Are you looking to branch out of the same old spirits at your home bar?
Then it’s time you check out Starlight Distillery based out of Borden, Indiana.
Starlight Distillery is an addition to the historical Huber Orchard and Winery. The distillery addition was inspired by the winery’s ancestors who distilled fine brandies in this area in the early 1800s.
It took Ted Huber and his co-owner Greg Huber two years of researching and working with the legislators in Indianapolis to allow them to distill and make wine.
Once they had all their eggs in a basket they were ready to start thinking about making their first batch of brandy. If you are like me — I didn’t know it takes several years to make a single bottle of brandy. So the team set off to work with Christian Carl Company from Germany to make sure they had the correct equipment, the process was correct, and the equipment was installed properly.
After many hours of research on December 7th, 2004 — the Starlight Distillery team released their first bottle of brandy. The rest is history for the Starlight Distillery.
The Starlight Distillery team has since branched out from the brandy. They now sell several other spirits to stock your cart like; bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka.
I had the chance to try three of the Starlight Distillery teams’ spirits, and I have to say they did not disappoint.
First up I tried the Carl T. Bourbon Whiskey. Since watching the documentary Neat: The Story of Bourbon, I’ve tried to branch out to try different bourbons. This bourbon blend is 58% corn, 27% rye, and 15% malted barley. It was distilled in an 80-gallon copper pot still and then transferred into a charred American White Oak barrel. I enjoyed the bourbon over a whiskey stone and in several whiskey sours. Whiskey sours are one of my favorite cocktails.
Honestly, I cannot recall ever having brandy. I do know it’s a post-dinner drink, but that is about all I know. So trying the Applejack Brandy was a new experience for me, and I had nothing to compare it to. The Applejack Brandy is made from fresh-squeezed apples that are then fermented in an 80-gallon copper pot still. Next, the Applejack Brandy sits in a charred American oak barrel until it reaches maturity. I first tried the brandy at room temperature, that was 100% not for me. If you know me — room temperature is not something I’m interested in. I then tried the Applejack Brandy over whiskey stones, and this was a much better experience for me. I recommend trying the Applejack Brandy in a Brandy Smash, Embassy, and Sidecar cocktails. These are all delicious, and I cannot wait to try them again.
Lastly, my favorite is vodka. A classic spirit you can never go wrong with. I tried the Starlight Distillery vodka my go-to home drink; 1 squeezed lemon, a handful of ice, three shots of vodka, and a splash of soda water. The vodka was great in fresh-squeezed orange, watermelon, and pineapple juice. 10/10 if you’re looking for a new vodka right now, this is the brand you should try.
Starlight Distillery has come a long way since starting its brandy adventure. This is a great opportunity for you to branch out and try a new small business family-owned company.
Starlight Distillery Links
Starlight Distillery Photos
** Starlight Distillery provided us with these spirits. We did not purchase the items in these photos, however, we have purchased more on our own.**