Starward Stout Cask

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 52% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Starward Stout Cask brings together two different cask influences. The single malts first matured in red wine casks and small-format Apera casks. The whiskies were then blended together and matured for a further 18 months in Imperial Stout casks from Brick Lane brewery. These casks originally held bourbon, followed by stout from the Trilogy of Fear beer series. The finish adds dark chocolate and roasted malt notes to the fruity, vanilla-led foundation.

Distilled in 2018 and bottled in 2023, this single malt belongs to the experimental Starward Projects series. It is not smoky and is bottled at 52% without chill filtration or added colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Tropical fruit, creamy vanilla and sweet malt notes appear first. Chocolate and maple syrup emerge behind them.
• Palate: The whisky feels full-bodied and creamy on the palate. Roasted malt, vanilla and dark chocolate mingle with cherries, banana and a subtle spiciness. Sweet pastries and maple syrup complement the powerful, concentrated flavour.
• Finish: The long, warm finish carries through dark chocolate, sweet malt notes and fruity, spicy impressions. Later, the lingering flavours also recall peach, nutmeg and chocolate pastries.

Distillery/Bottler:

David Vitale founded Starward in Melbourne in 2007. The distillery in Port Melbourne combines its work with Australian wine casks with a dedicated programme exploring unusual approaches to maturation. Through Starward Projects, the team experiments with different cask combinations and production techniques; the resulting editions are available only in limited quantities.

Several members of the distilling team previously worked as brewers. For Stout Cask, Starward was able to use casks from Brick Lane, bringing that brewing experience into whisky maturation. The collaboration centres on the casks: rather than mixing beer and whisky, the single malt undergoes additional maturation in casks that previously held stout.

Facts: