Starlight Single Barrel Indiana Straight Bourbon (Market District Carmel #1518)

A1 (Effingham IL) store pick. 106 proof. Finished in bourbon barrels that previously aged maple syrup. Pleasant and unmistakeable bourbon nose. No ethanol but unremarkable. A net positive. Sharp palate right off the bat and doesn’t ever settle down. Maple syrup is front and center, but nothing about the source bourbon stands out as enjoyable. A clear cut above bottom shelf stuff, so respectable for a craft distillery, but isn’t aided by the elevated proof or relative youth. Some promise here but I wouldn’t buy this bottle or order a pour on purpose.

Hot hot hot... But what else do you expect from a 3 year old 120+ proof whiskey? The smell is sweet, like caramel. A very quick floral and citrus note on the palate, followed by an overwhelming synthetic cinnamon flavor (think, red hots). The cinnamon slowly fades into an oily, syrupy, maple finish.

Nice complex flavors with caramel notes at the start, but a sharp finish.

Lots of spice, heavy tastes of cinnamon, clove, and honey suckle.

Interesting high rye bourbon