Starlight Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Starlight Distillery is located in Borden, Indiana, and is the Huber family's farm-to-bottle distillery, where fruits from the farm and small-batch distillation meet in sustainable craft. Since its establishment in 2001, the site has expanded its portfolio from brandy and gin to also include bourbon, rye, and an American single malt. The distillery combines farm tradition with modern cask experimentation and an active single-barrel program.
History
The Huber family has farmed the land since the mid-1800s, and the family's agricultural tradition forms the backbone of Starlight Distillery's production. In 2001, the distillery was formally established to transform the farm's fruits into brandy and gin, and these fruit-based spirits formed the first commercial products. In 2013, the state of Indiana changed its grain-distillation regulations, which opened the door to producing bourbon, rye, and other grain whiskeys. Since then, the distillery has built a wide range of small-batch whiskeys, single-barrel releases, and experimental finish series; in connection with its 25th anniversary, Starlight released particularly aged bottles such as a 20 Year Aged Brandy and a 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon.
Raw Materials and Production
Production is based on small-batch distillations and a strong connection to the farm's ingredients. Brandies and gin are distilled, among other things, on an 80-gallon Christian Carl pot still, and the distillery's American single malt is produced using 100% sweet mash fermentation and double-pot distillation in copper pot stills. Starlight emphasizes hand-selected casks and small-batch approaches: the single-barrel program highlights individual casks for customers and collectors. There is a clear focus on craftsmanship, from fruit selection to cask choice, and the site combines traditional methods with cask experiments as part of developing new releases.
Maturation and Cask Types
Maturation takes place in a selection of oak barrels sourced from various parts of the world and includes special finishes such as Mizunara (Japanese), Sakura, and Amburana (Brazilian). The distillery experiments with two-barrel blends and finish series, and several of its most talked-about releases are the result of letting base bourbons mature further or be finished in unusual casks.
Whiskeys
The portfolio spans from fruit brandies and gin to a growing whiskey line: classic bourbons under the Carl T. name, bottled-in-bond editions, single-barrel bourbons, rye, and a 10-year American single malt. The range includes both core series, single-barrel releases, and limited finish products such as Sakura Reserve and Mizunara-finished bottlings. The distillery's approach is to have a few, well-defined small-batch releases rather than a broad mass of products.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Uplands American Single Malt Whiskey | American Single Malt | 49 % | 10 Year | Hand-selected oak casks (sourced globally) | 10-Year American single malt made from 100% sweet mash fermentation and double pot-distillation in copper pot stills. Aged in hand-selected oak barrels from various parts of the world.; Nose: Sweet red fruit with vanilla and honey; Taste: Soft and smooth with dried fruits and toffee; Finish: Long and complex with mellow smoke and sea salt | Current; Core Range |
| Carl T. Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon Whiskey | 46 % | Core series bourbon from Starlight, often represented in several variants including single barrel and bottled-in-bond editions. | Current; Core Range | ||
| Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon Whiskey | 50 % | Bottled-in-Bond edition from Starlight, listed as 100 proof on the website overview. | Current; Core Range | ||
| Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon Whiskey | The single-barrel program is highlighted as a central part of the distillery's range, with the option for customers to select individual barrels. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Old Rickhouse Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | The rye edition from Starlight, highlighted in the distillery's whiskey overview and in awards and accolades. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Blackberry Whiskey | Flavoured Whiskey | Flavored whiskey highlighted as part of the distillery's range and frequently award-winning. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Peach Whiskey | Flavoured Whiskey | Peach-flavored whiskey, listed among the distillery's selected whiskies. | Current; Core Range | |||
| Sakura Reserve | Bourbon Whiskey (finish) | 59 % | 8 Year (blend) | Sakura barrels; finish: Finished in rare Sakura barrels | Limited two-barrel blend of 8-year bourbon, finished in Japanese Sakura barrels and bottled at 118 proof. | Limited; Available at the distillery and online pre-sale during releases |
| Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon Whiskey (finish) | Mizunara barrels; finish: Mizunara finish applied to select bourbons | Series of barrel-finished bourbons, highlighted in several competitions with Mizunara finish. | Current |
The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskeys
Starlight works with pronounced fruitiness, clear sweetness, and oak-influenced spices. Several products emphasize red fruits and dried fruits, others showcase vanilla and honey/toffee as sweet elements. Barrel-aging and finish experiments add oak character, caramel, and dark baking spices, while some releases also exhibit light smoke and a touch of sea salt.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery welcomes public visits with the opportunity to book guided tours, participate in tastings, and visit the on-site shop. There is an active single-barrel program, and many limited releases are sold exclusively from the distillery. Booking is done via the distillery's official channels, and visits are recommended to be reserved in advance to ensure a spot on tours and tastings.
Philosophy and Craft
Starlight combines the farm's ingredients with small-batch craftsmanship and a strong focus on sustainability. The company describes itself as farm-to-bottle and prioritizes quality over quantity, while exploring finish casks and single-barrel selections as a central part of their craft.
Sustainability
Marketed as 'sustainably handcrafted' and farm-to-bottle, with the use of the farm's own ingredients.
Awards and Recognitions
-
DOUBLE GOLD - 99 POINTS (2026, DOUBLE GOLD - 99 POINTS, Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon Whiskey)
-
DOUBLE GOLD - 97 POINTS (2024, DOUBLE GOLD - 97 POINTS, Old Rickhouse Single Barrel Rye Whiskey)
-
GOLD (2026, GOLD - 92 POINTS, Indiana Uplands - 10 Year American Single Malt)
-
Craft Distiller of the Year (2024, Craft Distiller of the Year, Starlight Distillery)