SoIn 12042014

TOP THREE Christmas Wonderland with Louisville Chorus

A News and Tribune Publication

DEC. 4, 2014 — Issue 43

PS IRITED

E R U T N ADVE

e n li n o b r u o b s e h c n u la y r le il t is D t h g li r a t S

TICKETS Forecastle Festival hosting special presale

REPEAL DAY

Exchange pub + kitchen event

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Dec. 4, 2014 Publisher Bill Hanson E di t o r Jason Thomas Design Claire Munn photography Christopher Fryer

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On the Cover: Owner Ted Huber is pictured next to the pot still in the stillhouse at Starlight Distillery on Tuesday morning.

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER FRYER

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Distilling the spirit of Southern Indiana It’s been a long time coming.

On Friday, folks will get the first sips of Starlight Distillery’s bourbon. Distilling the caramel-colored spirit is something the Huber family has been tinkering with for 13 years.

A new law that took effect in July allows the bottling, Jason Thomas, Editor transporting and sale of the distillery’s bourbon, as well as gin, vodka and other grain-based spirits.

Whiskey is just another in a long line of products to be offered at Huber Orchard, Winery and Vineyards. Co-owner Ted Huber calls the distillery’s collection of spirits a “game-changer,” and could possibly draw visitors taking part in the Urban Bourbon Trail, which is Kentucky-centric at the moment.

Part of the new law allows visitors to sample the

spirits while getting firsthand information from distillers. It’s truly a hands-on experience that touts Southern Indiana tourism.

It’s just another example of Southern Indiana holding its own when it comes to high-quality attractions.

Huber’s is a gem that continues to shine, whether it’s picking your own veggies and fruits, sampling its world-class wine or floating away to spirit world with its new line of liquor.

Friday’s open house at the Starlight Distillery stillhouse takes place on the same day 81 years ago that prohibition was repealed, writer Elizabeth Beilman notes in today’s cover story.

In keeping with the theme, the grand opening also includes a Repeal Day Celebration.

Fortunately, there should be plenty of bottles to go around.

— Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason. thomas@newsandtribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

Bathtub boozin’  What: Repeal Day Celebration  When: 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7  Where: The Exchange pub + kitchen, 118 W. Main St., New Albany  Info: exchangeforfood.com

The Exchange pub + kitchen is going back to 1933 on Friday for a Repeal Day Celebration.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner prepared

by Executive Chef Robert Temple and his culinary team. Staff will be in full 1930s attire, and the Exchange invites its guests to dress the part.

Other features include: • Lounge 120, located on the mezzanine level will open its doors for a special event with Barrelhouse Distillery at 8:30 p.m., featuring Devil John Moonshine. Guests will be treated to an evening of discussing the process of distilling moonshine and the impact it had in the world of spirits, as well a tasting with the brand ambassador for Devils Moonshine. Specialty cocktails will

be prepared by the bar team and beverage director, Brian Keeler, of The Exchange pub + kitchen. This is a limited ticket event that will be available to 30 guests. Tickets are $40 per person, which will also include a specialty cocktail from Lounge 120 as well as a ticket to The Repeal Day Celebration Party downstairs at The Exchange.

• Repeal Day Celebration Party begins at 10 p.m. Live swing music with Billy Goat Strut Revue begins at 10:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door or ahead of time by calling The Exchange pub + kitchen at 812948-6501. Any guests wearing 1930s attire will receive complimentary admission to the celebration.

• The Old Forestor bourbon tasting room opens at 10:30 p.m. Receive complimentary tastings of Old Forester, Old Forester Signature; $5 per person.

• Lounge 120, a speakeasy if you will, will quietly open its doors at 11 p.m.

• Champagne toast at midnight sponsored by Korbel Champagne. Entertainment provided by ladies from The Va Va Vixens.

The Exchange pub +kitchen in New Albany will be hosting a Repeal Day Celebration on Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. The staff will be dressed in 1930s attire and guests who also dress the part will receive complimentary admission to the Repeal Day Celebration Party at 10 p.m. submitted photo

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Dec. 4, 2014

3 To Go

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Come all ye faithful What: Christmas Wonderland — Family Holiday Memories

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 Where: 415 East Eighth St., New Albany Cost: $20; $15 seniors; $5 student In this 17th annual event the Louisville Chorus will celebrate its 75th anniversary Diamond Jubilee season. The Louisville Chorus has held holiday performances at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Albany for the past 17 years.

