Starward Small Batch Speciality Barrel Series Chardonnay Casks 70cl
When it comes to maturing our award-winning whisky, Starward’s red wine barrel influence has always been at the heart of what we do. Now, we’re excited to be unveiling Small Batch Chardonnay Cask; our first ever whisky that has been fully matured in white wine casks. Buttery and smooth, take a sip and see how these iconic Chardonnay casks have left an impression on our Melbourne-made spirit.
The seventh iteration in our Small Batch programme, Chardonnay Cask is a single malt whisky that has been aged in French Oak barrels, that were sourced from the esteemed Yarra Valley and Margaret River wine regions. A combination of fresh and charred barrels that once held luscious Chardonnay were filled with our quintessential tropical spirit to soak up all that buttery goodness from the delicious white wine.
Starward has taken a walk on the whiter side experimenting with its first ever whisky matured in white wine casks.
To date, Starward’s red wine barrel influence has led the direction of the whisky producer but the Small Batch Chardonnay Cask changes all of that.
The single malt whisky that has been aged in French Oak barrels from the Yarra Valley and Margaret River wine regions with Starward’s ‘quintessential tropical spirit’ soaking up all the ‘buttery goodness’ from the fresh and charred casks.
It is something completely different: the Chardonnay Cask is permeated with aromas of white peach and fragrant brioche, followed by juicy apricots, sweet peach and tropical fruits on the palate.
Starward’s Production Director, Sam Slaney, said: “There’s always a gamble when it comes to experimenting with trials like this. To have Starward’s Small Batch Chardonnay Cask not only work, but also turn out to be a delicious and elegant single malt whisky is a testament to the team’s ability to innovate.
“It reinforces for me why the Small Batch program is so important. Our distillers get the opportunity to experiment with new barrels, and that’s important because it allows us to discover unexpected gems like this. I think this is a whisky that our loyalists will love and will celebrate with us. This is also definitely something that we’ll continue to experiment with further.”
Tasting Notes
Nose : Luscious tropical fruits followed by white peach and brioche.
Palate : Ripe tropical fruits melded with juicy apricot and sweet peach.
Finish : Buttery and smooth.
About Starward
David Vitale grew up in a large Italian family in multicultural Melbourne, well known for its innovative food culture. You could almost say that Melbourne is obsessed with food. David ultimately set his mind on making an Australian whiskey. Since winemakers have already managed to create a piece of the old world in Australia, why shouldn't the same be possible for whiskey? In addition, wine barrels have previously been used to either store or finish whiskey. Of course, David had to try it and after a few attempts he was successful. For its whiskeys, Starward uses Australian malted barley that is fermented with brewer's yeast. It gives the whiskeys a fruity aroma. The wine barrels used for storage are selected very carefully and are always full of aromas. In the final step, the whiskeys are only stored in Melbourne for three years. With arctic winds from the south and dry winds from the desert, Melbourne can experience all four seasons in just one day. Due to the strong temperature differences, the whiskey reacts much faster in the barrel than would be the case in Scotland. As Melbourne is also warmer, the whiskey tends to increase in alcohol content during storage rather than decreasing over time. For the Barossa Valley Single Barrel, Starward customers can choose their own barrel in which the whiskey was stored.
An increasingly popular brand in the west as time goes on
48% ABV
70cl
