Starward Peated Finish

Australian malt, Starward has a peated finish expression, a 48%abv bottle, with a nice curiosity: it has been finished in an Islay peated barrel. Much has been said about peated water or peated barrels, but the reality is that peat ppm only comes from peated malt. This was filled in 2017 and bottled in 2022. On the nose, it is not peaty. A classic red apple note, cinnamon and toffee. Vanilla powder. Not much else. On the palate, i believe this is a sub-par whisky. Cinnamon, apples, some spiciness and sulphur. Aftertaste is where the peat can be found. Smokey, burnt hay, grass, salt and some spices. Overall, this one did not impressed me at all. It has some classic flavors, but it is far too simple for a 48%abv dram. Peatiness is almost inexistent till the finish and then it is very dim. My score for it is 73 over 100.

Peated Finish is the progression of Starwards original peat experiment; UnExpeated. Like UnExpeated, the Peated Project brings together new world whisky with traditional Islay peated casks. The main difference between this Peated and the UnExpeated is that this one spent more time in barrels (18 months vs 9 months) and a slightly lighter Starward blend was laid down. As with UnExpeated this release was also originally matured in Starwards signature red wine barrels. Overall, Starward were aiming for a deeper and smokier expression that better represented the provenance of the Islay barrels. N: Curiosity strikes again! The nose is inviting, creamy, and soft. Charred juicy stone fruits (think apricot and peach), well balanced bitter chocolate, a hint of espresso, and a toasty barrel presence that leans towards toffee. Is there a malt presence here, maybe; if so its a whisper for me. The peat is subdued and slightly rubbery. P: Slightly thin with a hint of a prickle. Smoke is a frontrunner, this smoke is woody and with an ashy presence. A very light malt presence carries with it peach iced tea, strawberry sweetness, bitter mocha, and some tannic oaks. Well balanced (I think), but a little lacklustre also. F: Medium. Peat remains as a gentle rubbery to medicinal reminder of Islay, a refreshing juiciness comes from the back, and I just about find a preserved lemon note also. The oak comes across slightly like pencil shavings. I was quite excited with this pour coming off the back of the intriguing UnExpeated. But, I am now a bit deflated. The nose whilst curious, mostly due to the contrast with its forerunner, just didn’t deliver the same oomph. The peat that was there felt artificial and too rubbery, losing the nice contrast of fresh and dark. The palate then took a sharp turn towards boring. The peat dries up to leave an ashy woody smoke with none of the salty-BBQ goodness that came from this pours younger brethren. The advertised tropical Starward spirit was more noticeable in the peach and strawberry but it just didn’t deliver the same level of experience as UnExpeated. The finish, the lemon touch was pleasant and well received but the oak had overstayed it’s welcome by this point. Again, these are not Peated whiskies, Starward has taken the easier route to produce something certainly UnExpeated on the one had, but pedestrian and lack lustre on the other. If you want to try an Australian Peated whisky, I have to stand by one of my five stars; Limeburners Darkest Winter. Pricy, but in my mind, worth it. If you want to go Starward though, definitely go with UnExpeated not this one. Distiller whisky taste #214 [Pictured here with the natural progression of lignite from peat; bituminous coal. Again, still not a proper peated whisky, so not a proper peat. But ramping up the peat barrel contact deserves a more evolved kind of coal. Bituminous coal with 60-80% carbon content and a high bitumen content is the result of progressive burial and compaction of lignite. This piece is ~290-354 million years old from the coal measures of Yorkshire, England] Starward running scores: Fortis: 3.25/5 Whisky Club Exclusive, Maple Cask: 2/5 Whisky Club Exclusive, Cognac Cask: 3.5/5 Projects, Octave Barrels: 3.75/5 Projects, Dolce: 2.25/5 Projects, Bourbon Cask: 3.5/5 Projects, Tawny #2: 3.5/5 Projects, UnExpeated: 3.75/5 Projects, Peated: 2.75/5 Small Batch, Hungarian Oak: 3/5 Small Batch, Sticky Toffee Apple: 3.25/5 Small Batch, Chardonnay: 4/5