With special guests: Holy Family Children’s Choir, Paul Stiller, director; St. Mark’s UCC Cherub & Youth Choirs, Sandy Carter, director.

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Culbertson christmas

What: Culbertson Open House When: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunday Where: Culbertson Mansion, 914 E. Main St., New Albany Experience a Victorian Christmas at the Culbertson Mansion. With two events, guests will be able to see its exquisite decorations by day or night while listening to the wonderful sounds of Christmas. Refreshments, children’s activities, and self-guided tours of the mansion will be available.

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Plant the seed

What: Buy Local Fair When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Where: Seeds and Greens Natural Market and Deli, 207 W. First St., New Albany Sample local food and artisan products and meet the folks that make the products in person. Buy Local Fair: Sample and save.

From vegetarian sandwiches and salads to farm-fresh eggs and organic products, Seeds and Greens is stocked with healthy foods raised and prepared locally.

Gotta Go: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go?

Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

A mural of a pot still is pictured at Starlight Distillery. for more photos, visit newsandtribune.smugmug.com staff pHOtO by cHristOpHer fryer pHOtO illustratiOn by claire munn

GA ED TO

perfectio

Starlight Distillery to begin selling its own dis Open HOuse fOr starligHt Distillery • When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 • Where: Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyards, 19816 Huber Road, Starlight • Info: starlightdistillery.com The Huber family, owner’s of Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyards will have a public open house to celebrate its new expansion and product launch as an artisan distiller of vodka, gin, brandy and bourbon whiskey. The event will feature live music, free homemade soup and a celebration of National Repeal Day.

By ELIZABETH BEILMAN elizabeth.beilman@newsandtribune.com TARLIGHT — From behind the tall windows of Starlight Distillery, visitors can see the rows of corn in the distance that one day will be made into mash, aged in barrels and poured into whiskey bottles.

Distilling bourbon, as well as other spirits such as gin and vodka, is a practice that the Hubers have been perfecting for 13 years.

“But we never could put those products out on the market,” said Ted Huber, owner of Starlight Distillery and Huber’s Orchard and Winery.

Now, the Huber family-owned Star-

S

light Distillery will be able to sell its bourbon thanks to a state bill passed in July with the help of State Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, and several months worth of distilling.

“Whiskey is kind of the hottest in spirits out right now,” Huber said.

The first sips of Huber’s bourbon will be available on Friday at Starlight Distillery’s grand opening celebration in its stillhouse from 6 to 9 p.m. on the same day 81 years ago that prohibition was repealed.

In fact, Starlight Distillery’s bourbon is the first to be distilled and sold in Indiana since before prohibition in the 1920s.

Whiskey is the third spirit that the Hu-

bers hav July, foll their fas Hube trail is i of the ei working rolling o Paid t light Di Dec. 20, draw in “Wha to have ery expe set up o make so

on

stilled bourbon

ve been able to distill and sell since lowing vodka and gin because of st and easy distilling process. er said that an Indiana distillers in the early planning stages, and ight or so distillers in the state g on opening, all of them will be out whiskey as their first spirit. tastings and tours of the Staristillery stillhouse will begin on , when Huber said he expects to n a new crowd. at [Clere] did was really enable us this really good tourism distillerience,” he said. “Here, with the of our still, gives us the ability to o many more products.”

Huber estimated an additional 100,000 visitors this year already to the normal 650,000 because of the expanded Starlight Distillery — and Clere said those visitors stimulate the local economy by spending money elsewhere in Southern Indiana such as at hotels and restaurants.

“It’s going to draw visitors who otherwise wouldn’t have had a reason to come here,” Clere said. “As with wine, there’s a whole tourism industry around spirits. Huber’s has proven it can compete on quality.”

A 13,000-square-foot expansion, a new 350-gallon still pot in the stillhouse will be dedicated to spirits while the old still will be dedicated to distilling the Hubers’ worldfamous brandy. Huber’s also added 60 acres of farmland dedicated to growing grain.

