Starward Botrytis Cask Single Malt Whisky

Starward Botrytis Cask Single Malt Whisky
AU$169, 48% alcohol, Melbourne/Victoria.

This whisky – part of Starward’s Project program – spent seven years maturing in casks previously filled with a lush golden dessert wine, produced from semillon grapes affected by botrytis. This whisky was sent to me as a media sample in July 2024 but, alas, it got lost among the thousands of sample bottles that I receive each year. It shouldn’t have; it’s very good. It was available by ballot at the time of its release and has now come and gone, but for the record:

This whisky is a thing of beauty. There’s so much butterscotch and shortbread-like aroma and flavour; there’s such a rush of stonefruit and caramel; there’s an orange-blossom or orange oil note that dives straight into that caramel-and-butter deliciousness. It’s cleansing, dry and warm, it doesn’t come across as sweet, and yet all of its hallmarks have a lusciousness to them. 93 points – Campbell Mattinson.