Starlight Carl. T Huber's Old Rickhouse Double Oaked Rye 750ML

Starlight Carl T. Huber's Old Rickhouse Double Oaked Rye 750ML is a cask-strength Indiana rye whiskey bottled at 106 proof (53% ABV) after a secondary maturation in custom-cooperaged new oak barrels. This double-oaked expression builds on the distillery's flagship Old Rickhouse Rye, layering additional depth from heavy-toasted, lightly charred barrels designed to Starlight's exact specifications.

Quick Facts: ABV: 53% (106 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana, USA  |  Double Oaked Rye  |  Distillery: Starlight Distillery

Production & Heritage

Starlight Distillery, located in Borden, Indiana, operates as a farm-to-bottle producer and is widely recognized as Indiana's most decorated craft distillery. The Old Rickhouse Double Oaked Rye begins with a blend of two high-rye mashbills — one at 80% rye with 20% malted barley and another at 90% rye with 10% malted barley — fermented using a sweet mash process rather than the more common sour mash method. After full maturation at cask strength, the whiskey is transferred into new heavy-toasted, lightly charred American oak barrels crafted to custom profiles that Starlight developed in collaboration with select cooperages. This secondary aging amplifies oak influence, introduces deeper caramel and vanilla tones, and rounds out the spice inherent in those high-rye recipes.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cherry, fennel, dill, and peppermint lead the nose, supported by clove, limestone minerality, and a core of dried herbs and grassiness. The second barrel contributes dark vanilla bean and silky caramel that weren't present in the standard Old Rickhouse expression.

Taste: The entry is vibrant and piquant, with zesty grapefruit and orange peel arriving early alongside cinnamon and charred oak. At the mid-palate, a soft citrusy spice emerges with fresh sweetness, apricot jam, and vanilla custard. The dual mashbill delivers both green dill-forward rye character and earthy, grounded spice, held in balance by sandalwood and gentle oak.

Finish: The finish is dry and persistent, carrying ginger, pink peppercorn, and lingering vanilla. Cocoa and a faint minty quality — reminiscent of chocolate-mint — echo through the tail end, giving the whiskey a satisfying close.

How to Drink Double Oaked Rye

At 106 proof, this rye rewards a few drops of water or a single ice cube to open the layered aromatics without diluting the cask-strength intensity; neat pours are equally rewarding for those who enjoy full-bodied whiskey. A Manhattan benefits from the rich vanilla and charred oak that stand up to sweet vermouth. A Vieux Carré lets the herbal, dill-forward rye character play against Cognac and Bénédictine. A Sazerac pairs the ginger and pink peppercorn spice with absinthe for a bold, classic combination.

Best For

• Rye whiskey collectors seeking limited craft distillery releases
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates cask-strength pours
• Side-by-side tastings comparing single-barrel and double-oaked expressions
• Building stirred cocktails that demand a high-proof, oak-forward rye

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Double Oaked Rye taste like? It delivers cherry, charred oak, and cinnamon up front, followed by citrus peel, vanilla custard, and apricot jam, finishing dry with ginger and pink peppercorn. The double-barrel treatment adds noticeable caramel richness and sandalwood complexity beyond a standard rye.

How does Double Oaked Rye compare to the standard Starlight Old Rickhouse Rye? The standard Old Rickhouse Rye emphasizes dried herbs and grassiness from the high-rye mashbill, while the Double Oaked version rounds those flavors with additional vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak from its secondary maturation in custom new barrels. The Double Oaked also carries a heavier mouthfeel and more prominent dark fruit character.

Is Double Oaked Rye good for sipping neat? Yes — its 106-proof intensity carries enough complexity and balance for neat drinking, though a few drops of water can help unlock the layered aromatics, particularly the cherry and herbal notes.

Where is Double Oaked Rye made? It is produced at Starlight Distillery in Borden, Indiana, a farm-to-bottle operation in the southern hills of the state that grows grain on its own property and distills, ages, and bottles on-site.

What foods pair well with Double Oaked Rye? Smoked brisket matches the charred oak and peppercorn spice. Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and mint undertones. Aged Gouda echoes the caramel and vanilla sweetness. Charcuterie with fennel salami highlights the herbal, dill-forward rye character. Pecan pie aligns with the toasted oak and brown sugar notes.

What sizes does Double Oaked Rye come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 106 proof.

Is Double Oaked Rye worth the price? It positions as a premium craft rye, justified by its cask-strength bottling, dual-mashbill blending, and labor-intensive double-barrel process using custom cooperage — factors that place it above entry-level rye whiskeys and into territory typically reserved for specialty small-batch releases.

Why Double Oaked Rye?

The defining differentiator here is the custom barrel program: Starlight worked directly with cooperages to design heavy-toasted, lightly charred barrels built specifically for this secondary maturation, rather than using off-the-shelf cooperage. The blending of two distinct high-rye mashbills — one at 80% rye and one at 90% rye — creates a more dimensional grain profile than single-mashbill competitors typically achieve. Sweet mash fermentation, less common in rye production, preserves a brighter, fruitier character that survives the double-oak treatment. The result is a cask-strength rye that balances aggressive rye spice with the rich, rounded influence of two separate new-oak maturations — a combination that stands apart in the growing Indiana craft whiskey landscape.