The ultimate taste of Americana, The United States of Bourbon is a new high-end blend of whiskies from all 50 U.S. StatesLost Lantern WhiskeyThere was a time not so long ago when most domestic whiskies came from Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, and craft distilleries were unheard of. Today, the brown spirits landscape in this country has changed dramatically, and there is no longer a single state that does not have at least one whiskey producer. That is why it was possible for independent bottler Lost Lantern to create what is arguably the most American whiskey ever made, the United States of Bourbon, a blend of 50 small batch whiskies from every single state in the Union. There has been a lot of hype, pomp and circumstance this year around the nation’s semiquincentennial, so why not toast America250 with this very special whiskey?(If you are also a wine lover, so do not miss my recent Forbes story on one of America’s greatest but less well known cabernet producers, a hidden gem any red wine fan will be happy to learn about.)Lost Lantern is an independant bottler, ageing and bottling single casks from craft whiskey producers, such as these examples.Lost Lantern WhiskeyThe United Kingdom has rich history of independent bottlers who purchase casks from distilleries, age them and bottle them, sometimes blending, resulting in unique one of a kind expressions you cannot find anywhere else. If you love Scotch, you are probably familiar with some of the big names in this category, Cadenhead’s, Gordon & MacPhail, Signatory, Thompson Brothers, The Whisky Exchange and so on. These offer unique opportunities to try single-cask whiskies in ages never released by the distilleries, such as an 11 or 19-year that’s not part of the retail lineup, and in some cases, whiskies from distilleries that are never sold at retail at all. In Scotland there are distilleries producing single malts only for sale as a component ingredient to big blended whisky producers such as Chivas or Dewar’s, with none being bottled for direct sale at all. Independent bottlers fill these voids, and also often have old stocks from distilleries that have gone under and no longer exist at all, representing the opportunity for enthusiasts to try things that would others not exist.Founded in 2018, Vermont-based Lost Lantern Whiskey imported the concept to this country and is now the leading independent bottler in the United States. They source, bottle and sometimes blend single cask American whiskies and label them with transparent details including the name of the distillers, age and details of the mash bill, and complete details on every cask, including what it is made of. Lost Lantern whiskies are unadulterated, non-chill filtered, with no artificial colors and often at cask strength. A typical example is their American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1, which won “Best American Blended Malt” at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards, and several other prestigious medals. It is a 12-barrel blend from half a dozen prominent domestic craft producers including Texas’ Balcones, Seattle’s Copperworks, Sanat Fe Spirits, Nantucket’s Triple Eight, Portland’s Westward Whiskey and Virginia Distillery Co.. 3000 bottles were produced at 105-proof and it sells for a very reasonable $90. MORE FOR YOUThe three expressions of the United States of BourbonLost Lantern WhiskeyBut while Lost Lantern has followed in a rich and hallowed tradition from the British isles, the birthplace of whiskey, this project is an entirely new and historic undertaking. A one-off birthday celebration for the 250th, the United Staes of Bourbon 1776 Edition was a blend of whiskies from each of the original 13 U.S. States, in a limited edition of 1,776 bottles. It proved so successful that they expanded the scope to a first-of-its-kind blend of straight whiskies from all 50 U.S. States, which has never been done before, and created two more labels that will be permanent additions to the product line, available going forward. These are The United States of Bourbon 100-Proof and Cask Strength. Both carry a 2-year age statement and contain whiskies aged from 2-10 years. All 50 producers are listed in detail, but as some examples, it includes whiskey from several favorites of mine, such as South Carolina’s boutique High Wire Distilling Co., which specializes in antique and forgotten regional corn and grain varieties; Nevada’s highly collectible Frey Ranch; Kentucky’s acclaimed New Riff Distilling; Washington’s beloved Woodinville Whisky; and so on. It’s not just a gimmick of whiskies from all 50 states, it is also a Who’s Who of top craft producers.I tried both and other than the strength of the alcohol, the flavor profiles are very similar, which makes sense because they share essentially the same recipe. The whiskey is on the lighter side in terms of body but rich in wood spice and vanilla. The aftertaste is fuller, with hints of chocolate and berry. What’s most impressive is how so many components are married into a smooth, enjoyable final result, no easy task, and while at the end of the day, the United States of Bourbon is about novelty and Americana, what could have easily been a lower quality gimmick is a legitimate part of any whiskey lover’s collection and/or an excellent gift. The 100-proof is $80, the Cask Strength is $100 and limited amounts of the 1776 Edition (which I have not tried) are still available for $200, as well as all three in bundle for $370. We may be producing whiskey in every state, but the U.S. still has very arcane laws when it comes to alcohol sales, so Lost Lantern is available at retail in eight rather random states (including New York and California), through its own website to some locations, and through online craft spirits retailer Seelbachs.com. Lost Lantern also has a tasting room and retail shop open on weekends at its Vermont headquarters, well worth a visit if you find yourself in the Middlebury/Vergennes area.