine casks from the Vosges.

https://youtu.be/olcMJU1kEZQ

Happy 4th of July to our friends in the United States of America!

Kentucky Senator Bourbon and Louisiana Senator Bourbon Earn Top Honors at 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 2026 ASCOT Awards

LEXINGTON, KY – June 2026 – Kentucky Senator Spirits, LLC announced Kentucky Senator Bourbon and Louisiana Senator Bourbon expressions have received multiple prestigious awards from two of the industry’s most respected competitions, further cementing the brands’ reputations for excellence in the American whiskey category. These honors reflect the unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship that co-founders Damon Thayer and Andre Regard have built into every bottle.

Jim Bunning Release – 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold, 96 Points

The Jim Bunning Release, Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s seventh small-batch expression, earned a Double Gold Medal and a score of 96 points at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world. The Double Gold distinction is awarded only to spirits that receive a Gold Medal from every judge on the panel, representing the highest recognition the competition confers. For an eight-and-a-half-year, 107-proof small-batch bourbon to earn unanimous Gold from an elite judging panel is a testament to the depth, complexity, and character that defines Kentucky Senator Bourbon.

John Edwards Release – 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Silver Medal and 2026 ASCOT Double Platinum Award

The John Edwards Release earned recognition at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, receiving a Silver Medal. This is a strong commendation from a panel of judges that evaluated hundreds of spirits across all categories, and a further confirmation that Kentucky Senator Bourbon consistently performs at the highest level of American whiskey craft.

Additionally, the John Edwards Release was named a 2026 ASCOT Double Platinum Award Winner. The ASCOT Awards (American Spirits Council of Tasters), founded by spirits expert Fred Minnick, represent one of the most rigorous evaluation processes in the domestic spirits industry. Spirits are judged blind on a 100-point scale, and a Double Platinum designation is reserved for spirits scoring between 95 and 100 points.

Huey P. Long Release – 2026 ASCOT Platinum Award Winner

Louisiana Senator Bourbon Huey P. Long Release earned a 2026 ASCOT Platinum Award. This distinction is achieved through blind evaluation on a 100-point scale by a panel of industry experts, and a Platinum designation is reserved for spirits scoring between 90 and 94 points. This recognition places the Huey P. Long Release among the most celebrated small-batch bourbons.

About Kentucky Senator Bourbon

Kentucky Senator Bourbon is an award-winning small-batch Bourbon brand committed to crafting exceptional spirits with a side of American history. Each limited-edition release is named after a U.S. Senator and represents a blend of tradition, character and U.S. heritage; it is distilled and aged in Kentucky for at least six years (the same length as a U.S. senate term), but often longer.

Founded by Andre Regard and Damon Thayer, Kentucky Senator Bourbon revives a historic brand once produced by Crigler and Crigler in Covington and later Double Springs Distillers in Bardstown. The brand launched its first revival release in 2021 and has since become known for producing richly aged, 107-proof Bourbon expressions that connect past and present.

Awards & Recognition

• • Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s inaugural release, the Alben W. Barkley Release, was highlighted in Forbes’ Online Magazine 
  • Fred Minnick, a noted Bourbon author, ranked Kentucky Senator Bourbon in his Top 100 Whiskeys of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025
  • Kentucky Senator Bourbon has won multiple Gold ASCOT Awards for taste and a Double Platinum ASCOT Award for marketing and brand design
  • Kentucky Senator Bourbon recently won its first Double Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its 2024 John Brown release

Keep following and liking our posts! We are on:

• • Twitter (X)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Triple Double Golds, 99/100 Scoring Highlights Wenzel Distillery’s Strong Whiskey Line Up At 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

COVINGTON, Ky. – Wenzel Distillery is proud to announce an exceptional showing at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), earning five medals across its portfolio — including three Double Gold awards. The distillery’s Double Oaked Bourbon and Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon each received a Double Gold with a near-perfect score of 99, while its Toasted Oak Bourbon earned a Double Gold with a score of 97. The Wheated Bourbon earned a Gold Medal, making 2026 one of the most decorated years in Wenzel’s history.

The SFWSC is recognized as one of the most influential spirits competitions in the world, honoring excellence through a rigorous blind tasting process conducted by a panel of industry experts. Judges are tasked with reviewing and grading over 5,000 entries every year. A Double Gold Medal signifies that every judge unanimously awarded a gold rating, the highest standard of recognition the competition bestows.

Wenzel’s 2026 SFWSC medal results are as follows:

• Double Oaked Bourbon — Double Gold | Score: 99
• Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon — Double Gold | Score: 99
• Toasted Oak Bourbon — Double Gold | Score: 97
• Wheated Bourbon — Gold Medal

“Winning three Double Golds with near perfect 99 scores at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is a tremendous honor for our team. We’re proud to bring these awards back to our distillery in Covington and to represent the bourbon heritage of Northern Kentucky on one of the world’s biggest stages. As Covington’s only distillery, we’re honored to carry our city’s bourbon story forward and look forward to sharing our award-winning spirits with bourbon lovers across Kentucky and beyond.” — Austin Dunbar, Partner, Wenzel Distillery

These awards continue a remarkable streak for the young distillery. In 2025, Wenzel received recognition at the World Whiskies Awards, where its Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon was named “World’s Best Finished Bourbon,” and at SFWSC, where its Barrel Proof Rye was named “Best American Rye Whiskey.” The 2026 SFWSC results affirm that Wenzel’s quality is not a one-time achievement; it is a standard.

Wenzel’s award-winning spirits are available at select retailers throughout Kentucky, on its website through the online store, and at the Wenzel Distillery’s tasting room and production facility at 412 Madison Avenue, Covington, Kentucky — the first producing distillery in Covington since Prohibition. Wenzel is featured on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s bourbon tour experience.

About Wenzel, LLC:

Founded in 2022 and located at 412 Madison Avenue in the heart of Covington, Kentucky, Wenzel Distillery is dedicated to producing exceptional whiskies that honor the region’s rich bourbon heritage. Through meticulous craftsmanship and a relentless pursuit of quality, Wenzel creates storied spirits that embrace tradition and define distinction. For more information, visit www.wenzeldistillery.com.

TMF DISTILLERY VISITS

We’ve teamed up with John Kennedy Transport to provide a bus service to and from our distillery all weekend.

Rather than a formal tour, the doors to the Distillery will be open, with our staff and Distillery Founders available to answer any questions you may have.

Our Distillery Shop and Bar will be open for drinks and merchandise sales with fantastic views across Balephuil Bay towards Skerryvore Lighthouse.

The perfect opportunity to visit another part of Tiree while attending the festival!

Book a Distillery Visit