Review by: Raygun

Starward mainly makes malt, but this is a blend of malt and wheat whisky. Not sure if they made the wheat whisky as well. Seems likely. Each was aged separately in wine casks and then blended. They call it a double grain, but it’s really a blended whisky. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes. Notes from initial blind tasting, with additions in italics a few days later after reveal.

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Distillery: Starward 

Bottler: Starward

Region/style: Australian blended whisky

ABV: 40%. 

Age: NAS but at least three years

Cask type: Australian wine casks

Color: 1.3 russet. Probably colored and almost surely chill-filtered.

Price: $30

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Nose: Light, but reasonably promising. Color suggested a sherry cask, but I don’t get much of that here. Malt, cereal, vanilla, and shortbread mainly. There is some berry flavor, and a toasted smell. 

Palate: Not bad. Very caramelly. Still pretty malt-forward, but now I feel like I get a little sherry influence. Likely a percentage in the vatting. There’s a touch of chocolate and raspberries. Drinks very easily. Maybe too easily. Tastes like 43%. A little sweet for me, but overall pretty nice. Get some strawberries as well.

Finish: Dies pretty quickly here, the curse of the diluted spirit. There’s a wisp of oak that suggests this is older than 12 years, maybe about 15 years. The caramel is still here, but not a lot else. 

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Guess: Speyside, most likely. This comes off like one of the big brands, aiming for mass appeal more than anything. And probably does a pretty good job of that. Tastes like Scotch, and easy to drink. Had some Balvenie 12 Doublewood at Thanksgiving, and there are some similarities. But I’ll guess Glenfiddich 15.  

Conclusion: Does what it seems like it’s trying to do: be a little step up from Glenlivet or Glenfiddich 12, but without being challenging. It’s fine. Assuming it’s in the price range I think, would be a good purchase for someone wanting that next step up from the entry level malts. For me, I appreciate it for restoring a sense of what most OB Scotch aims at, the kind of stuff I rarely drink anymore. It’s competent, but not exciting at all.  

Post-reveal thoughts: Well, this was a big surprise. The wine casks came across a little more on the palate, but otherwise few hints at what this was. Considering it’s an NAS blend of malt and wheat whisky, it’s rather impressive. Doesn’t taste young or obviously grainy. Starward itself markets it as mainly for cocktails, and I can see it doing well there. 

Buy a bottle? Around $30 is not bad at all for what you get.

Score: 73

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Kavalan Solist Manzanilla)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Amrut Peated CS)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Taketsuru Pure Malt)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Bushmills 10 Malt)
• 0-49: Blech.