Iowa Leads First Ever 50-State Bourbon Blend
Iowa is leading the charge in a historic milestone for American whiskey. Lost Lantern, an independent whiskey bottler, has released the United States of Bourbon, which is the first blend ever to feature bourbon from all 50 states. Bourbon from Iowa's own Cedar Ridge Distillery makes up the largest share of the final product at 14.4 percent.
The release is timed perfectly for America's 250th birthday, celebrating the craftsmanship and independent spirit of distilleries across the country. While Kentucky often gets all the credit for bourbon, this project proves that exceptional American whiskey is being made from sea to shining sea.
How did Lost Lantern source bourbon from all 50 states?
Bringing 50 independent businesses together required years of effort and a true free-market approach. Lost Lantern co-founders Adam Polonski and Nora Ganley-Roper spent years secretly collecting barrels to make this vision a reality.
As a true independent bottler, Lost Lantern sources whiskey from distilleries across the country and is fully transparent about where it comes from. This business model gave them the unique ability to take on a project of this scale.
We've been secretly collecting barrels.
Polonski explained that they strategically secured hard-to-get barrels over the last five years. In 2020, they bought Vermont bourbon aged in 53-gallon barrels. In 2022, they purchased all the bourbon from Rich Gray Distilling in Mississippi when the distillery closed.
In 2024, they made a final push to secure the remaining states. Polonski went on a road trip to verify the bourbon's quality and origin firsthand. The team needed total participation, as a 49-state blend would not have been enough.
When we say that we want you to be the Hawaii representative in the first blend of bourbon from all 50 states, you'd be the only distillery from your state. Also, if you say no, we can't do it. It actually made the conversations much easier.
Why is Iowa's Cedar Ridge the largest component?
Blending whiskey from 50 different distilleries was a massive undertaking. Ganley-Roper spent two weeks just tasting the potential component parts before beginning the iterative blending process.
She built the blend in three tiers, starting with a base that made up two-thirds to three-quarters of the final product. This base featured 12 distilleries, and Iowa's Cedar Ridge was the standout, contributing 14.4 percent of the total blend.
Once I've locked those barrels in, the base blend becomes one component part for subsequent blends. If the base is the meat, the middle section is the sauce, and the third tier is like salt and pepper. It took me at least a month to put it together.
The final blend contains whiskey made from nine different grains, including corn, rye, wheat, malted barley, and even triticale, which is a hybrid of rye and wheat. Despite the variety, the team wanted a cohesive, classic flavor that would appeal to a mainstream audience while showcasing the unique contributions of states outside the traditional whiskey powerhouses.
What makes the 1776 Special Edition different?
In addition to the 50-state blend, Lost Lantern released a 1776 Special Edition that only features bourbon from the original 13 colonies. This colonial-inspired blend offers a completely different flavor profile that highlights the distinct characteristics of East Coast whiskey.
Polonski noted that the East Coast climate allows the whiskey to mature for a long time without getting overpowered by oak. This results in a grain-forward taste that he describes as a nod to the history of what bourbon probably tasted like a long time ago, when it was much more of an agricultural product.
Does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky?
No, bourbon does not have to be made in Kentucky. While the state has deep historical ties to the spirit, the legal definition of bourbon explicitly states that it can be made anywhere in the United States. Distilleries in all 50 states currently produce bourbon, which made this 50-state blend legally and practically possible.
Where can I buy the 50-state bourbon blend?
The United States of Bourbon is available in two versions: a 100-proof blend and a cask-strength version bottled at 61.5% ABV. The labels clearly list all 50 distilleries in the order their states were admitted to the union. While the 1776 edition is a one-time release, the 50-state blends will be ongoing annual releases. Consumers should check with local liquor stores or online retailers to find a bottle.
The cask strength version offers a rich amber color and a nose full of caramel, baked apple, and vanilla. On the palate, drinkers will find notes of toffee, buttered cornbread, and sweet oak, finishing with cherry compote and toasted coconut. It is a cohesive, all-American whiskey that proves the United States is stronger together.