Making brandy, or distilled wine, and other fruit-based spirits was all that the distillery was allowed to make and sell since acquiring a license in 2001. The Hubers were allowed to distill grain spirits, but only for experimental purposes. What did the Hubers do with all those pots of spirits they couldn’t sell?

ABoVe: A pot still and two columns are pictured inside the stillhouse at Starlight Distillery.

“They’re back in the warehouse,” Huber BeLoW: owner Ted huber monitors bottles of bourbon as they move off the bottling line in said. the bottling room at Starlight Distillery.

See Distillery, paGe 8 STaFF pHOTOS by CHRiSTOpHeR FRyeR

6 Entertainment

MOVIES.: Dec. 5

Serious about science he Kentucky Science CenterT has released a first peek at what will be the new Science in

 What: Science in Play exhibit

 Where: Kentucky Sci-

Play scheduled to open in July ence Center, 727 W. Main 2015. Science in Play is part of St., Louisville the Center’s strategic agenda to  Info: The permanent improve early childhood learnScience in Play gallery exing culture in the community by perience will be included emphasizing 21st century skills in the price of admission such as curiosity, critical thinkto the Science Center. ing, problem solving, creativity, General admission to the communication and collaboraScience Center is $11 for tion. children ages 2-12 and Renovations began in Septem$13 for adults. For more ber of this year with demolition information or to purof the space previously known chase tickets, please visit as KidZone. All new flooring, paint and a few structural changKYScienceCenter.org. es are occurring now and during January, with exhibit installation in June and the big reveal in July 2015.

This new and permanent iteration of Science in Play represents the first major permanent gallery overhaul at the Science Center since the “Worlds” campaign which was formally completed in 2006 with the opening of the second floor World Around Us. The new Science in Play is a continued design collaboration between the Science Center and HandsOn! Inc., a St. Petersburg, Fla.-based exhibit fabricator. Exhibit plans will include both tested favorites, such as an expanded build-your-own roller coaster area, and all new experiences like the gigantic “Happy Climber” that will welcome families to the space. This 14-foot tall climbing structure will encourage children not only to stretch and strengthen their motor skills and problem-solving abilities but will build selfconfidence and accuracy in gauging their own physical skills.

An engaging new “Color & Light” room will give young visitors the chance to experiment with the concepts of color mixing, shadow play and even ways to explore patterns and visual memory.

“Grow Zone” will be a protected space dedicated to infants to toddlers with ample opportunities for sensory exploration.

“Science Depot” will return as a fully integrated area with routine challenges and activities designed to encourage first-hand use of real science tools, by even the very youngest of visitors.

é “The Pyramid

 “Top Five”

Dec. 4, 2014

ALBUMS: Dec. 9

books: Dec. 9

é “Monuments to an Elegy” by

é “The Boston Girl” by Anita

 “The Carter V” by Lil Wayne

 “The Cruiser” by David Poyer

Smashing Pumpkins

Diamant

A HOLIDAY TRADITION  What: Holiday Pops concert

 When: 7:30 p.m. Satur-

day, Dec. 6, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7  Where: Richard K. Stem Concert Hall in the Ogle Center, IUS  Tickets: Tickets for adults will be $12 in advance, or $15 the day of the show. Student tickets are $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Ogle Center ticket office by calling 812-941-2525 or online at oglecenter.com The annual Holiday Pops concerts presented by the IU Southeast Music Department have become somewhat of a holiday tradition to many in the area, according to an IUS news release.

Over the last 10 years, the IU Southeast Orchestra, Concert Band, and Concert Choir and Community Chorus have joined forces on the Stem Concert Hall stage at the Ogle Center to perform a concert of seasonal favorites and even letting the audience get in on the act with holiday sing-alongs.

The Ogle Center has booked vocalist Tim King to sing along with the orchestra, band, and choirs.

Many will know King as the former executive director of the Louisville Orchestra. In his professional singing career, King has soloed over 130 times with symphony orchestras around the country in a variety of classical and pops venues.

Serving as the host and master of ceremonies for the

concerts will be local actor and Derby Dinner Playhouse regular, J. R. Stuart. Stuart has been the resident character actor at Derby Dinner since July 1990.

