Starlight Distillery Port Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.
Starlight Distillery Port Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.
Starlight Distillery continues to be one of the more most well known craft producers coming out of southern Indiana, handling everything in-house from distillation to aging and bottling. Their use of local grains and estate-grown winery products gives them a unique identity, especially when it comes to barrel finishing. My history with Starlight has been a mixed bag, with some releases hitting well and others feeling a bit young for the price point, so revisiting this Carl T. Huber Port Finished Bourbon felt like a fair second chance after several years away from it.
This release starts as Starlight’s Carl T. Huber bourbon, a blend of both a three-grain and four-grain mash bill, aged in new American oak for at least four years. After initial aging, the bourbon is finished for over eight months in Starlight’s own Knobstone Port barrels, made in-house from their winery program.
Age Statement: 4 years.
ABV: 53.4%
Mash bill: Blend of their 3-grain and 4-grain mash bills.
Area of Distillation: Borden, Indiana.
Finished: Ex-port wine casks for over 8 months.
Appearance: Dark red hue.
On the nose:
On the nose:
Right away, the port finish makes itself known. Dark fruits dominate with fig, plum, grape, and raisin notes leading the charge. There’s a caramel sweetness underneath along with vanilla and barrel char, but ethanol is present and noticeable at this proof. As it opens up, there’s a wine-driven funkiness with slight astringency, pencil shavings, and even a touch of rubber eraser, all wrapped in a waxy texture likely coming from the barley in the mash bill.
Taste:
The palate opens with a rich, oily mouthfeel that coats well, especially for a four-year bourbon. Dark fruit carries through with fig and plum supported by a warm spice note that flirts with holiday spice territory. The port cask influence is heavy but intentional, and while the proof brings heat, it doesn’t come across harsh or overly youthful. With subsequent sips, some metallic notes emerge and the fruit leans more toward dark grape, pushing the bourbon character slightly into the background.
Finish:
The finish is warm, lingering, and fruit-forward, with spice and wine influence sticking around longer than the underlying bourbon notes. The port cask clearly steals the show here, leaving a lasting impression of dark fruit and gentle oak spice.
Final Thoughts:
This is a better showing than I remember from years past and a solid example of craft port cask finishing done in-house. While the four-grain component feels like it occasionally fights the finish, the overall experience is enjoyable and well-executed. The major hurdle here is value, as pricing often lands between $65 and $70, which feels steep for a four-year finished bourbon.
Rating: C+ (Slightly above average).
Cost: $66.99 for 750ml.
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