Starlight Carl. T Huber's Cigar Batch Amburana Finished Bourbon 750ML

Starlight Carl T. Huber's Cigar Batch Amburana Finished Bourbon 750ML is a 106-proof (53% ABV) Indiana bourbon finished in Brazilian Amburana oak barrels, bottled at 750ml. This expression earned a Platinum award from the ASCOT Awards, which praised its deep caramel flavors, buttery texture, and long menthol finish — a testament to the unusual wood-finishing technique that defines this release.

Quick Facts: ABV: 53% (106 Proof)  |  Origin: Starlight, Southern Indiana, USA  |  Minimum 4 Years, Amburana Finished  |  Distillery: Starlight Distillery

Production & Heritage

Starlight Distillery operates out of Borden, Indiana, in the southern part of the state, a region with a long agricultural heritage. The Cigar Batch begins with a blend of two mashbills — a three-grain recipe (60% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley) and a four-grain recipe (51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, 9% wheat) — fermented using a sweet mash process rather than the more common sour mash method. After aging a minimum of four years in new charred oak barrels, the bourbon is transferred into new, unused Amburana barrels sourced directly from Brazil. Because Amburana wood is soft and porous, it imparts flavor rapidly and intensely; depending on the season, the finishing period lasts between six weeks and three months. Starlight reuses each Amburana barrel up to four times before retiring it.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Burnt orange rind and dates emerge first, followed by tobacco leaf, leather, and cinnamon stick. Underneath, there are quieter layers of nuts, steeped malt, and raw cacao that deepen as the bourbon opens in the glass.

Taste: The palate leads with pronounced cinnamon sugar and baking spices, evoking cinnamon toast and French toast soaked in cream. Mid-palate shifts toward soft baked bread, cereal grain, and sandalwood, with dark stewed berries and hints of vanilla chai, honey, and milk chocolate adding complexity. A young, sharp oak note provides structure without overwhelming the sweeter elements.

Finish: The finish pivots decisively to cigar box, with cream soda, fudge, and roasted malt grounding the back end. It lingers with the distinctive Amburana signature — equal parts wet tobacco leaf and nutty sweetness — alongside a minty, earthy quality that stays well past the last sip.

How to Drink Cigar Batch Amburana

At 106 proof, this bourbon rewards a neat pour with a few minutes of rest to let the Amburana character fully emerge; a few drops of water can tame the heat and amplify the cinnamon and cream notes. The bold, spice-driven profile also works in cocktails that benefit from an assertive base spirit. An Old Fashioned made with this bourbon leans into the cinnamon-tobacco interplay without needing much sweetener. A Boulevardier pairs the cigar-box finish against Campari's bitterness for a rich, brooding drink. A Gold Rush uses honey syrup and lemon to highlight the vanilla chai and fudge notes already present in the spirit.

Best For

• Pairing with an actual cigar after dinner — the tobacco and spice notes mirror and complement a medium-bodied smoke
• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who has tried every standard finished whiskey and wants something genuinely different
• Adding a standout bottle to a home bar focused on unique American whiskey finishes
• Blind-tasting nights where unusual cask finishes spark conversation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cigar Batch Amburana taste like? It leads with intense cinnamon sugar and baking spices, transitions through tobacco leaf, dark berries, and soft bread, and finishes with cigar box, fudge, and a distinctive wet-tobacco-and-nut Amburana character.

How does Cigar Batch Amburana compare to Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend? Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend finishes its bourbon in Armagnac, sherry, and Cognac casks, producing a richer, wine-influenced profile, while Starlight's version uses Brazilian Amburana wood that delivers pronounced cinnamon, vanilla, and earthy tobacco notes — reviewers note the two are not close to the same flavor profile despite sharing the "Cigar" name.

Is Cigar Batch Amburana good for sipping neat? Yes — at 106 proof it carries enough intensity to reward neat sipping, and the Amburana finish provides layered spice, sweetness, and tobacco complexity that unfolds over time in the glass.

Where is Cigar Batch Amburana made? It is distilled and finished at Starlight Distillery in Borden, Indiana, in the southern part of the state, using Amburana barrels sourced from Brazil.

What foods pair well with Cigar Batch Amburana? Dark chocolate truffles complement the fudge and cacao notes. Smoked brisket mirrors the tobacco and leather character. Cinnamon-spiced bread pudding echoes the dominant cinnamon-sugar profile. Aged Gouda works well against the nutty, caramel finish. Roasted pecans reinforce the nutty Amburana qualities.

What sizes does Cigar Batch Amburana come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle; availability of other sizes varies by release and retailer allocation.

Is Cigar Batch Amburana worth the price? It positions as a premium craft bourbon with a genuinely uncommon finishing method — Amburana-finished American whiskey remains rare, and the Platinum recognition from the ASCOT Awards supports its standing in the specialty bourbon market.

Why Cigar Batch Amburana?

Amburana-finished bourbon is still an uncommon category, and Starlight's version is one of the few American-made expressions that uses new, unused Amburana barrels rather than recycled or pre-seasoned wood. The combination of two distinct mashbills — one including wheat as a fourth grain — and sweet mash fermentation creates a base spirit with more texture and sweetness than typical Indiana bourbon, which in turn takes on the Amburana's cinnamon, vanilla, and earthy tobacco influence in a balanced way. The Platinum award from the ASCOT Awards validates the approach, and at 106 proof, the whiskey carries enough weight to showcase the finishing wood without being overwhelmed by it. For drinkers seeking something genuinely outside the mainstream bourbon-finishing playbook, this release delivers a profile that stands alone in the category.