By Randall H. Borkus
(Credit: Lost Lantern)
Lost Lantern, the award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey, announced its Fall 2025 release: The Scotch Lovers’ Collection. This is a deliberate invitation for Scotch drinkers to delve into American single malts through those expressions inspired by and reminiscent of Scotch whiskies. American single malt was officially recognized by the federal government as a new whiskey category in December 2024.
“While the single malts and blended malts in this Collection are not and could never be Scotch, which can only be made in Scotland, these … exceptional whiskies will hold special appeal for Scotch lovers,” said Co-Founder Adam Polonski. “We worked closely with each of the distilleries in this collection to source truly first-of-their-kind whiskies for this Collection as a way to invite Scotch lovers into American single malt.”
FALL 2025 COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS
The Scotch Lovers’ Collection features seven expressions (two blends and five single casks) that represent the craftsmanship and character of American malt, while making a call back to Scotland.
Lost Lantern’s two in-house vatted malts are:
Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Remix
Rating: B-
This comes in at 110.7 proof, only 800 bottles at $100 each with no age statement. This is a follow-up to the 2020 launch. Here they blend single malts from 11 distilleries in eight states: Andalusia Whiskey Co. (TX) Balcones Distilling (TX), Cedar Ridge (IA), Copperworks (WA), McCarthy’s (OR), Santa Fe Spirits (NM), Triple Eight Distillery (MA), Virginia Distilling Co, (VA), Westland Distillery (WA), Westward Whiskey (OR), and Whiskey Del Bac (AZ).
The nose is prolific with waves of malty sweetness, butter and dark fruit. The palate is a bit hot and surprisingly spicy with juicy dark fruits. The finish is syrupy and long with heavy spice. This is a one nice whiskey.
Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Reissue
Rating: B
This comes in at 105 proof, only 500 bottles at $90 each with no age statement. A limited re-release of Lost Lantern’s debut whiskey, created collaboratively with 6 pioneering distilleries: Balcones Distilling (TX), Copperworks (WA), Santa Fe Spirits (NM), Triple Eight Distillery (MA), Virginia Distilling Co, (VA), and Westward Whiskey (OR). The nose is soft and approachable with hints of citrus candy. The palate is juicy, warm and hints of sweet malt. The finish bursts with a juicy spice leaving my mouth feeling warm and lush. I enjoyed this whiskey
The five craft single malts of the collection:
Warfield Idaho Single Malt
Rating: B
This comes in at 135.4 proof, only 196 bottles at $100 a bottle with a 4-year age statement. The first-ever cask strength release from this rising star Idaho distillery, and it’s one of the only certified organic distilleries in the country. Warfield Distillery and Brewery is a young brewtillery that uses traditional Forsyths Scottish pot stills and high-elevation aging in the Sawtooth Mountains. This single malt was aged in ex-bourbon casks for four years. The nose is stout at this high proof with citrus candy notes. The palate is warm yet thin with nice citrus candied spice. The finish is bold with hints of honey and dried lemon peel.
I want to see this in a few more years as I could see some more age opening this into a sweeping landscape of flavor complexity.
Triple Eight Peated Massachusetts Single Malt
Rating: B+
This comes in at 116 proof, only 196 bottles at $120 a bottle with a 6-year 6-month age statement. The first-ever peated whiskey from Nantucket’s Triple Eight Distillery. This is made with Scottish-sourced peat and aged for six plus years in ex-bourbon barrels in a moist maritime climate.
The nose holds a significant touch of peat smoke and raw earth. The palate is dry and briny with juicy hints of dried fruit, and apricot juice. The finish is impressively long and smoky with a pleasant note of bay Rum oil and a soapiness. I really appreciated the complexity of this whiskey, and I would buy a bottle if I could find it!
Triple Eight 10-Year-Old Massachusetts Single Malt
Rating B+
This comes in at 124.2 proof, only 174 bottles at $150 a bottle with a 10-year age statement making it one of America’s oldest single malts. The distillery boasts they use traditional methods, longer aging times, and the maritime climate in Nantucket to create a balanced whiskey aged in ex-bourbon barrels. Well, it worked here! The nose holds hints of Caramel vanilla biscuits. The mouthfeel is mature and inviting with a significant hint of salty spice and Caramel butter. The finish is bright and refreshing with layers of honey, malty sugars and a solid hit of cinnamon spice!
I am impressed! This is a bottle I will seek out for my shelf, despite the challenge of finding it!
Triple Eight Sauternes Cask 11-Year-Old Massachusetts Single Malt
Rating: A-
This comes in at 121 proof, only 229 bottles at $180 a bottle with an 11-year age statement making it the very oldest America single malt whiskey in this Lost Lantern collection. The juice matured for 11 years in an ex-Sauternes casks which makes me curious. The nose jumps up at me with memories of my Aunt Jean’s Miodownik (Polish Honey Cake). What a welcome memory for a whiskey nose! My mom and aunt Jean spoiled me back in the day with waves of wonderful polish pastries. The mouthfeel is warming, sweet pastry-like with more honey and a splash of cookie dough. The finish is long, spicy and full of juicy Caramel and milk chocolate.
Quite impressive I might add for this American single malt! I must find a bottle to share with my whiskey friends.
McCarthy’s 10-Year-Old Peated Oregon Single Malt
Rating: B+
This comes in at 118.5 proof, only 250 bottles at $150 a bottle with a 10-year age statement from Oregon’s pioneering Clear Creek Distillery (aka Hood River Distillers). They are known for making McCarthy’s America’s original single malt. This is heavily peated and aged ten years in Oregon oak. The nose is full of inviting earthy peat. After a wee sip, the underlying hints of wet worn leather and the detritus layer or forest floor sit up. The palate holds hints of Sphagnum moss, campfire smoldering and a medicinal Islay quality.
This is McCarthy’s oldest single malt ever released, and it promises to capture many traditional scotch fans. Yes, I want a bottle!
This is an elegant collection of American Sigle Malts. The 2025 Fall Collection was available starting in November 2.25 at Lostlanternwhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com as well as select locations in CA NY, MA, RI and of course at the Lost Lantern Tasting Room in Vergennes, VT.
