Starlight Distillery is part of Huber’s Orchard, Winery, and Vineyards located in Starlight, Indiana. What began as a family farm has grown over the past century to include a winery, which opened in 1978, and the Starlight distillery, which opened in 2000, where the Huber family first began producing brandy. In 2013, the state allowed them to begin distilling grain spirits. Since then, Starlight Distillery has been producing a wide selection of different spirits, such as vodka, gin, and whiskey alongside their brandy.
While the distillery is quite a bit younger than the Huber Winery, Starlight Distillery spirits have already caught the attention of critics. The American Spirits Council of Tasters, ASCOT, has named Starlight Distillery as the 2022 Craft Distiller of the Year and won Best Craft Bourbon for their Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Starlight Distillery took home a Double Gold for their Apply Brandy and a Double Gold for their Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey.
Carl T. Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
The Carl T. Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, named after the grandfather of the 6th generation co-owners, won the Best in Show Award from the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). Spirits judged by the ACSA are scored on appearance, aroma complexity, aroma intensity, palate complexity, palate concentration, body, character, and nature of the alcohol, texture, and finish. In addition to the Best in Show Award, the Carl T. Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey also won the title for Best in Class for Whiskey at the ACSA show, which was held in Charleston, South Carolina this year.
This outstanding bourbon has a signature blend of 58% corn, 27% rye, and 15% malted barley and is distilled in Starlight’s German-built Christian Carl Company copper pot still. It is then transferred to 53-gallon, charred American White Oak barrels from three different cooperages to further enhance the quality and complexity.
Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
The Single Barrel Bourbon is crafted from a four-grain mash bill: 51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, and 9% wheat. It is aged for a minimum of 4 ½ years in air-dried barrels. The nose is strong and bold with notes of lemon, leather, tea, nuts, and warm cornbread. The palate follows those aromas up with striking tastes of caramel, chocolate, fresh oak, sweet cake, and sugary icing. And for the finish – long, smoldering flavors of vanilla, orange peel, and cinnamon.
31 Stars Vodka
Alongside their whiskey production, Starlight also produces other spirits, such as their 31 Stars Vodka. To craft their vodka, the distillers use heirloom corn, which is grown, milled, mashed, distilled, and finally bottled on the estate. For their vodka, the distillers use their same prized still that produces their other spirits and pass the spirit through 7 times.
By using quality corn and multiple distillations, the vodka produced is crystal clear with bright clean aromas of spring water and sweet tree fruits. On the palate, this spirit is pleasantly well-rounded with a medium to high intensity. The lingering sweet notes emphasize a slight citrus undertone with vanilla and the finish is clean and crisp, reminiscent of white pepper.
Blackberry Flavored Whiskey
Starlight’s blackberry whiskey is one of the best flavored whiskeys on the market today. They begin with their premium straight bourbon and add macerated blackberries from brambles grown on the estate. The sweet aroma and flavor of blackberries is present throughout with added notes of honey, maple, vanilla, cocoa, and black pepper for a deliciously sweet, but not cloying or artificial tasting, final result.
These are just a few of the first-rate spirits produced by Starlight Distillery. Their line-up extends to include gin, rum, brandy, and more, all crafted with the same attention to high-quality base ingredients and careful distillation methods.
