Reviews Lost Whiskey [Veteran Vices] Tom Marshall October 13, 2023 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Find out more about how we test products. Nick Cioffi enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve as a supply specialist at age 17, with the idea of going to community college.Like many, he found out quickly that traditional academia just wasn’t suited for him. So, he pursued his military duty on a more full-time basis, serving at Camps Lejeune and Pendleton, in addition to 29 Palms and Anacostia Naval Station. His ability behind a rifle got him assigned to range coaching duty, which he describes as his “most enjoyable time in the Corps.” After completing his enlistment in 1998, Cioffi eventually returned to school and finished a four-year degree. It was almost by accident that he wound up in the bourbon business. His now-business partner owned a tract of land in Virginia — once owned by George Washington — overlooking Lost Mountain with Whiskey Hollow below. A conversation with college friend Rob Cassell, a distiller in the Philadelphia area, helped give birth to Lost Whiskey. Cioffi says the brand is “focused on simplicity and quality.” Each bottle of Lost includes a leather strap imprinted with a unique barrel and bottle number, never to be repeated. Their lean, tall 375mL bottles are specifically designed so that “you and a friend pull the cork, finish the bottle while eating a great meal, or have conversations around a fire.” This focus on storytelling resonates in the charities that Lost Whiskey chooses to support, primary among those being Fisher House — a choice inspired by Cioffi losing his own mother to cancer on Veterans Day. In addition to this, Cioffi says:“We also participate in a Gold Star Families event each year in Virginia. It’s put on by One Family Brewing, and the owner donates all proceeds to the charity. It hosts a few thousand people over two days and is a great experience. We bring a barrel’s worth of whiskey and the barrel itself. We ask each vet to sign the barrel with name and unit, then we auction off the barrel at the end, with all the money going to the charity.”Whether it’s dinner with loved ones or reconnecting with brothers-in-arms, we encourage you to look for Lost Whiskey in your area or visit their website to uncork a bottle and share the good times with those closest to you. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
