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.