Ted Huber & Sons

Ted Huber was born and raised in Starlight, Indiana, and today is co-owner of Starlight Distillery as its Master Distiller. He represents the sixth generation of the Huber family business, which began when Simon Huber emigrated from Baden, Germany, in 1843 to establish what would become Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyards.

Ted graduated from Providence High School and later took winemaking courses at Purdue University, Ohio State, and Michigan. He is the head winemaker of Huber Winery and also leads distilling operations at Starlight Distillery, which he and his cousin Greg launched in 2001. Their first commercial brandy came out in 2004, and grain-based spirits like bourbon and rye followed after a 2013 change in state laws.

Ted is married to Dana Huber, who serves as vice president of distribution and public relations. They have two sons, Christian and Blake, both of whom have returned from university programs in viticulture, enology, and distilling to work at the family farm. Ted and Dana built Starlight into a true family operation: Dana handles marketing and outreach, while Christian and Blake help with both winemaking and distilling.

Ted’s approach to distilling reflects his roots as a farmer and winemaker. He prefers sweet-mash fermentation and experiments with heirloom grains, even malting rye with chocolate malt. He oversees barrel-making, sometimes using oak from their own farm, and fine-tunes char and toast levels artisanally. He operates both an 80-liter pot still for fruit brandies and a 500-liter pot still for grain spirits, balancing tradition with creativity.

Under Ted’s leadership, Starlight Distillery has grown into Indiana’s most award-winning, farm-to-bottle distillery. They craft a variety of spirits—bourbon, rye, gin, vodka, funneling estate-grown fruit and non-GMO grains into every bottle. In 2025, Ted was named “Artisan of the Year” by Artisan Spirit Magazine in recognition of his innovation, quality, and commitment to craft.

Today, Ted, Dana, Christian, Blake, and Greg are working together to grow the seventh generation of the business. They continue to host tours, tastings, and agri-tourism events on their nearly 700-acre farm. Their goal is to keep innovating by growing new grape varieties, aging whiskey in unique barrels, and blending tradition with experimentation.

Ted Huber’s story is not just about spirits and barrels. It is about family, land, and legacy. He blends his background in winemaking, agricultural science, and distillation to create handcrafted beers and spirits that reflect the soil beneath his feet. Above all, he’s proud to pass the torch to his sons, ensuring the Huber name will carry on in each glass for generations to come.

Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee

Sources: 1. Craft Beverage Expo, 2024

2. Starlight Distillery Website

3. HowardHewitt.net, October 2020