Lost Lantern Single Distillery Series: Mississippi Memory Review

Syrup-soaked raisins | Molasses | Toasted oak | Black peppercorns | Green bell pepper | Saffron | Funky

Syrup-soaked raisins | Strong rye spice | Brown sugar | Toasted dry oak | Dry baking chocolate

Dry oak | Leather | Dry raisins | Rye spice | Incredibly dry | Strong spiciness

A look at what could have been: Mississippi Memory is Lost Lantern’s first ever Ghost Distillery release.

Rich Grain Distilling was founded in 2016 by David Rich. Based in Canton, Mississippi, it was the third legal distillery ever in Mississippi. According to a post by Rich on the distillery’s Yelp listing, “after working for several years as a mechanical engineer in the defense industry, I decided to branch out on my own and pursue my passion for good bourbon.” Unfortunately, that dream was short-lived, as Rich Grain Distilling closed its doors in 2020, making it the first ghost distillery (i.e., a distillery that no longer exists) that Lost Lantern has ever released whiskey from. To create this 500-bottle edition of Mississippi Memory, Lost Lantern sourced and blended 5- and 7-year-old bourbons from Rich Grain Distilling that had been aged in 15-gallon barrels.

Mississippi Memory makes a funky first impression thanks to a nose full of unusual scents. Syrup-soaked raisins and molasses blend with herbal undertones thanks to black peppercorns and green bell peppers, as well as a hint of saffron. A charred oak note is also present that carries through the rest of the sip and is most likely due to the smaller barrel size this craft distillery uses. Alongside oak, the palate shows raisins and spices that permeate through to the end of the sip, creating an incredibly dry finish.

Overall, Mississippi Memory is one of those whiskeys that is a piece of bourbon history. Its sip is clearly influenced by the barrel size it was aged in, however, this is not as big a flaw as you might think, in fact it adds a unique dimension to the whiskey. While the sip clearly shows this through its oak notes, especially on the finish, its funky and exciting smell helps to balance this out. Mississippi Memory’s alcohol content will certainly draw a lot of people in, but its story and interesting sip is what makes people stay and make them think about what could have become of Rich Grain Distilling and what other ghost distilleries are waiting to be brought to light.