Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon “Starlight” OMWP Pick

ReviewsAmerican WhiskeySingle Barrel PicksIndianaStarlight DistilleryBourbon

Nov 7

Written By David Levine

Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon “Starlight” OMWP Pick

Indiana Straight Bourbon from Starlight, Indiana

55% ABV/110 Proof

4 YO, Barrel 16139, Bottle 35/210

Eye: Yellow gold, thin rim and droplet legs.

Nose: Young and mature oak are both present with lots of almond nuttiness. Fresh corn off the cob, caramelized cornbread. Nose explodes after just a few minutes of air into a corn and rye grain bomb, raw and fresh out of the fields. Some proof heat is there but not much. Fresh steamed tamales.

Palate: Some youth at first with oak and a high-rye profile. The fresh nuts from the nose continue to the palate, emphasizing charred corn off the grill. Sweet rye and toasted herbs. Fresh corn and rye keep building. This is clearly a high rye bourbon but the rye comes close to overtaking the corn. Mouthfeel is oily, viscous, slight proof heat with a nuttiness that sticks around.

Finish: The almonds shine alongside sweet rye and a creamy texture, medium-length.

Overall: This is a very good high-rye bourbon that benefits from just a minute or two of air. The flavors are fresh and clean. My only complaint is that the rye occasionally gets too big for its role, but it’s by no means unpleasant. I bet another year takes this from a solid pick to an excellent one.

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)