Starlight Carl T. Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey is an 84-proof (42% ABV) blackberry-infused whiskey in a 750ml bottle from Indiana’s Starlight Distillery. Rather than relying on artificial syrups or a liqueur base, this expression blends bourbon whiskey and aged light whiskey with sun-ripened blackberries grown on the Huber family’s historic farm, resulting in a fruit-forward whiskey with genuine depth.Quick Facts: ABV: 42% (84 Proof) | Origin: Starlight, Southern Indiana, USA | Flavored Whiskey | Distillery: Starlight DistilleryProduction & HeritageStarlight Distillery sits on the Knobstone Escarpment in southern Indiana, a limestone bluff roughly 900 feet above sea level and just 20 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky. The Huber family has farmed this land since 1843, and the distillery draws on that agricultural legacy — blackberries used in this whiskey are sun-ripened on the property itself, lending a true farm-to-bottle character. Distillation runs through a 500-liter Vendome brass and copper pot still, and the base whiskey uses sweet mash fermentation rather than the more common sour mash process, which yields a cleaner, slightly brighter spirit before the fruit is introduced. The final blend marries bourbon whiskey with aged light whiskey, giving the blackberry infusion a layered backbone rather than a one-dimensional sweetness.Tasting NotesAroma: Ripe blackberry leads immediately, followed by soft vanilla and toasted grain. Deeper breaths reveal nostalgic hints of blackberry jam, with subtle notes of peanut butter and cacao lingering underneath.Taste: The entry is rich with blackberry jam and bourbon caramel, coating the palate with a natural fruit sweetness that avoids any cloying, artificial quality. At mid-palate, warm baking spice and a touch of oak emerge, giving structure to the fruit. The interplay between the berry sweetness and the whiskey’s underlying grain character keeps each sip balanced.Finish: Smooth and lightly warming, with sweet berry notes that fade gradually into soft vanilla. The finish is moderate in length, clean, and fruity without excessive lingering sweetness.How to Drink Huber’s Blackberry WhiskeyNeat or over a single large ice cube lets the natural blackberry character shine alongside the bourbon and light whiskey base. Chilling slightly with ice opens up the fruit notes without diluting the whiskey backbone. For cocktails, try these three:
Blackberry Smash — muddle fresh mint and lemon with this whiskey; the natural berry infusion eliminates the need for additional fruit syrup.
Blackberry Old Fashioned — substitute it for standard bourbon and reduce or skip the simple syrup; the built-in fruit sweetness does the heavy lifting.
Bramble Sour — shake with lemon juice and a barspoon of honey; the blackberry notes give a whiskey sour a distinctive seasonal twist.
Best For
Bourbon drinkers exploring fruit-infused whiskey without artificial sweetness
Replacing Crown Royal Blackberry with a craft, farm-to-bottle alternative
Summer porch sipping over ice or in seasonal cocktails
Gifting someone who appreciates small-batch Indiana whiskey
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey taste like? The dominant flavors are blackberry jam, bourbon caramel, and vanilla, with warm spice and a touch of oak providing structure beneath the fruit sweetness. The finish is smooth, fruity, and lightly warming.How does Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey compare to Crown Royal Blackberry? Crown Royal Blackberry uses a Canadian whisky base with added flavoring, while Starlight’s version blends bourbon and aged light whiskey with real sun-ripened blackberries from their own farm. The result is a more whiskey-forward profile with natural fruit character and no artificial syrup taste.Is Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey good for sipping neat? Yes — at 84 proof, it has enough body and warmth to stand on its own while the natural blackberry infusion provides a smooth, approachable sweetness that does not overwhelm the whiskey character.Where is Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey made? It is produced at Starlight Distillery in the small community of Starlight in southern Indiana, on the Knobstone Escarpment about 20 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky. The Huber family has farmed this land since 1843.What foods pair well with Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cacao and berry notes. Aged cheddar or gouda provides a savory counterpoint to the fruit sweetness. Grilled pork with blackberry glaze echoes the whiskey’s fruit character. Pecan pie or bread pudding aligns with the caramel and vanilla tones. Fresh berry desserts like cobbler make a natural seasonal pairing.What sizes does Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle.Is Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey worth the price? It positions as a craft-tier flavored whiskey, priced above mass-market flavored options like Crown Royal Blackberry but justified by its pot-still distillation, sweet mash fermentation, and use of real farm-grown blackberries rather than artificial flavoring.Why Huber’s Blackberry Whiskey?What separates this expression from the crowded flavored whiskey shelf is provenance and process. The blackberries are grown on the same Huber family farm that has operated since 1843, and the whiskey base is distilled on a 500-liter Vendome copper pot still using sweet mash fermentation — a method that produces a cleaner canvas for the fruit infusion. Blending bourbon with aged light whiskey rather than using a neutral grain spirit gives the final product genuine whiskey character beneath the berry notes. For drinkers who have outgrown artificially flavored options but still want a fruit-forward pour, this Indiana bottling delivers authenticity that mass-produced competitors cannot match.