Starlight Carl T. Huber's Double Oaked Bourbon

Batch B2201 106 proof 4 1/2 years Nose: Burnt sugar, vanilla icing… Toffee, stone fruit and orchard fruit, pastry base, warming spices. A subtle cherry soda undertone is present. Honestly, a really nice smell. Very welcoming; I'm eager to see if the palate matches. Palate: Toffee with dull cherry soda. Molasses. A hint of apples, nutmeg, faint green/herbal infusion… some peppery grain notes emerge but…. Oh no… Texture is quite watery, the ending is anticlimactic and very astringent. Wow, this lingering dryness is intense. Knock it off! You son of a *****! Conclusion: To be completely candid.. I can't suggest this. The nose was excellent, but the taste is wanting, and the conclusion just doesn't land for me. The dryness begins midway and persists through the finish, erasing all the initial tastes. Keep your cash, and if you're after a double-oaked pour, opt for Woodford Double Oaked or OF 1910 instead. Uncertain if I'll explore the Starlight range again after this expression. This bottle is a major letdown.

SELECTED BY // Brewzle BATCH No. // 22-2316 PROOF // 120.4 AGED // 4.5 Years (American Oak) NEAT NOSE - Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Graham Cracker, and Sweet Oak PALATE - Decently viscous mouthfeel and rich palate. There is a ton of caramel and honey on the palate. Earlier today, a friend tried a honey finished bourbon and the finish here is reminiscent of that honey finished bourbon that was tried earlier. Amazing work from Starlight! FINISH - Long finish with lingering honey and vanilla. BUY? - Absolutely BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely. I don’t know the age of the oldest barrels in this blend as its age stated at 4.5 years, but I can’t imagine what some others taste like with age statements of 8+ years!

Batch B2201 American Oak 53% has a nose of confectionery-sweetened oak. It's harsh initially and needs time to breathe. Tastes of Charleston chew, molasses, and char. It has a soft but coating texture and a medium finish. Not complex. It improves with time, but I'd prefer the SB bourbon.

From my home collection, picked in December 2021. Features spicy, hot, heavy cinnamon. It's reminiscent of a Red Hot candy. It drinks well, remaining fairly smooth considering its age and intensity.

Smell: caramel apple, vanilla, toffee and brown sugar Sip: spicy, toasty and oaky, caramel apple

Smell: vanilla, toasted marshmallow Sip: cherry cola, rye spice Finish: rye, graham crackers