Starward Whisky

About Starward Whisky

Starward is an Australian distillery in Melbourne, known for using local wine casks from the Australian wine industry for its maturation. For beginners, it's an easy whisky to start with, since it's full-bodied, fruity and a world away from the smoky, dry style many associate with Scotch. Among collectors, Starward is also considered one of the most interesting names in the new wave of Australian whisky, precisely because its style is so clearly shaped by its own terroir rather than imitating Scotland.

History & Background

The distillery was founded in 2007 by David Vitale with a clear ambition: to make Australian whisky as celebrated as Australian wine. Casks are sourced fresh directly from wineries in areas like the Barossa Valley, often just hours after being emptied of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir, and every ingredient is sourced within a day's drive of the distillery in Melbourne. The city's famously unstable climate, with big temperature swings in a single day - locally known as 'four seasons in one day' - speeds up maturation significantly, meaning the whisky often reaches its full character in just a few years. That has quickly made Starward the driving force behind international interest in Australian whisky.

Production & Style

The whisky is distilled from Australian barley and aged primarily in former Australian red wine casks, giving it a pronounced fruity character.

Signature Style

Fruity, Wine-Cask-Driven, Full-Bodied
The flavor offers a full-bodied, fruity character with a clear imprint from the wine casks used.

Facts

Did you know?

Starward ages its whisky through Melbourne's pronounced temperature swings, which the distillery believes significantly speeds up maturation.

If you like Starward Whisky, you should also try:

Boulder Spirits, High West and Waterford.