Starlight Distillery has been firing off luxe releases for a few years now, and we’ve been trying to keep up with this Indiana upstart’s releases. It’s not an easy task, as they roll out at a healthy clip. Jacob offered a deep dive into the operation’s 25th anniversary releases earlier this year. We’re back already with a look at two more new drops that you’re likely to find should you go out seeking Starlight.
Starlight Indiana Straight Bourbon 10 Years Old 2026 Review
Round two of Starlight’s 10 year old bourbon is a ten-barrel blend of Starlight’s two sweet mash mashbills, the same 3-grain and 4-grain bills Jacob outlined last year. Copper pot distilled and entered into barrel at low proof, the barrels were aged in Warehouse #2, West Side, the warmest of Starlight’s rickhouses. Oddly this resulted in a considerably lower final proof than in 2025, though it’s still a barnburner at 57.1% abv.
There’s a ton of fruit on the nose this year, cherry (again) set against a backdrop of black tea and weak coffee. The barrel influence isn’t shy, showcasing plenty of fresh oak and anise, sometimes evoking a grittiness that can be a bit mouth-puckering. Notes of orange peel add some needed fruit, with cracked black pepper adding spice. Time in glass helps cinnamon and cardamom notes to gain prominence, while a splash of water improves the overall balance of the expression.
There’s plenty to admire here, though at $250 and up, the value proposition is decidedly questionable. 114.2 proof. B+ / $250
Starlight Mizunara Reserve Bourbon Review
It’s not quite the same whiskey as Starlight’s Carl T. Huber’s Mizunara Bourbon — or at least, it’s a different batch, with a different name — and with a slightly lower abv (and the same price). This is crafted from Starlight’s traditional sweet mash (mashbill unstated) and 8 years total of maturation split between new oak before a finishing stretch in Japanese Mizunara oak casks.
A much sweeter spin on the Starlight formula, this engages immediately with notes of chestnut and almond paste, soon evoking a floral quality that evokes wholly fitting thoughts of orange and cherry blossoms. Time in glass takes the glass more into sesame territory with a pinch of cigar box character, altogether making for a much softer aromatic experience than you’re likely to have encountered in the world of bourbondom.
The palate is equally nutty and quite sweet, butterscotch and vanilla caramels all melted together into a flavor that’s light in body, warming, and evocative of holiday time with its late-game flavors of dried fruits, pecans, and warm gingerbread all in a swirl. The gentle fruit notes are indistinct, with a fruit salad character that blends nicely with all that spice. Soothing and warming, it’s definitely my favorite of this duo. 110 proof. Reviewed: Batch #3. A / $150
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