Pear | Rye spice | Clove | Seasoned oak | Hint of leather

Rye spice | Chewy caramel | Leather | Apricot | Sweet accents throughout | Light grain note | Full-flavored with a thick mouthfeel

White grapes | Hint of oak | Rye spice intensifies | Long

Starlight Distillery is located on the grounds of the Huber estate. Housing Huber’s Orchard & Winery, the family began farming back in 1843 when their ancestors settled in Starlight, Indiana from Baden-Baden, Germany. Now in its 8th generation with operations handled by Ted Huber and his sons Christian and Blake, Huber estate produces a variety of crops that are grown alongside the onsite distillery that produces an assortment of brandies and whiskeys. They began distilling whiskey in 2013, and all of their products are distilled onsite.

Aged for at least 4 years and then transferred to new 53 gallon barrels for an additional 5 months, this double-barreled rye from Starlight Distillery is a full-flavored affair. It balances rye spice, oak, and sweet flavors nicely, delivered with a rich, chewy mouthfeel. Compared to the distillery’s more straightforward base Straight Rye, Double Oaked Rye is slightly more rich and complex. This isn’t surprising considering it’s been aged a second time in new charred oak barrels and comes in at a higher proof point than the standard version. And while double oaked whiskeys can sometimes turn overly oaky, dry, or tannic, Starlight’s Double Oaked Rye avoids that territory entirely. Its rye spice backbone lays a base, and if any criticism could be drawn, it’s that it exhibits a very light grain note on the palate that would likely be handled by more time aging in the first set of barrels. That said, it’s a minor flaw and it's still a really good whiskey as-is that I would recommend at the price point. And like everything Starlight is doing, Starlight Old Rickhouse Double Oaked Rye has me really excited about the direction the company’s ever-expanding and maturing whiskey line is headed in.