Review: Starlight Bourbon 10 Years Old, Honey Bourbon, and Single Malt 10 Years Old

For many whiskey enthusiasts, “Indiana whiskey” has long been synonymous with MGP in Lawrenceburg—a powerhouse known for its scale and consistent quality. But just 150 miles southeast in Borden, another name has steadily built its own legacy: Starlight Distillery.

Founded in 2001, Starlight initially made its mark with brandy, releasing its first commercial expression in 2004. A decade later, in 2013, the distillery turned its attention to bourbon. Since then, Starlight has gained a devoted following, releasing a wide array of whiskey expressions typically aged around four years. As its reputation has grown, so too has demand—from collectors, connoisseurs, and casual drinkers alike—for more mature spirits with extended age statements.

In the summer of 2025, Starlight delivered in a major way with the release of three highly anticipated Indiana whiskeys: Starlight Indiana Straight Bourbon and Starlight Indiana Uplands American Single Malt, both aged for 10 years, along with Starlight Honey Reserve Bourbon, aged 5-7 years.

Each of these new expressions offers significantly more age than what fans have seen from Starlight so far. They were double distilled on a 500-gallon Vendome pot still and fermented in closed-top stainless steel tanks, but allowed to age longer. In June 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the distillery for an exclusive sneak preview of the bourbon and single malt. I also received a sample of all three expressions for review.

Starlight has built an impressive reputation with its more youthful whiskey, but with a decade of maturation behind them, how do these older expressions measure up? Let’s dive in.

Starlight Indiana Straight Bourbon 10 Years Old Review

This release marks a historic milestone for Starlight Distillery: its first bourbon to carry a 10-year age statement. The whiskey is a blend of eight barrels, featuring an undisclosed ratio of the distillery’s two signature mash bills—one composed of 60% corn, 20% rye, and 20% malted barley, and the other featuring 51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, and 9% wheat.

The Hubers leaned into their agricultural roots, using a blend of heirloom corn varietals—yellow, white, red, and blue—all grown in Indiana. The rye, a non-GMO winter variety, was also locally sourced. The grain underwent a 7-day sweet mash fermentation before being double-distilled on a pot still, with the spirit coming off between 120 and 135 proof. The whiskey was barreled between May 15 and June 3, 2015.

For maturation, Starlight turned to the highly regarded Seguin Moreau cooperage in Napa Valley, sourcing premium 225-liter Icone Elevation barrels—each costing $1,200, plus freight. Originally designed for bold red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, and Syrah, these barrels are crafted using staves analyzed for their concentrations of aromatic and structural compounds, a process that determines their Enological Potential. The barrels featured a range of char levels (#1–4) and toasted heads.

Aging began in Warehouse #1 for the first three years before the barrels were transferred to the warmest pocket of Warehouse #2, where they spent the remaining seven years. The barrels were dumped on July 10, 2025, and the bourbon was bottled at a cask strength of 120.3 proof.

After 10 years of slumber, the bourbon opens with a nose full of dried cherries and dark brown sugar. The sweet aromas are quickly balanced with earthy and tannic notes by way of roasted chestnuts and light pipe tobacco. The nose is balanced and enticing, setting the expectations high for the palate.

The palate gets underway to vanilla extract before quickly giving way to heavily smoked bacon. As the experience continues, notes of chai tea add a healthy amount of spice before meeting a fruity grenadine note. The mouthfeel presents as a medium-thick viscosity. The lengthy finish ushers in notes of mild tobacco, cinnamon, and black cardamom. Packing 10 years of maturation, Starlight delivers a fantastic bourbon with loads of balanced character.

The $250 price is steep, but given the high cost of the barrels and the fact that other small distilleries have released quality expressions with equal or lesser age statements at higher prices, the $250 price is not unprecedented. If the price is in your budget, you won’t be disappointed. This is certainly a bottle to hunt in 2025. 120.3 proof. A / $250

Starlight Honey Reserve Bourbon Review 

Honey Reserve is initially constructed in a similar fashion to the 10-year-old bourbon, blending 50 barrels drawn from Starlight’s 3-grain and 4-grain bourbon mashbills. The distillate initially matured in fire-charred barrels, primarily sourced from Kelvin and Canton, both featuring #3 char levels—with the Canton barrels also toasted at the heads—at proofs ranging from 108 to 114. This first stage of maturation took place in Warehouses #2 and #3.

