Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski are the co-founders of Lost Lantern, an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey based in Vergennes, Vermont. The company’s tagline and mission are one in the same: shining a light on the independent spirit.

Ganley-Roper has a background in wine and spirits retail, as well as working in operations for several startups. And before co-founding Lost Lantern, Polonski was a Senior Whisky Specialist at ​Whisky Advocate​. He’s also a recent addition to ACSA’s board of directors. 

Ganley-Roper and Polonski met in 2014 and left their jobs to go on a road trip that helped start their company in 2018. They launched their first product in 2020 and opened their tasting room in the fall of 2023. Along the way, they also got married. In this episode, they reminisce on that road trip, discuss their process, dive into their summer bourbon collection and much more.

50: Nora Ganley-Roper And Adam Polonski of Lost Lantern

Erin Lee is the head distiller at FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois. Lee became a certified tea sommelier in 2021 and quickly discovered a love for the tasting process. That passion led her into the world of whiskey, and soon after, she was selected for the inaugural class of interns for the STEPUP Foundation—an inclusion and equity program that aims to provide underserved and underrepresented individuals with training, encouragement and opportunities to enter the craft spirits community.

In this episode, Erin shares her journey to becoming head distiller at FEW, and how she’s blending her dual passions for spirits and tea—from the release of FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon to a recent presentation she gave on demystifying tea. She also offers insight into FEW’s core lineup and reflects on the pivotal role the STEPUP internship played in shaping her career.

New tracks tagged #American whiskey