Whisky: McCarthy's 6 Year, Lost Lantern 2021 Release

Country/Region: United States/Oregon

ABV: 55.6%

Cask: 3rd Fill Oregon Oak, Medium Toast-Medium Char

Age: 6 Years (Bottled 2021)

Nose: Rich and meaty, smoked meats, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, mulled red wine, burning pine wood, an undercurrent of minerals and caramelized fats.

Palate: Medium-bodied, earthy, herbal, spicy, black currant, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, burning pine, dissolved limestone, subtle tobacco and charred grapes

Finish: Medium-length with caramelized fruit, herbal tobacco, and wood smoke.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Paleolithic Artist’s Studio

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was rich with meat, smoke, and spice—a banquet fit for a medieval baron. Smoked pork rubbed with herbs and brown sugar, caramelized briefly in a hot iron skillet, and served with spiced apple sauce. Mulled wine stewed with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg for good health offered to wash down the meat. Burning pine wood in the fireplace slowly filled the dining hall with sweet smoke laden with incense and crisping pork fat. On the palate, we turned to dessert with black currant and brown sugar cakes spiced with cinnamon and ginger. Caramelized tomato paste lent its richness while burning pine delivered a smokey undercurrent. The profile took an earthy turn at the end with dissolved limestone, as if drinking from a cave pool, a subtle dry tobacco smoke, and sweet charred grapes. The finish was medium-length, with caramelized fruit, tobacco, and wood smoke.

Another treat from Lost Lantern and McCarthy’s! While I scored this the same as the 3-year McCarthy’s Lost Lantern released more recently, I would give a slight edge to that younger whisky and its earthier profile. The first time I poured this and nosed it, I instantly brought the glass to my wife and asked her opinion. One whiff, and I knew it would be right up her alley. She loved the spice and rich mulled wine on the nose but found the palate not as savory as she expected or hoped.

Overall, this was delightful, and I am always surprised that McCarthy’s was not on my radar earlier. Lost Lantern has killed it with these releases, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

Image Credit: Lost Lantern Spirits