The base bourbon used in this blend ranges from 5 to 7 years old, averaging just over 6 years. Most barrels fall within a 5.5 to 6.5-year window, with fewer than 15% exceeding 7 years and less than 20% under 5.5 years.

The finishing process involved carefully selected fire-charred and toasted oak barrels that previously held barrel-aged estate honey, pollinated and harvested on-site. These finishing barrels were drawn from Starlight’s single-barrel program, and were previously used to age a variety of wines and spirits—including straight rye, bourbon, and casks finished with Vino de Naranja, Barbados rum, and sherry.

Secondary maturation occurred exclusively on the west side of Warehouse #2, lasting between 4 and 12 months, with an average finishing time of around 8 months. Fewer than 8 casks were finished less than 8 months, while 20 barrels extended beyond the 8-month mark.

The nose opens with underripe white peaches and the waxy scent of natural beeswax. After a short rest in the glass, notes of honey-filled hard candy appear, joined by a floral geranium character. The influence of the honey casks is clearly present but measured. Unlike many honey-finished whiskeys, it avoids leaning into syrupy sweetness and instead maintains a clean, composed aroma.

On the palate, the first impression calls to mind a honeybun—bready and sweet, with the honey playing a quiet but consistent role. This transitions into crisp green apple before giving way to black pepper and nutmeg, bringing contrast without overwhelming the senses. The mouthfeel is medium-thick, offering a steady delivery of flavor from start to finish. The finish carries notes of allspice and boxed vanilla pudding made at home. A faint honey presence remains through to the final moments, ending with red raspberry hard candy.

What sets Honey Reserve apart is its ability to maintain clarity. The finishing casks enhance the profile without masking the bourbon’s original character—a rarity in this category. Instead of leaning on sweetness, it integrates the honey influence with control. This is easily among the best honey-finished bourbons I’ve tasted. For those who have found others in this style too sugary or one-note, Honey Reserve offers a convincing reason to take another look at what honey-cask whiskey can deliver. 106 proof. A / $65

Starlight Indiana Uplands American Single Malt 10 Years Old Review 

This well-aged American single malt begins with a mashbill of 100% 2-row malted barley, fermented for approximately seven days. Rather than targeting a fixed distillation proof, each run was distilled by taste, with some taken as low as 110 proof and others reaching up to 130. This hands-on approach allowed for greater control over flavor during distillation.

The spirit was barreled in April 2015 at entry proofs between 108 and 112, and aged until June 12, 2025. Maturation took place entirely in used barrels, with the foundation laid in ex-Starlight bourbon casks—specifically a curated selection of older single barrels the Huber family considered standouts. These barrels previously held both of Starlight’s bourbon mashbills.

The final blend showcases a variety of finishing casks: 25% Pedro Ximénez sherry, 25% ex-bourbon, 20% Vino de Naranja, 20% ex-peated Scotch, and 10% Barbados rum. All barrels were matured in Warehouse #2 on the east side—known to be the coolest and most humid part of the property—ideal conditions for long-term aging. After a decade of slow-proofing, the whiskey was bottled at 98 proof.

The nose opens with the sweetness of homemade strawberry jam, followed by a floral honeysuckle aroma. Once the floral impression fades, a clear note of Frosted Cheerios takes its place, giving the aroma profile a playful, cereal-like character. While the bouquet is enjoyable, it comes across as somewhat restrained in intensity.

On the palate, the whiskey begins with flavors of dehydrated apple chips and light brown sugar. The midpalate transitions into a cohesive flavor that calls to mind malted milk balls—offering a malty, chocolate-adjacent quality. The finish starts with the deep toastiness of marshmallows over open flame, moving into the dry crunch of saltine crackers. At the very end, burnt orange peel asserts itself, providing a sharp, slightly bitter close.

Overall, this is a well-crafted example of American single malt whiskey. While the nose could offer more presence, especially after 10 years of aging, the palate delivers a satisfying and well-balanced experience. At $90, it stands as a worthwhile and reliable purchase for those seeking quality in this category. 98 proof. A- / $90

The post Review: Starlight Bourbon 10 Years Old, Honey Bourbon, and Single Malt 10 Years Old appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.