Starward ‘UnExpeated’ launched in 2021 to consumer and critical acclaim, receiving a Double Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and has been named in the Top 10 Whiskies Overall at the International Whisky Competition.
Now the distillery is ready to launch its highly anticipated second ‘new world’ twist on an old-world whisky style, with pre-sale underway for Starward Peated Finish.
Peated Finish is a red wine barrel aged, single malt whisky, finished in peated whisky barrels straight from Islay, Scotland. For the second time, whisky lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy Starward’s tropical notes alongside the smoky and earthy flavours from Islay’s coastal peat.
For this whisky the Starward single malt spent 18 months finishing its maturation in old, heavily saturated, peated casks – double the amount of time the UnExpeated spent in the Islay casks.
Starward describes the result as “a whisky with a deeper, smokier finish that pays homage to the barrels Scottish provenance, whilst perfectly balancing Starward’s quintessential bright tropical fruits. Unmistakably delicious on its own, mixed in a cocktail or paired with some fresh oysters, a smoky beef brisket or an oozy chocolate lava cake”.
Starward’s Founder, David Vitale, adds: “When we sourced these barrels from the coasts of Islay, we knew we had something special on our hands. Peated Finish, for us, represents the old and new world coming together.
“We wanted to honour the charred and smoky notes from these peated barrels, while also putting our Starward flare on things with our red wine barrel aged whisky, which is fruitier and more tropical in flavour.
“Finishing our single malt whisky in the peated barrels for 18 months allowed the spirit to develop a richer and deeper smokiness. In harmony with our tropical notes, this created a perfectly balanced whisky that pays tribute to the journey of these Islay barrels while still being versatile and approachable enough for everyone to enjoy it how they like.”
Pre-sale for Starward Peated Finish is underway, with the first 1500 pre-sale orders also receiving a limited edition Peated Finish dropper. The 30ml dropper is filled with Peated Finish allowing you to put a couple of drops on freshly shucked oysters, or on truffle cheese and experience this whisky another way.
Peated Finish will be available to the general public from Tuesday 2 August and as it’s a limited release, once it is gone, it is gone.