On a quiet November evening in San Francisco, something happened that nobody in the bourbon world saw coming. A small family distillery from southern Indiana – the kind of place you drive past on a two-lane road without even noticing – walked away with the biggest prize in American whiskey. Starlight Distillery’s Japanese Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon was named Best Overall Bourbon at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Not best in Indiana. Not best craft bourbon. The absolute best bourbon, period – beating out every giant Kentucky name and every famous bottle you’ve ever seen on the top shelf.
The judges didn’t know whose whiskey they were tasting. Every glass is poured behind a curtain, numbers instead of labels. When the scores came in, Starlight didn’t just win – they dominated. Three “Best of Class” titles in one night. The Mizunara Reserve took home both Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon and the overall Best Bourbon crown. Their Single Barrel Bourbon grabbed Best Craft Distillery Whiskey. Nine medals had already come in back in April; this gala on November 8th and 9th was the knockout punch.
So what exactly is this whiskey that just embarrassed the big boys?…