Dee, Blake, and I joined forces back in July for our last round of Starlight picks. We wanted to pull back to the basics of what made us fall in love with Starlight in the first place, and over and over again some of our favorites are their honey finished and double oaked bourbons. We also have another classic Indiana Straight Bourbon and 6-year Wheat Whiskey. As much as we love our single barrels, one of the hottest whiskeys we had from Starlight all last year was their Blackberry Whiskey, and they are back again this year with the addition of a Peach Whiskey. (Spoiler alert, you probably need 3 bottles.)
Starlight Distillery Double Oaked Bourbon #24-8092 115.9 proof
With the use of French Oak for this double barreling, we are loving the rich spices that accompany each sip, especially at 6.5 years old.
The nose is beautifully inviting. Luscious brown sugar, A&W sparkling vanilla cream soda, soft leather, and perfumed oak. Warming spices continue to rise as you revisit after sips.
The palate is buttery and tingling with plenty of spice, rich with leather, dark chocolate, and maple syrup. The mid palate is full of moderately toasted marshmallows and torched citrus peel with a buttery pie crust, giving bougie s’mores vibes.
The finish is dense and spiced, like French silk pie garnished with a smoking cinnamon stick, and a long finish of seasoned barrel char.
Starlight Distillery Honey Finished Bourbon #22-2363 120.4 proof
With their many apiaries on site for honey production, you can't get much more vertically integrated for a honey finish than Starlight. This is the most balanced honey finish we've done from Starlight, plus - a 120 proof honey finished bourbon? Yes please. If you’ve been afraid of finishes, this may be an easy on ramp for you.
The nose is plush - unassuming on the honey influence aside from a bit more damp of a sweetness to the already perfumed fragrance. Silky, inviting, with a little bit of strawberries & cream Creme Saver hard candies, peach ring candies, and a fresh vanilla kissed cane sugar syrup.
The palate is nuanced - giving lovely oak nods, balanced barrel spices, and softer vanilla tones. Again, you’d never suspect this was finished, but I think the honey does roll off some of the edges you may otherwise find in their non-finished bourbons. Like the nose, you notice a bouquet of stone fruits and lingering sweetness.
The finish is plump, with more powdered donuts with raspberry jam and spiced cherry than you find on the palate. Overall, it adds to the complete package.
Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey #22-2293 121 proof
The nose is as welcoming as a Starlight straight bourbon can be - sweet brown sugar, crisp green apple, dried cherry, and a lovely honied sweet oak with a peppery bite to deep inhales.
At 121 proof this one isn’t going to mask itself as something light and easy going, but the palate sure is playful. Moderate oak, buttery toffee, and lots of citrus infused Demerara make this seem easier to put back, so use caution.
The finish is balanced spice, cooked apples, and lots of lingering dried red fruits with moderate oak and chocolate mousse in the long finish.
Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Wheat Whiskey #18-0172 119.5 proof
The nose on this one gives off vanilla and spice initially, think root beer float. Beyond - dried cherry and orange peel, baked apples, cocoa powder, and potpourri-like spices.
The palate is deep and leathery, underlying with chocolate, root beer hard candies, ginger, and plenty of dried cherry. Mid palate the flavors flip, growing more creamy and custardy with vanilla and overcooked cherry pie coming to mind.
The finish is plush and long lasting, lingering with just a touch of those root beer notes from the nose and front of the palate but continuing more with chocolate, vanilla and dried oak with just a bit of dried tobacco leaf in there.
