Starlight Distillery Huber's Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond Oloroso Finished Bourbon

Starlight Distillery Huber's Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond Oloroso Finished Bourbon

Indiana Straight Bourbon from Starlight, Indiana finished in Oloroso sherry casks

50% ABV/100 Proof

NAS, Batch #FB012

Eye: Almost opaque dark wine. Thin rims and droplet legs.

Nose: The sherry is clear right away, but it doesn’t run away with the nose. Dark brown sugar yet not sweet, verging instead towards savory. Slight smokiness and lots of rancio nuttiness. Bourbon is there but in the background here.

Palate: The Oloroso is the star on the first sip - rancio nuttiness and dried fruits burst out of the glass with smoked fruit wood. The bourbon takes it’s place in the second sip where vanilla explodes onto the palate with fresh corn. Some rye mint and herbal notes come out swinging on a third sip - this is quite complex. Ultimately, the dark fruit and rancio are the winners, but it’s an entertaining ride to get there. Mouthfeel is silky, not too heavy, somewhat spicy and dry - definitely Oloroso if there was any doubt.

Finish: Slightly astringent, nutty, and dried fruit all linger without being sweet. An excellent finish for the flavor.

Overall: The Oloroso is the star through and through. While the bourbon is not totally lost - it comes through most strongly on the palate with vanilla - the finish for me is a bit too dominating. I don’t know for how long the finishing took place, but for me it was slightly too long. That being said, this is still very enjoyable and worth trying.

Rating: 6.8

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)

More Bourbon Reviews