These concerts will also serve to introduce IU Southeast’s new chancellor, Ray Wallace, to the community.

Fresh from his official installation ceremony as chancellor on Friday, Dec. 5, Wallace will greet audiences as IUS continues the celebration of his installation.

Dec. 4, 2014

Entertainment 7

Local SoIn Happenings Feeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or organization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune. com

 Open House for Starlight Distillery

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 Where: Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyards, 19816 Huber Road, Starlight The Huber family, owner’s of Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyards will have a public open house to celebrate its new expansion and product launch as an artisan distiller of vodka, gin, brandy and bourbon whiskey. The event will feature live music, free homemade soup and a celebration of National Repeal Day.

 Live on State at Wick’s

 Corydon Jamboree

Where: 220 Hurst Lane, Corydon When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday Friday: Country Star Revue: Gene Hogan as Marty Robbins; By The Book as Oak Ridge Boys and The Statler Brothers; Otis Berry as Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis; Lindsey Ash as Patsy Cline; Saturday: Marty Hubler Students Show General Admission $10; children 6-12, $6; under 6, free. For reservations, directions or any other information call 812-738-1130. [corydonjamboree.com]

 New Year’s Eve at Bristol Jeffersonville

What: Tasting six of The Furst wines from one of France’s finest grape-growing areas When: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 Where: Bristol Bar and Grille, 700 W. Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville Cost: $180/couple; call 812-218-1995 Ring in the New Year with international flavors at Wines from Around the World at The Bristol Bar and Grille.

Master Sommelier Scott Harper paired six wines from countries like Argentina, Australia and France with a five-course meal prepared by chef Richard Doering.

The evening will begin at 8 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres paired and an Italian Brut. At 8:30 p.m., the courses will continue with dishes like house-smoked chicken, short ribs and a chocolate-nut gâteau dessert. The New Year’s Eve event including five-courses and six wines is $180 per couple, plus tax and gratuity.

Guests may also reserve a room at the on-site Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel for an additional $99.

Where: Wick’s Pizza Parlor, 225 State St., New Albany When: Friday and Saturday Friday: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., The Killer Lips; Saturday: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Full Contact Karaoke [wickspizza.com]

 Live music at the Roadhouse

Where: New Albany Roadhouse,1706 Graybrook Lane, 8 p.m. to midnight Dec. 12: Nervous Energy; Dec. 19: Mello Judge; Dec. 26: John Colson

 Live music at Big Four Burgers + Beer

Where: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 134 Spring St., Jeffersonville When: Friday and Saturday Friday: Kelsey Allen with Rachel; Saturday: Kyle Hastings

 Live music at Charlie Nobel’s

Where: Charlie Nobel’s Eatery + Draught House, 7815 Ind. 311, Sellersburg Friday: Aquila; Saturday: Dogville

 Angel gets his wings

What: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life When: Through Dec. 31 Where: Derby Dinner Playhouse, 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville Ticket: Call 812-288-8281 or visit derbydinner.com Frank Capra’s film classic brought to vibrant theatrical life. An uplifting chronicle of the extraordinary lives of ordinary folk, this musical exhilarates the mind and heart and celebrates the innate goodness in us all. Enjoy this musical treasure about a young misfit reindeer who just wants to fit in. Santa will be at every performance.

Christmas on the Avenue Frankfort Avenue Business T heAssociation will host the 19th

 What: Olde

Tyme Christmas Annual Olde Tyme Christmas CelCelebration ebration that will include the Santa  When: 10 a.m.

Sprint to benefit United Crescent to 6 p.m. Saturday, Hill Ministries, the Holiday Dog Dec. 6 Walk, free trolley rides, 50-cent  Where: Frankhorse and carriage rides and an fort Avenue, appearance by Santa Claus himLouisville self. Many businesses will host live  Info: frankformusic, special sales, and holiday tave.com refreshments.

The schedule of events is as follows: • 9 a.m.: The Santa Sprint and Stroll benefiting United Crescent Hill Ministries, will start at 9 a.m. at Barret Traditional Middle School, 2561 Grinstead Drive. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For more information, visit uchmlouky.org/ santasprint.php.

