Sips & Sites & Bites

Lost Lantern, the independent bottler that’s made a name by curating some of the most distinctive American whiskies, is back with a Summer 2025 Collection, and this time, they’re going all in on a growing movement in the whiskey world: estate distilleries.

Estate distilleries are rare gems. They don’t just distill their own spirits … they grow the grain that goes into them. These are farms first and foremost, often with generations of history rooted in the soil. While this model is common in the wine world, it’s still a rarity in whiskey. Out of more than 3,000 U.S. distilleries, only a handful operate this way, and Lost Lantern has teamed up with four of them for this collection: Frey Ranch (Nevada), Corbin Cash (California), Whiskey Acres (Illinois), and Far North Spirits (Minnesota).

The result? A lineup of spirits that captures a sense of place as much as flavor.

The collection introduces two standout blends under the new Farmers’ Fields label … one bourbon, one rye. The Farmers’ Fields Bourbon (117.9 proof) is an earthy, bold blend sourced from Frey Ranch, Far North, and Whiskey Acres. The Farmers’ Fields Rye (117.4 proof) brings the heat and the herbs with contributions from all four partner distilleries. Each bottle carries Lost Lantern’s signature navy label, with color-coded closures: red for bourbon, green for rye.

And then there are the single casks, each a snapshot of a place and time.

From Nevada, Frey Ranch offers a rich Estate-Grown Bourbon (125.3 proof, 6 years old), full of cinnamon, cornbread, and cherry pie. Their Straight Rye (118.5 proof) delivers mint chocolate brownie aromas and a bright, herbal palate, while their Wheat Whiskey (121.3 proof) leans into creamy, floral softness with a fruity edge.

Whiskey Acres out of Illinois brings a Straight Bourbon (118.1 proof, 5 years old) with sweet cornbread and coffee notes, rounded, spicy, and smooth.

Far North Spirits, the northernmost distillery in the lower 48, offers a rye (111.5 proof) that screams cold-climate character: lemon bar brightness, herbal layers, and peppery spice.

Corbin Cash’s rye (133 proof, 7 years old) is the powerhouse of the bunch. Made from 100% Merced rye grown in California’s Central Valley, it’s intense and warming with marzipan, spice, and a sweet almond finish. It’s also an online exclusive.

All releases are cask strength, non-chill-filtered, and without added color … just pure whiskey, deeply rooted in the land.

Lost Lantern’s Summer Collection drops June 25th at LostLanternWhiskey.com, Seelbachs.com, select retailers, and at their tasting room in Vergennes, Vermont. For those who appreciate whiskey that tells a story … and carries the soul of the soil it came from … this is one release worth chasing.