Nova is our signature single malt whisky, fully matured in Australian red wine barrels, resulting in a fruit-forward whisky rich with notes of red berries, chocolate and spice. Delicious when sipped neat, or paired with a charcuterie and cheese platter.
Did we also mention it is a platinum medal winner at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition?

Solera is Starward’s very first whisky. Unlike our other whiskies, Solera is matured in Apera barrels (Australian Sherry), offering a rich blend of creme brulee, fig and caramel with a lingering dry spice. Crafted using the traditional Spanish solera process, whereby a drop of our very first bottle of Solera can be found in each bottle of whisky, to this day! This is Starward's new world take on a classic style.

100 Proof is our lusciously bold single malt whisky, popular for it’s rich and full-bodied palate. Featuring juicy plum and ganache with notes of sweet vanilla. Championing Australian ingredients, 100 Proof is fully matured in American Oak red wine barrels and bottled at 100 proof, a tip of the hat to the American bottled in bond style.

What is Single Malt Whisky?

Single malt whisky refers to a type of whisky that’s produced by a single distillery using a single malted grain (most likely barley). These are various barrel-aged whiskies produced at one distillery; as long as the casks used are all from the same distillery, the final result is considered a single malt.

To understand the single malt variety, it’s a good idea for any whisky lover to know how other whiskies differ. A single malt whisky is a blend of malt whiskies produced at one distillery from one type of malted grain. A blended whisky, as the name suggests, is a blend of malted barley and grain whiskies from multiple distilleries. As a general rule, this style doesn’t include grain whiskies. Finally, a single grain whisky is produced from more than one grain, including barley, wheat or corn, at one single distillery. The most well-known single malt whisky is Scotch whisky, but many others are made around the world, including Japan, Ireland, Canada, America – and Australia, of course!

In Australia, single malt whisky is classified differently than in some other countries largely due to the different regulations around traditional production methods and maturation. That means we have the freedom to go further for flavour, and create truly diverse expressions that are unlike anywhere else in the world.

How to Choose a Single Malt Whisky?

When it comes to choosing a single malt whisky, there are plenty to discover at Starward.If you’re looking for something classic and decadent, Solera is a rich and complex whisky, aged in Australian Apera (sherry) barrels. Crafted using the traditional Spanish solera method, it imparts a rich and jammy notes of fig, caramel and creme brulee. While perfect for sipping neat, Solera also shines in a highball with ginger beer and a slice of lime.

An absolute fool-proof single malt has to be Nova – our San Francisco World Spirits Competition Platinum Medal Winner. It’s aged exclusively in pure red wine casks and is the foundation of Starward's signature single malt style. On the palate, imagine a rich red berry pudding covered in vanilla, caramel and spice. The finish is balanced and long, and as the sweetness fades a delicious flavour lingers

Then there’s 100 Proof – a lusciously bold single malt whisky, perfect for those seasoned sippers who enjoy a higher ABV whisky. It’s full-bodied and robust, offering notes of vanilla, juicy plum and ganache, making it a great choice as a neat sipper

The Process of making Single Malt Whisky

Brewing and Fermentation
It all begins with malted barley, grown in Geelong. It’s prepared the same way barley is for craft beers, allowing us to go further for flavour by capturing distinct notes of cereal and smooth malt. We use a combination of brewers' and distillers' yeast to capture our renowned tropical, fruit-forward esthers reflected in our whisky. All spent barley goes to local farms where it’s used as cattle feed.

Distillation
At this point in the process, the cleanest, purest, and most flavour-forward New Make Spirit is captured for maturation. It’s purified in copper stills crafted in Tuscany, Italy that produce spirits with a rich, complex flavour. This allows more of the delicious tropical notes (pineapple, vanilla and banana) created in our fermentation process to remain in the final product.

Maturation:
We mature our whiskies in a range of different red wine barrels – shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and merlot – sourced from the Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley and Margaret River wine regions. Our whiskies will spend anywhere between 4-8 ‘Melbourne years’ maturing in barrels. The climate and weather cycles in Melbourne mean we’re able to make the maturation process work faster than traditional cool maturation environments like Ireland and Scotland. Our four-seasons-in-a-day weather is a key part in making Starward, Starward.

Try Our Single Malt Whisky Today!

Browse our collection of award-winning single malt whiskies – each a reflection of Melbourne in every sip, offering a delightful mix of approachability and complexity. Buy single malt whisky online now and discover the new world whisky that perfectly matches your palate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Long Does Single Malt Whisky Last Unopened?

As long as it’s kept in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, an unopened bottle of whisky can last several years.

2. How should I store single malt whisky to preserve its quality?

Ensure you keep your single malt whisky in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.