History

Starward Whisky is an Australian whisky distillery from Melbourne, describing itself as a new world whisky brand. The distillery is located in Port Melbourne and has moved from being a locally based producer to being globally recognized as one of the world's most award-winning distilleries. According to their site, they have won prestigious medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and highlight themselves as the world's most awarded international distillery. Starward describes its background in Melbourne and its approach as a new world whisky that is not bound by the traditional rules of whisky production. They place emphasis on proximity to Australia's wine regions and Melbourne's distinctive climate as central factors in their identity and flavor profile.

Production / Manufacturing

Starward describes a full chain from grain to finished whisky: malted barley is grown in Geelong and fermented with a blend of brewer's and distiller's yeast to capture tropical, fruity esters. The spent grain from malting is used as feed for local cows. The distillation takes place in copper stills, where the purest and most flavorful spirit is collected for further maturation. Maturation primarily takes place in red wine casks, including casks from Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot, sourced from the Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley and Margaret River. Melbourne's climate gives four seasons in one day, enabling faster maturation and quicker extraction of red wine and oak characteristics. The whisky typically ages for 4–8 Melbourne years, after which it is ready to enjoy. The spent grain from malting is sent to local farms as feed for breeding stock. Starward also emphasizes that they are an organization focused on going further for flavor and that their work combines tradition with innovation.

Products and Whisky Series

Starward offers a range of products, including: - Nova – Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 41%, fully matured in Australian red wine casks, described as fruity with red berries, chocolate and fruit-forward notes. - Two-Fold – Wheat & Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 40%, matured in Australian red wine casks, with notes of tropical fruit, red berries, vanilla, and a balance between fruit and grain. The distillery highlights Two-Fold as versatile and suitable for neat, on the rocks, or cocktails. - Panettone – Wheat & Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 40%, 'Panettone in a bottle' where Two-Fold is blended with a single malt matured in Pedro Ximénez and Australian fortified wine casks. Flavor notes include vanilla, banoffee, sultana and cinnamon, with a finish of toasted oak and caramel. The product celebrates founder Dave's Sicilian Christmas traditions. - Sticky Toffee Apple – Single Malt Whisky, 500 mL, 48%, a small-batch release where the whisky is finished in apple brandy cask from the USA, and matures in red wine casks for a sweet, fruity and spicy experience. - 100 Proof – Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 50%, fully matured in American oak and red wine casks, full-bodied with notes of vanilla, plums and chocolate ganache. The bottle is stronger (100 proof / 50% ABV). - Octave Barrels – Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 48%, released from smaller 'octave' casks and provides an intense and complex profile. - Hungarian Oak – Single Malt Whisky, 500 mL, 50%, matured in Hungarian oak casks (noted in their collection as one of their special characteristics). - Muscat – Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 48%, reflects an experimental approach with Muscat casks. - Solera – Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 43%, also part of their award-winning wine-barrel expression. - Ginger Beer Cask #7 & #8 – Single Malt Whisky, 700 mL, 48%, experimental cascade releases in ginger beer casks. - Aged and other limited releases also appear in their range and in their 'award-winning whisky' section.

Their range also includes year-round and seasonal releases (e.g., Limited/Small Batch), and they also promote gift packs and personalized bottle options.

Visits and Experiences

Starward describes its presence in Port Melbourne with a Distillery & Bar, where guests can visit and enjoy experiences in their environment and facilities. They provide information on opening hours for the Distillery & Bar and offer table reservations. They also emphasize that they have a number of physical stores and the option to buy products directly via their website, and that they encourage visiting the distillery and bar.

Philosophy and Culture

Starward highlights a narrative of an Australian 'New World Whisky' identity that is not bound by the traditional rules of the old whisky world. They lean on Melbourne as their home and the climate's peculiarities as a driver of their flavor development. They describe their work as innovative and creative, and they claim to be the world's most awarded international distillery at the SFWSC in 2024, as well as having won a broad range of medals. On their site they also describe that their ingredients and approaches are closely linked to local geography – e.g., grain (malt from Geelong) and red wine barrels from Australian wine regions – and that they use a combination of brewer's and distiller's yeast in fermentation to produce tropical, fruity esters.

Brand profile

Starward also states that it has a strong focus on going further for flavor and that their approach makes the whisky versatile and approachable – from neat glasses to cocktails. They also showcase a personality through their 'Distilled Journal' and their focus on universal experiences around food and drink and end-to-end experiences from the distillery to the end consumer.