Another Starward Projects bottling, another sell out success. It’s not often you see Starward fully matured in an ex-fortified wine cask these days. They’re doing a good job of keeping the Starward faithful on their toes.
Review: Starward Muscat Single Malt Whisky
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Starward Muscat Single Malt Whisky
The Stats
- ABV: 48%
- Price Band: $ $ $ $ $
- Style: Single malt whisky
- Production Story: Distilled 2019 at New World Whisky Distillery and fully matured for four years in a combination of wet filled and charred ex-Rutherglen muscat casks. Released August 2023.
- Location: Melbourne, VIC
- Score: 85
NoseDifferent kind of opening for a Starward. Herbal and nutty, then burnt caramel, smoked almonds, ginger chocolate and mince pie.PalateComes together here. Burnt butter and Christmas spice. The smoky nuttiness from the nose persists, although the expected hit of raisins, raspberry jam and banana bread pulls everything into line. A touch of old, dank muscat wood in there, too. Surprisingly light and fruity considering the cask treatment.FinishTreacle and then the classic Starward fruits poke through on the finish.CommentsAn intriguing one for sure. I revisited it a few times and kept coming away with a different impression. The nose takes you towards these dense, nutty, burnt caramel wood notes before it all comes together on the palate and that lovely Rutherglen richness shines through. Not sure the muscat marries up seamlessly with Starward's distillate profile, but they've done a great job to pull this off.
Luke McCarthy
Luke McCarthy is the editor and publisher of Oz Whisky Review. An independent writer, author and drinks columnist, Luke's written about whisky and spirits for numerous Australian and international publications and is a judge at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards. His book, The Australian Spirits Guide, the first to tackle the history and resurgence of the Australian spirits industry, was published in 2016 by Hardie Grant Books.