Lost Lantern Starlight Distillery Single Cask #8 Rye Whiskey Review (Winter 2021)

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

If you read my work, then you are probably familiar with Indiana’s Starlight Distillery through Lisa Rope Wicker’s past work with them, that being how I usually make mention of them. The distillery was started by Ted Huber as an outgrowth of his orchard and winery, the latter being a Hoosier institution dating back to the 1840s. Keen readers will also recall that this is a familiar story in craft whiskey: many small whiskey-makers get into it by drawing on previous experience in distilling brandy at just such a place as the Huber Orchard & Winery.

The mash bill for this particular Indiana rye is 15% malted barley and 85% locally grown rye. In this instance, Lost Lantern is bottling from a four year old, 53-gallon new ASB. The yield from that barrel was 211 cask strength bottles, coming out at 112.7 proof.

The Whiskey

Even after a little water is added, a pour of this Starlight rye has a deep red amber appearance. The nose is dry, spicy and sweet, and in that order of precedence. On the palate, however, a dollop of syrupy vanilla wipes the dry aspect away, while leaving behind and playing up a crisp, herbal and spicy foundation. The finish goes down with Christmas Cake spices.

The Price
A bottle of this Lost Lantern Single Cask will set you back $70.