Lost Lantern Anniversary Cask | Santa Fe Spirits Mesquite-Smoked New Mexico Single Malt Review

Distillery: Santa Fe Spirits—Santa Fe, New Mexico 

Proof: 126.6 (63.3% ABV) 

Age: Six Years + Two Years Secondary Finish 

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley (30% Mesquite Smoked) 

MSRP: $100

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Lost Lantern returns to Santa Fe Spirits with a six-year expression that smolders with mesquite and citrus.

Lost Lantern’s has built something rare in the whiskey world—a business model that sounds too good to be true. They travel the country, hunt down unique single barrels from independent craft distilleries, and release them under their own label with full transparency about the source. No smoke and mirrors, just good whiskey with a clear paper trail.

This Anniversary Cask release comes from New York Distilling in Brooklyn, a straight rye that spent nine years in its original barrel before a three-year, seven-month secondary finish in a former apple brandy cask. Lost Lantern released a similar apple brandy-finished rye last year, and frankly, it didn’t land. But whatever this extra time in wood did—whether it’s the extended aging or the magic of this particular cask—this one delivers.

Lost Lantern Anniversary Cask | Santa Fe Spirits Mesquite-Smoked New Mexico Single Malt Review: Tasting Notes

Nose

The mesquite announces itself immediately. Picture this: a buttered biscuit, fresh from the oven, then heavily smoked over a mesquite fire. That’s the nose. There’s a sweet raisin note underneath, but the smoke dominates—rich, savory, and undeniably Southwestern.

Palate

The palate takes the smoke in an unexpected direction. Think of a smoked orange—citrusy brightness wrapped in that persistent mesquite char. It’s the kind of flavor combination you’d get from smoking fruit over an open flame at Thanksgiving. The citrus and smoke compete for attention, and somehow both win.

Finish

The finish runs thinner and lighter than expected, fading relatively quickly. Those citrus notes linger briefly before the smoke finally releases its grip. It’s not a long exit, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome either.

Value

At $100 for an eight-year single malt with this level of character, the price is fair—especially considering only 135 bottles exist. You’re paying for craft, creativity, and scarcity. This isn’t a daily drinker; it’s an experience.

Lost Lantern Anniversary Cask | Santa Fe Spirits Mesquite-Smoked New Mexico Single Malt Review: The Verdict

This whiskey begs for context. It’s the kind of pour you enjoy by a fire with a good novel or a slow documentary—something to sip and savor when the evening calls for something different. If you’re looking for conventional, keep walking. But if you want a single malt that tastes like nowhere else in America, Santa Fe Spirits and Lost Lantern delivered something worth seeking out. Available exclusively through the Lost Lantern website.  Shop now.

Verdict – 4.2/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3