Hi Bourbon enthusiast
You must be 21 or over to enter this website. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon.
Please read and drink responsibly.
You must be 21 or over to enter this website. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon.
Please read and drink responsibly.
.jpg)
Starlight Distillery
(Borden, IN)- Starlight Distillery is marking a quarter century of family craftsmanship with the release of two of its most anticipated and limited spirits to date: the 20-Year Reserve Brandy and the 10-Year Reserve Bourbon. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026, the Huber family-owned distillery is honoring its legacy of innovation, patience, and dedication to American craft spirits with these milestone releases, each showcasing decades of expertise, estate-grown ingredients, and a commitment to producing world-class whiskey and brandy in Southern Indiana.
Reserve Brandy, A brandy 20+ Years in the Making
In September 2005, as Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast, its remnants pushed a frontal boundary through Southern Indiana, dropping 5.2 inches of rain in three days on Starlight's vineyards. The team raced to pick and process six of the seven days before the storm hit. In the two weeks after the storm passed, the Starlight team sorted fruit by hand — separating affected clusters from what would go on to ripen cleanly in the warm, sunny fall weather that followed
That fruit — a blend of Villard, Seyval, Vidal, Chardonel, and other cool-climate varieties grown on the estate — was distilled and barreled on September 23, 2005. It was aged first in a new 60-gallon medium toast French oak Allier cask (Kelvin cooperage) from 2005 to 2018, then transferred into 60-gallon French Limousin oak, second-use (Radoux cooperage), from 2018 until it was finally pulled on June 10, 2026.
The result: a 150-bottle release, bottled at 86.3 proof, marking a quarter-century of Huber family brandy-making.
25th Anniversary Reserve Bourbon
To mark 25 years of distilling, Starlight is releasing a 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon built entirely from the ground up — literally. Starting with a portion of estate-grown non-GMO grains from the family farm, the same land that's been in the Huber family for 184+ years and 7 generations.
The bourbon starts with a 3-grain sweet mash bill and a full 7-day fermentation, giving the yeast time to develop deep, complex character before it ever sees a still. It's then double pot distilled, entering the barrel at a modest 110 proof — a lower entry proof that lets more of the wood's character shine through over time.
Aging happens in Canton cooperage barrels, char #3–4, made from staves air-dried for two years and finished with charred heads.
The barrels rested on the southeast side of Warehouse 2, a position known for its warmth and swing in temperature, which pushed the proof up significantly during maturation.
Bottled at full cask strength — 120.4 proof — and completely unfiltered, this release is Starlight bourbon exactly as it came out of the barrel.
Starlight Distillery recently earned top honors at the 2026 ASCOT Awards, with both its Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey and Mizunara Reserve receiving Double Platinum. Judged by a panel of respected industry experts, the Double Platinum designation is awarded only to spirits that receive unanimous top marks, making it one of the competition's highest accolades.
For more information, visit https://starlightdistillery.com.
About Starlight Distillery
Founded as part of the seventh-generation family owned - Huber's Orchard and Winery, Starlight Distillery is nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana. With a deep commitment to craftsmanship, terroir, and innovation, the distillery is known for its estate-grown spirits, traditional distillation methods, and pioneering spirit. From grain to glass, Starlight Distillery continues to shape the future of American whiskey while honoring its agricultural heritage.
