Lost Lantern, the Vermont-based independent bottler of American whiskey, turns its focus to one of the most spirited discussions in whiskey today: high proof versus low proof. 

While high-proof whiskies, especially hazmat whiskies (those bottled at 140 proof or higher), have developed a true cult following among dedicated whiskey drinkers, many whiskey lovers have yet to encounter these intense, powerful whiskies.

At the same time, a growing faction of whiskey enthusiasts are gravitating toward lower proof whiskies, embracing their balance and approachability. Lost Lantern’s Spring 2026 Collection is a nod to both movements.

The Spring 2026 Collection was created in honor of Lost Lantern’s newest flagship release: Far-Flung Bourbon 100 Proof, the first non-cask strength whiskey in its award-winning bourbon series. Painstakingly slow-proofed to 100 proof, the whiskey is being released alongside the limited, cask strength Far-Flung Bourbon IV.

The collection also includes eight cask strength single casks presented in four curated higher- and lower-proof pairings. Rather than declaring one style superior, the collection invites whiskey drinkers to explore how proof shapes aroma, texture, structure, and overall experience across styles and regions.

The single casks include whiskies from three returning partners (Boulder Spirits in Colorado, Copperworks in Washington, and New Riff in Kentucky), as well as five new partners: Day’s Defile in Idaho, Montgomery Distilling in Montana, Dread River Distilling Co. in Alabama, ASW Distillery in Georgia, and Broad Branch in North Carolina. 

“As the industry evolves, we’re seeing passionate camps emerge around proof,” said Nora Ganley-Roper, co-founder and Head Blender at Lost Lantern. “Some people seek intensity and power. Others prefer balance and approachability. We’re not choosing sides: we love both higher- and lower-proof whiskies! Instead, we’re exploring what each proof reveals about the whiskey itself and encouraging whiskey lovers to make these comparisons for themselves.” 

“There is no perfect proof for whiskey,” said co-founder Adam Polonski. ”It depends not just on the distillery and the whiskey, but also on when and why you’re drinking it–whether you’re enjoying whiskey on the rocks with friends, or slowly savoring a very high-proof dram to close out an evening. Proof is just one part of a whiskey’s story, and this collection explores that.”