A Whisky You’ve Never Heard of Was Just Named the World’s Top Distillery. Again

Early last year, I had the opportunity to taste the entire lineup from Starward Australian Whisky. Haven’t heard of the brand? That’s OK, I hadn’t either before I tried it.

I became aware of Starward after the distiller was named the World’s Most Awarded Distillery at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), which is essentially the Oscars for liquor.

Shortly thereafter, the brand sent me samples of its entire lineup to try, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. Mostly aged in red wine barrels outdoors in Melbourne’s rapidly changing climate, Starward’s whiskies have a character that is both unique and delicious.

While the brand has certainly gained some additional fame on the back of its big SFWSC victory in 2022, it still remains mostly unknown to the general public. But that may change soon, as for the second time in three years, Starward has again been named the Most Awarded International Distillery at the 2024 SFWSC.

Caskers

Starward Nova Single Malt Australian Whisky

• $39 at Caskers

More medals than Michael Phelps

Starward managed to outdo its competition-best showing at the 2022 awards by taking home even more medals in 2024. This year, Starward cleaned up with a total of 8 platinum medals, 13 double gold medals and 13 gold medals. It also earned two silver medals and a bronze for good measure, bringing its total haul to 37 medals — more than any other distiller in the world.

The Australian distiller’s 8 platinum medals are especially impressive, considering that only 84 platinum medals were awarded in total across all categories, meaning Starward alone represents nearly 10 percent of all platinum winners. (And a much greater percentage if we’re only considering whiskies.) It’s by far the most of any label at the competition, which saw over 5,500 entries this year.

Starward’s 8 platinum medal winners can be viewed below.

• Starward Hungarian Oak
• Starward Left Field
• Starward Nova
• Starward Octave Barrels
• Starward Single Barrel #3278
• Starward Single Barrel #684
• Starward Single Barrel #8193
• Starward Tawny #2

Why Starward?

So, what makes Starward so good that expert judges from around the world continue to sing its praises year after year?

According to the brand’s founder, David Vitale, it all comes down to the unique climate in Melbourne, Australia, which is where the Starward Distillery is located.

Starward Whisky

“In Scotland, they have two seasons a year — June and winter — and have these quaint signs around the distillery to be quiet as the barrels are resting,” Vitale told Australian newspaper Herald Sun. “Where in Melbourne, we have four seasons, sometimes in one day, and that forces the whisky barrels to expand and contract, (and the whisky) engages with the oak more frequently.”

Where to buy Starward Whisky

If you’re like most people and haven’t tried Starward before, you don’t have to board a twenty-hour flight to Australia to do so. The brand’s bottles are readily available in the U.S., including online, and most are relatively affordable.

For instance, you can pick up a bottle of the platinum-winning Nova, perhaps the most emblematic of Starward’s offerings as it’s a single malt whisky aged in Australian red wine barrels — two signatures of the brand — for less than 40 bucks online. Not bad for one of the best whiskies from the world’s top distillery.

Caskers

Starward Nova Single Malt Australian Whisky

• $39 at Caskers

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