Every now and then we like to toot our own horn. Our incredibly passionate team are one of a kind and every day they go further for flavour. So, when our outrageously delicious whisky crafted in our Port Melbourne distillery is recognised on the world stage – from San Francisco to New York and London – we pour ourselves a dram and do a collective “Cheers!”. Here’s a roundup of some of our most recent accolades which we’re particularly proud of. 

A medley of medals San Francisco World Spirits Competition

In what can only be described as a ‘pinch ourselves’ moment, our Melbourne-made whiskies were awarded 12 Double Gold, 10 Gold medals and 5 Silver medals at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). This comes after we were announced as the world’s ‘Most Awarded Distillery of the Year’ at the 2022 competition: the first and only Australian distillery to receive this award, which is no mean feat – nearly 5,000 distilleries from across the globe threw their hat in the ring, and not just from whisky either. We’re talking gin, vodka and tequila, just to name a few. This year’s medals are an incredible validation of not only the quality of whisky Starward is making but also what’s coming out of Australia. Starward Founder, David Vitale says he and the team are taking a moment to celebrate but the best is yet to come. “This is a testament to the amazing work our team does every day to craft a distinctively Australian whisky – I'm so excited to share these whiskies with the world, and looking forward to what’s next for us,” he says.

FYI, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the longest-running and most influential spirits competitions in the world. Winning a medal here means being recognised for exceptional quality and craftsmanship. So, you can see why we’re chuffed!

Taste Master winner at The Spirits Business World Whisky Masters London

Over to London now, where we picked up Taste Master (best in show), 2 Master medals, 6 Gold medals and 2 Silver medals. We’ll raise a glass to that! Starward 100 Proof (formerly known as Fortis), our full-bodied single malt, achieved the prestigious Taste Master award. What’s that? It’s the best whisky of the whole competition! This is the second successive year Starward has taken out the Taste Master accolade and to say that we’re proud is an understatement. International Drinks Specialist, spirits blogger and judge Claire Filer said of 100 Proof: “Caramelised ripe banana and oak on the nose. A sweet palate opening with some fresh apple syrup, a touch of citrus and plenty of pepper.”

A moment for our bottled and canned cocktails at The Spirits Business Pre-Mixed & RTD Masters

There’s no denying people love the ease and convenience of ready-to-drink and pre-mixed cocktails. However, the judges at the Pre-Mixed & RTD Masters were on a mission to discover whether the quality of the liquid matched the format. We were pleased to see that our entries were a hit, because our (New) Old Fashioned, Ginger Beer and Zesty Orange, Negroni, Coffee Old Fashioned and Soda and Tangy Finger Lime all picked up a medal. We're constantly looking for ways to take whisky somewhere new, like pairing it with outrageously delicious flavours and mixers which go down a treat this time of year at summer BBQs and picnics. We might just crack a can right now to celebrate… 

Judged as number 15 in the ‘World’s Most Admired Whiskies’ list by Drinks International

We couldn’t be prouder to not only be number 15 on the list but also be the only Australian distillery recognised. This is another moment to recognise the dedication of our team who continue to dream big, never stop experimenting and take our whisky to new horizons. The World’s Most Admired Whiskies list is judged by an academy of independent experts who assess the world’s top whisky brands by their quality, consistency, price point and branding. We’re in good company among some of the best (and most admired) whisky distilleries in the world.