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Holiday Open House at Hadley Pottery, 1570 Story Ave. The event will include home-made snacks, hourly giveaways, store-wide discounts and the first 50 customers with a $25 purchase to get a 2014 ornament.

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Holiday Card Factory Workshop at the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Ave. Using tactile materials, participants will make unique holiday cards and add a message in Braille. This event is free but space is limited so call 502-8992213 or e-mail kcarpenter@aph.org to register. Visit aph.org/ museum for more information.

• noon: Holiday Dog Walk, registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Participants will meet in the parking lot next to The Irish Rover, 2319 Frankfort Ave., and then walk to The Training Academy, 2115 Frankfort Ave., for prizes. The Animal Care Society will also be present with adoptable pets. Call 502-365-4438 for more information.

• noon to 3 p.m.: Santa Claus and Rudolph will pose for photos and give out candy canes at Margaret’s Consignment, 2700 Frankfort Ave.

8 SoIn

Dec. 4, 2014

A sample pour of an experimental bourbon is pictured on a barrel in the stillhouse at Starlight Distillery.

Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

Get YOUR tickets

J

ust in time for the  What: Forecastle Festiholidays, the Foreval presale castle Festival will  When: begins at noon host a special presale Friday, Dec. 5 at noon on Friday,  Info: ForecastleFest.

Dec. 5, through com ForecastleFest.com. * Limited number of Louisville’s three-day specially priced weekend festival celebrating the best in music, art passes available and environmental activism will take place July 17-19 at Louisville’s Waterfront Park.

A limited number of general admission weekend passes will be available for $129.50 plus applicable fees. General admission travel packages, which include lodging at the Brown Hotel or Seelbach Hilton, will also be available beginning Friday. Full ticketing options, including VIP, payment plans and single day tickets, will be revealed in early 2015 along with the festival lineup.

Exclusive fan hotel rates for the festival weekend are available now. Visit ForecastleFest.com for a full list of pricing and locations.

For the latest news and updates from Forecastle Festival, fans can visit ForecastleFest.com, Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for the Forecastle newsletter.

Forecastle is held at Louisville’s scenic, 85-acre Waterfront Park. Since 2002, the Festival has featured musical guests including Outkast, The Black Keys, Jack White, Beck, My Morning Jacket, String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, The Smashing Pumpkins, Widespread Panic, The Avett Brothers, Pretty Lights, Sleigh Bells, Spoon, DEVO, Band of Horses, She & Him, Big Boi, Girl Talk, ATrak, Sleater-Kinney, Umphrey’s McGee and many more. The festival also highlights the best of bourbon country with the Bourbon Lodge, an interactive experience more featuring more than 10,000 square feet of bourbon-focused activities and tastings.

DISTILLERY: Expansion called 'game-changer' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Now, they’re adding grain into the equation since acquiring their artisan distillers license to sell a year ago. Clere said their experience in distilling puts them at the top of the Indiana spirits industry.

“Distilling is not an easy business to get into. It takes a lot of capital and it takes a lot of time,” Clere said.

“Huber’s is in it for the long haul.”

Huber called the expanded array of spirits a “game-changer” made even more evident by hands-on tours that will allow visitors to see the distilling process and enjoy a mixed cocktail inside the stillhouse.

“Here, people can come and have a great, full-day experience,” he said.

Tours and spirits being distilled will always be changing based on what’s in season.

“It’s not just walking through a museum tour,” Huber said.

As for the bourbon itself, Huber said the ‘only if it comes from Kentucky’ definition is a myth.

Bourbon is a type of whiskey that must be at least 51 percent corn, distilled in a new charred oak barrel and bottled at 80 proof or less.

“It’s basically high corn, new bar-

Bourbon barrels are pictured in the stillhouse at Starlight Distillery.

Staff photo by Christopher Fryer rel,” Huber said.

Just as Huber’s has been a family-owned business passed down through generations, the distillery will add a new generation of young visitors who are interested in whiskey and other spirits.

“I think a lot of younger consumers are looking for authenticity and

experience,” Clere said. “They’re looking for something with not only a story but a story that relates to their interests, which in a lot of cases are more focused on small scale production, artisan or craft production, sustainable practices — just a lot of things that are part of the Huber’s story.”