Lost Lantern Releases 50-State Bourbon Blend for America’s 250th Birthday
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 15
Lost Lantern Releases 50-State Bourbon Blend for America’s 250th Birthday
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 15
Summary
Lost Lantern on Monday launched “United States of Bourbon,” a whiskey blending 50 bourbons—one from each state—to mark the United States’ 250th birthday.
8 years after founding the company in 2018, owners Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski completed the project by sourcing barrels nationwide and choosing a single bourbon to represent each state.
60-plus distillery visits in 32 states on their first road trip grew into a multiyear effort spanning more than 120,000 Prius miles, 20 national park stops and hundreds of hotel nights; the bottle’s label names all 50 producers.
The release arrives as the American whiskey industry faces a deep slump, though other distillers have also issued semiquincentennial bottles, including Maker’s Mark and Heaven Hill’s Evan Williams.
Beyond a clever tribute, can one bottle of whiskey genuinely capture the diverse spirit of an entire nation?
How does a blend of 50 unique state bourbons create one cohesive, distinctly 'American' flavor profile?
As craft distilleries rise in all 50 states, is Kentucky's bourbon dominance facing its biggest challenge yet?
Lost Lantern Unveils "United States of Bourbon": A 50-State Blend Marking America's 250th Anniversary
Overview
On June 15, 2026, Lost Lantern unveiled the 'United States of Bourbon' blend, marking a milestone in American whiskey history. This special release celebrates America's 250th birthday by bringing together a unique bourbon from each of the 50 states, highlighting the country's rich distilling diversity. The project reflects Lost Lantern's ongoing dedication to exploring and showcasing American whiskey, a mission led by founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, who bring deep industry experience to this ambitious endeavor. Their expertise and vision have made this unprecedented collection possible, offering a true taste of America's whiskey landscape.