Starward has won Most Awarded Distillery of the Year at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for taking out the largest haul of golds by one distillery across the 2022 event.
Starward received 12 double gold and 3 gold in this year’s judging, and becomes the first Australian distillery to take the top honour in the competition’s 22-year history.
Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the longest running and most influential spirits competitions in the world.
Image – Starward Whisky
‘It’s a dream come true,’ said Starward’s founder David Vitale after receiving the accolade, ‘I’m so incredibly proud and happy.’
Following the announcement, Starward’s CEO Simon Marton told Nine News: ‘To be announced as the winner of the most awarded distillery, it’s like winning the Olympics. It’s massive for us and for the whole Australian spirits industry.’
Some of Starward’s double gold winning whiskies
We rarely cover spirits awards at Oz Whisky Review for a variety of reasons, but Starward’s overall win and its 12 double gold medals are particularly notable.
Double golds are awarded to entries that receive a Gold medal rating by all members of San Francisco Spirits Competition’s judging panel. Starward founder David Vitale was particularly proud of this feat when initially receiving the medals.
‘… To receive perfect gold scores across the board is a true testament to our incredible Australian ingredients and of course, the team’s ability to keep our innovative ethos fresh. It’s an example of what experimentation and a bit of ‘caution to the wind’ can produce. It’s Australian whisky, and we are ecstatic to be celebrating this with the world!’
The full list of Starward’s double gold winners include:
- Nova Single Malt Whisky
- Fortis Single Malt
- Left Field Single Malt
- Octave Barrels Single Malt Whisky
- Unexpeated Single Malt Whisky
- Tawny #2 Single Malt Whisky
- Ginger Beer Cask #6 Single Malt Whisky
- Hungarian Oak Single Malt Whisky
- Single Barrel #8193 Single Malt Whisky
- Single Barrel #4539 Single Malt Whisky
- Single Barrel #684 Single Malt Whisky
- Single Barrel #3278 Single Malt Whisky
Starward’s Two-Fold Double Grain Whisky, Dolce Single Malt Whisky and Single Barrel #7598 also received gold from the judges.
In taking out the most awarded distillery, Starward bested almost 5000 producers of whisky, gin, tequila, rum and other spirits entered into the 2022 competition from countries like Scotland, Japan, the USA and the UK.