Starward have quickly become one of the leading lights of Australia’s revived distilling scene, and with bottlings like this, it’s easy to see why.

A top notch offering from their Melbourne-based distillery, this dram has been made with Australian barley and craft brewers’ yeast – which gives some texture and flavour associated with old school Scotch from the 20th century. The spirit was aged in casks that previously held Australian red wine. The barrels were sourced from nearby wineries, producing Shiraz (often acclaimed as the national drink), Pinot Noir, and Cabernet.

The casks are delivered directly to the distillery from the wineries, with no broker or middle man in between. This means the barrels are still bursting with juicy wine flavours when they arrive, and Starward work hard to maintain their freshness, only treating them to a brief steam or charring. The climate in Melbourne varies massively from single figures in the winter to the high 40s in the summer, meaning the spirit enjoys plentiful interaction with the oak.

The final result is a deeply fruity, sweet and delicious Aussie single malt. Nova is packed with delicious red fruit flavours (strawberry, cherry, cranberry) alongside subtle notes of orchard fruits, red wine tannins, caramel, cinnamon, gentle oak, dark chocolate, red grapes and thick vanilla.

An excellent whisky, that would also do well mixed into cocktails.

• Product type
  Single Malt
• Distillery / brand
  Starward
• Country
  Australia
• Bottler
  Distillery Bottling
• Non-chillfiltered
  No
• Natural colour
  Yes
• SKU
  041696