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Starlight Distillery 25th Anniversary Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Can a 10-year bourbon from Indiana's lesser-known Starlight Distillery justify a $300 price tag? We taste their 25th Anniversary release to find out.

OVERALL RATING

8
$300
  • Jeffrey Nitschke is a Portland-based attorney passionate about whiskey and cigars, with deep ties to the American whisky community and culture.
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Tasting Notes

About:

You can forgive most people if they do not recognize the name Starlight Distillery. The Indiana distillery was born in 1998 and at first focused primarily on brandies and ports, which is connected to their winemaking label that has been around since 1843, Huber Wines.

It was not until 2013 that the distillery expanded its operation to begin production of whiskey. Though certainly not as well known as that other Indiana conglomerate, MGP, Starlight has been quietly putting out quality and award-winning whiskeys since. In 2026, Starlight celebrated their 25th anniversary by releasing 3 limited products: an 8-year-old Sakura Reserve Bourbon, a limited 10-year-old Bourbon, and a 20-year-old brandy.

In 2025, Starlight released its first 10-year bourbon, which makes sense given that they’ve only been making whiskey since 2013. This review focuses on their 25th anniversary edition of that 10-year product.

The bourbon sources its grain from the Huber family farm and is made up of a 3-grain mash bill, uses a 7-day fermentation, double pot distillation, and is aged in Char #3-4 staves. The bourbon was aged in a position and place that provided greater temperature fluctuations than average, encouraging accelerated concentration and extraction of the wood notes.
Appearance:
Oaked caramel.
Nose:
Rich spices of coriander, cinnamon, and cloves. Bitter oak char makes a strong appearance.
Palate:
Light caramel drizzled on cedar planks. Licorice and pecan pie take up the body.
Finish:
Effervescent cigar notes, black pepper, and bitter coffee grounds. A spicy finish.
Comments:
5 years ago, a 10-year aged whiskey at $300 wouldn’t cause anyone to blink. Now, premium aged products at that price point have become a crowded field and it takes a truly exceptional whiskey to cut through that noise. Starlight makes a concerted effort to do so and has produced a great product.

Do I enjoy drinking it? Absolutely, it’s a fabulous whiskey. Would I be sad if it was on my shelf? Absolutely not, it’s a fabulous whiskey. That said, I did not find that extra “umph” or unique twist to really separate it from other similarly priced products.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Jeffrey Nitschke

Jeffrey Nitschke is Portland area attorney whose career has dovetailed with a love of fine spirits and cigars. His hometown is rich with microdistilleries, which has afforded him the opportunity to learn the nuances of whiskey tasting and whiskey making. His writing and enthusiasm for the hobby has led to lasting friendships with other whiskey aficionados and connisures across the United States.

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