“Born and bred in Melbourne” – Aussie distillers Starward are proud of where they come from. And thus they have made their home turf an integral part of their spirit’s DNA: They purchase all ingredients from local sources. They preferably fill their new make into Australian red wine casks. And they produce a whisky whose character reflects the unique vibe of the city! Starward is casual yet sophisticated, accessable yet upper-shelf and easy-going yet exciting. Whereas other distilleries promote their whiskies as excellent companions to high cuisine, Starward say: “Why don’t you drink our whisky alongside a nice pizza or a plate of spaghetti bolognese?” I like their attitude! And I also like their super-savory Two Fold. Essentially, this is a blended whisky made from malted barley and wheat. However, Starward advertises it as a “double grain” rather than a “blend”. A term I could get used to … especially since it is coined to such a nice dram, which is excellent on its own and in cocktails or longdrinks! There is a new star on the whisky night sky. And it shines beautifully bright!

by Tobi

Eye: The spirit has the color of dark, wild honey. Its legs are lean, runny and many.
Nose: A soft and reserved entry. First, I get sweet, blossoming clover. Then follows buttered toast with honey. And finally there enters a potpourri of yellow fruits, such as mirabelles and peaches. There’s also a creamy cafe au lait note further down below. And a splash of lemon juice. Though the bouquet is predominantly light and sweet, it also has a dry, almost dusty side to it.
Palate: Prancing elegance! The whisky feels very easy and graceful on the tongue – it reminds me of a refreshing summer’s rain rather than a soaking-wet monsoon. To the tastebuds Starward Two-Fold offers sweet cocoa milk, fruity bramble sorbet and sugared cherries. Also soft pears, yellow plums and pureed apples. Plus crumbly toffee. Way in the back, I also sense a hint of modelling clay. I could imagine this to come from the proportion of wheat whisky, which was used in the recipe alongside the malt whisky.
Finish: The aftertaste is soft and swift, dashing down the throat like a shooting star. It has dark chocolate, peeled pear and fresh grapes as well as jelly bananas, orange slices and sage leaves. The youth shows itself at this point, too. Here and there, the alcoholic new make spirit shimmers through – but not in a harsh, distracting way. The Two-Fold’s exit is very appealing, making me yell “More, more, more!”

Type: Blended Whisky
Region: Australia
Age: 3 years
Alc. volume: 40 per cent
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Cask type: Red wine
Price range: ~35.00 Euro
More info: https://starward.com.au/ (Distillery) ; https://kirschwhisky.de/ (Importer)

*** Whisky bottle kindly provided by Kirsch Whisky. Thank you. ***