Starward Fortis

Tried as part of a whisky flight. Neat. Smell of tobacco and leather. Banana bread, caramel. Smooth, medium spiced.

Harsh, burnt,

Dan Murphy’s Australian Whisky tasting. Another blind pour of a well received offering. Starward recently cleaned up at the San Francisco spirits competition, eight double golds and most awarded distillery of the year. As of yet though, I haven’t been wowed by what I’ve tried. They’ve been good, but nothing to write home about yet. N: artificial strawberry (think strawberry sweets), winey, milk chocolate (I think, caramel, and a slight ethanol presence. P: jams, slight oaky tannin, sugary dried fruit sweetness, buttery toffee. Surprisingly gentle at 50%. F: long finish. Really long. vanilla lingers and lingers, toasty and slight berry. Fairly non distinctive and blends into the masses of sherried speysides, which are better, more nuanced and generally cheaper. Although inoffensive and well made it is sadly another ultimately forgettable whisky. But, to be fair to it; also completely enjoyable whilst in the moment. Final verdict, just another OK Starward. I’m a little let down I think. I wanted it to impress me, especially after the SFSC 8 double gold hype. Distiller whisky taste #71