Starward Australian Single Malt on World Whisky Day
Virtual Tasting to Select a Starward Single Barrel w The Legendary Delilah’ s
Delilah’s Chicago is probably the only crew in the city that considered this something possible of pulling off. This event was so fabulous it couldn’t happen live in person. Sometimes it’s the most amazing city in the world…other times it’s get me outta here. This was the virtual escape we needed. It was the opportunity to chat and do a group barrel selection over zoom. All 5 were fantastic but we could only pick one as the Delilah’s barrel.
Dave Vitale is founder of Starward New World Whisky in Australia.. None of us understood Australian Whisky, in fact Michael Jackson mentions only 5 distilleries back in 2005, by 2015 there are 14 mentions in the Malt Whisky Yearbook…in 2021 there are 55 !!!!
5 whiskeys we sampled were all finished in charred oak barrels. In the mid aughts, circa 2007 for Starward the challenge was to grow the category beyond single barrels. Tasmania at the time was making great whiskey already so the focus became - how do you get it?
Delilah’s and Starward Cask Strength Samples For The Barrel Pick
A new drinker would be confused by the special occasion nature of Australian whiskey. He wanted something that speaks to the place that it was made. Starward ages in all red wine barrels then transfers into a french oak barrel. Baking spice, oak influence and wine characteristics are the pillars of balance in their products.
Toasted oak instead of charred oak are present and there’s more of a berry note in these whiskies. Nova, flagship single malt is 82 proof. Solera, aged in sherry barrels is 86 proof and both are aged 3-4 Melbourne years. There’s a little bit of that youthfulness at play with these releases. The older it gets more unbalanced things become. oak, spirit, previous barrel all coming through. The goal is always to have an equal triangle.
Australian Whiskey is unique compared to other regions of the world that serve as inspiration. Taiwanese whiskey or whiskey from Israel is aged in extreme climates, those barrels are always evaporating, because those places are always hot.
The difference between those and Starward is the huge temperature range. Where Kentucky has four seasons. In Melbourne you can get all that in one day. Australia’s Outback is in the middle in the country. Dry, oven hot wind is coming from the northwest into Melbourne. The wind coming from the southwest is freezing and quite humid. To the south Antarctica bringing in humidity. The days in Melbourne can begin at 110 degrees, 20 mins later its 65 degrees. It’s an insane range, these are often called the hardest working barrels in the world as a result.
5 Samples Aged In Wine Barrels Finished In Charred French Oak Barrrels
Starward takes its inspiration from 5 distilleries - Laphroig, Johnnie Walker, Makers Mark, Wild Turkey and Balevenie. There’s been a total of six blenders at Johnnie Walker in 200 years. I think we are all impressed with the mastery of Wild Turkey and all the flavors they’re able to showcase from just one mashbill.
Wine barrels are a cut above bourbon barrels..quite literally. Amazing oak from premium cuts of wood that are seasoned longer in most cases. For comparison bourbon casks start at $200 where wine barrels can run $2000-$3000 each. Consistent affordable and accessible are the hallmarks of Australian Whisky. Everyone on the call will have a chance to purchase the Delilah’s Starward Single Barrel when it arrives.
With about 30 or so folks in attendance there should be plenty bottles available for most who would want to experience it.
We all decided that if we’re picking one, it should be like nothing attendees had currently on their bar. You have a change to choose something that has these caramel, orange and French Oak influences, you’d select that one over something that taste more like classic whiskey for example.
—The Neat Pour
Single Barrel Will Be Made Available At Delilahs For Attendees