This release features a single barrel from Dread River Distilling Co. in Birmingham, Alabama, bottled by Lost Lantern. Dread River is a true grain-to-glass craft distillery, managing every step of production in-house: selecting and milling raw grains, fermentation, distillation, and aging. Nothing is sourced. Everything is earned.
This barrel was selected completely blind. Our tasters knew nothing about the producer, style, mash bill, age, or proof. What stood out was how immediate it was — big, bold, and memorable from the very first sip. Tasted alongside craft whiskies from different distilleries, regions, and styles, this barrel simply rose to the top. Only afterward did we learn we had selected a 7-year-old, 142.8-proof bourbon from a craft distillery in Alabama.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Deep caramel, sweet oak, wheat pastry, graham cracker, and almond with anise, cardamom, cinnamon, crystallized sugar, barrel char, and a subtle touch of maple.
Palate: Rich, dense, and exceptionally oily. Hard caramel and deep sweet oak lead into charred sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, maple, and a slight peppery spice.
Finish: Extremely long and persistent with dark caramel, mature sweet oak, barrel char, and lingering spice. Deep, structured, and grown-up.
Specs
Distillery: Dread River Distilling Co.
Bottled By: Lost Lantern
Origin: Birmingham, Alabama
Style: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 7 Years
Mash Bill: 60% White Corn · 30% Hard Winter Wheat · 10% Malted Barley
ABV: 71.4% / Proof: 142.8 · Hazmat
Bottle Size: 750ml
A blind selection that rose to the top — big, structured, and built to leave an impression.
