For America's 250th, a Bourbon Made From All 50 States

America's approaching 250th birthday is getting its own bourbon—built one state at a time. The New York Times profiles Lost Lantern, a small Vermont bottler whose founders, former New Yorkers Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, spent years crisscrossing the country in a Prius to assemble the "United States of Bourbon": a blend of 50 bourbons, each chosen to stand in for its home state. The result, released Monday, is less about age statements and mash bills than miles logged and distilleries discovered. In a review, Breaking Bourbon says the "United States of Bourbon 100 Proof has a well-composed flavor profile that tastes surprisingly less adventurous than it sounds, which is not necessarily a bad thing." A bottle will set you back around $80.

Reporter Clay Risen uses their project to zoom out on a broader trend: a booming craft-distilling ecosystem that now tops 2,200 producers, even as American whiskey faces a slump. The couple's blend—offered in two strengths plus a special "1776 Edition" made from only the original 13 states—joins a wave of semiquincentennial releases from bigger names like Maker's Mark and Heaven Hill. Industry insiders are split on whether a 50-state bottle is a storytelling triumph or just more shelf clutter. To see why Lost Lantern is betting it's the former, read the full piece at the New York Times.