Starward Peated Finish Single Malt Australian Whisky
Starward Peated Finish Single Malt Australian Whisky is the Melbourne distillery's New World take on an old-world style — a red-wine-barrel-aged single malt finished in peated casks from the rugged coast of Islay, Scotland, bottled at 48% ABV (96 proof) in a 700mL bottle. Tropical fruit meets coastal peat smoke. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 48% (96 proof)
- Size: 700mL
- Maturation: Australian red wine barrels, then an 18-month finish in heavily peated Islay casks (reportedly ex-Lagavulin)
- Origin: New World Whisky Distillery, Melbourne, Australia
- Style: Starward's signature tropical-fruit whisky, dressed in Islay smoke
Australia Meets Islay
Starward ages everything in Australian red wine barrels — it is the house signature, and Melbourne's warm climate pushes tropical fruit deep into the spirit. For the Peated Finish, they took that three-year-old wine-cask whisky and finished it for eighteen months in casks that previously held heavily peated Islay single malt. The result is unlike any other Australian whisky: red-berry sweetness and coastal bonfire smoke in the same glass.
Tasting Notes
Tropical fruits and toasted oak on the nose, with Fantales, vanilla, and citrus flowers over a faint, floral peat. The palate balances juicy red berries, yellow peaches, and dark chocolate against vegetal peat and oaky spice — the smoke hums gently rather than dominating. The finish is long and warming, with dried fruit tapering into lingering smokiness.
How to Enjoy
Pour neat — at 48% it needs no water, though a drop won't hurt. For the peat lover, it is a gentler, fruit-forward alternative to Islay; for the Scotch whisky explorer, it is proof that Australia can play the smoke game too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Starward Peated Finish very smoky?
No — the peat is a distinct, earthy hint rather than a smoke bomb; the red-wine-cask fruit stays in the lead.
What casks are used?
Australian red wine barrels for the primary maturation, then an 18-month finish in heavily peated casks from Islay, Scotland (reportedly ex-Lagavulin).
Where is Starward made?
At the New World Whisky Distillery in Melbourne, Australia — a distillery built around red-wine-cask maturation.
Order Starward Peated Finish online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — Islay smoke, Australian soul.