Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program FAQ

As an American independent bottler, Lost Lantern has always regularly released single casks from a wide variety of distilleries around the country—always cask strength, always non-chill filtered, always transparent. More recently, however, we launched a new program: The Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program. This program allows us to release special single casks in partnership with retailers or whiskey clubs across the country, creating something unique that only those specific groups will have access to.

Many whiskey companies these days have private barrel programs, but at Lost Lantern, we believe we offer something truly special. As an American independent bottler, we provide whiskey from distilleries all across the country, giving you access to amazing whiskies you might not be able to get your hands on any other way, or might not even know about! 

Who can participate in the Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program? 

The Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program is open to any group interested in collaborating with us. The most common participants include whiskey clubs, whiskey retailers, whiskey clubs associated with whiskey retailers, and whiskey bars. But those are by no means the only groups who can participate: we can also do private bottlings for a company, a group of friends, or even a private individual. 

For retail stores, the program is currently only open in states in which we are currently distributed: Vermont, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. Other states may be considered depending on the particular logistics and requirements of that state.

All sales to groups or individuals must ultimately go through a licensed retailer in your state or through our Vermont tasting room. We can help groups find a suitable retailer, either in their local area or an online retailer who ships around the country.

—

How does the Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program work? 

The Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program works in two ways, depending on your preferences. The most exciting option is to reach out to us, express interest in a private cask, and request samples of a particular style or styles of whiskey. From there, we’ll take care of everything: we’ll send you a selection of whiskey samples with only minimal information. This way, you can taste the whiskies blind, without knowing details like the source distillery, allowing for an unbiased experience. You can then see all the whiskey before making a final selection (unless, of course, you don’t want to!). 

Groups, clubs, retailers, etc. are all very welcome to come to our Vermont tasting room and warehouse to make their selection, but this is by no means required. 

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can choose to receive samples of specific whiskies from specific distilleries that we currently have available. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. After you select your whiskey or whiskies, we handle the rest: we customize the label, include your tasting notes, and make sure the release feels personal. The whiskey is then shipped to a distributor and, ultimately, to the retailer or retailers involved in your project.

For retailers, the process is similar, except the inventory of course all goes to the store.

How much does the Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program cost? 

The Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program doesn’t have an additional cost. In fact, the whiskey you select will be priced similarly to any single cask that we would release to the public. This makes it an excellent way to get something exclusive for your store or group, with the added bonus of a unique selection experience. Retail prices for Lost Lantern private barrels tend to range from $80 to $120, depending on the particular selection. 

What kind of whiskies are in the Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program? 

The Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program offers a wide variety of whiskies from American distilleries across the country. Typically, it will be from a distillery we’ve worked with before, although it may be a style we’ve never released from them. We have a broad range of bourbons, ryes, American single malts, and other unique whiskies from across the U.S., so we can help you find something you’ll love—perhaps even something you didn’t know you wanted!

Can I request something specific, like a Corbin Cash private barrel? 

It depends. Some barrels are reserved for single casks destined for national distribution, while others are set aside for the Private Barrel Program. And we only have so many barrels from any given distillery at any particular moment. That said, we ensure that special and unique whiskies are available, including some “hazmat” casks (whiskies with over 70% alcohol) and offerings from highly acclaimed distilleries, as well as hidden gems you might not find in your state through any other means.

Can I request something from a distillery you don’t already work with who isn’t available in my state? 

You can give it a shot, although that would be a longer process and that distillery would have to meet all our normal selection criteria (including that we would need to visit them in person, if we haven’t already). And who knows, we might already have something from that distillery in the warehouse that we simply haven’t released yet!

What will the bottles look like? 

Lost Lantern private barrels look similar to our single cask whiskies. Like our regular releases, private barrels are bottled at cask strength, are non-chill filtered, and proudly display the name of the source distillery right on the front label.

We also offer customization for the accounts or whiskey groups we work with. Depending on state regulations, we can include your group’s logo on the front label. You can also customize the tasting notes on the back label. For more in-depth customizations, reach out to us—we’re happy to discuss options.

How long does it take? 

The Lost Lantern Private Barrel Program generally moves much faster than many other private barrel whiskey programs, especially those from larger companies. Since we operate our own warehouse in Vermont, we can often move from selection to final bottling in just 3 months, sometimes even faster. The final timeline will depend in part on our production and shipping schedule (especially for releases going to the West Coast), but the process is typically quite quick. 

 What about a custom blend? 

Though we’re best known for our single casks, we’ve also gained a great reputation for our unique blends from one or multiple distilleries. Believe it or not, blends are part of our Private Barrel Program as well! If you’re interested in creating a custom blend for your store or whiskey club, we’re happy to work with you. This is a more involved process and generally results in a larger number of bottles, but it’s also a great deal of fun… and you even get to work with us on coming up with a unique alliterative name for the release. Reach out to us directly to discuss further.

How many bottles will I get? 

The size of a private barrel release can vary widely. We’ll always inform you ahead of time how many bottles you can expect. Depending on the size and age of the barrel, and whether you choose a full barrel or just a portion of one (which is also an option in many cases), a private barrel can yield anywhere from 40 to over 300 bottles. In the case of a custom blend, even more bottles may be produced, allowing you to tailor the release to the needs of your group.

How can I get the process started? 

For all U.S. interest and any other questions, email [email protected].

If you’re outside the U.S., we might not be able to accommodate you just yet, but feel free to reach out if you’re particularly excited about the idea, and we’ll see what we can do.