Starward – Vitalis 15th Anniversary
52%
US$189.00
Scotland
Rest of the world
Scotland
Rest of the world
112 bottles
52%
US$189.00
57.5%
US$169.00
58.9%
US$149.00
53%
US$209.00
56.5%
US$1,359.00
50cl / 32%
US$59.00
70cl
US$139.00
70cl
US$69.00
US$139.00
US$139.00
US$69.00
70cl
US$469.00
50cl / 58.6%
US$119.00
50cl / 62.6%
US$249.00
50cl / 49.5%
US$179.00
50cl / 50%
US$179.00
50cl / 65%
US$229.00
50cl / 50%
US$259.00
50cl / 48.5%
US$189.00
50cl / 52.1%
US$229.00
70cl
US$79.00
70cl
US$99.00
US$69.00
US$99.00
US$1,209.00
44%
US$69.00
US$59.00
48%
US$109.00
US$89.00
70cl
US$169.00
75cl
US$99.00
70cl
US$99.00
75cl / 41%
US$79.00
75cl / 40%
US$59.00
75cl / 48%
US$109.00
70cl / 48%
US$119.00
US$99.00
US$49.00
US$89.00
US$129.00
70cl
US$209.00
US$1,349.00
US$89.00
70cl / 52%
US$139.00
70cl / 40%
US$89.00
70cl / 46%
US$109.00
US$109.00
US$109.00
The Australian section is led by Starward from Melbourne, followed by Hellyers Road, Sullivans Cove, Lark and Overeem from Tasmania, with Morris of Rutherglen, Archie Rose, Bakery Hill and smaller craft distillers. Almost everything is single malt, mostly without an age statement, and many bottles are single casks or limited batches. A few rye whiskies appear too.
Whisky was made in Australia in the nineteenth century, but by the 1980s the industry had almost vanished. In Tasmania, Bill Lark campaigned to change the state's licensing rules and opened Lark Distillery in 1992, starting a revival. Tasmania now has dozens of distilleries; Sullivans Cove became internationally known when its French Oak single malt was named the world's best single malt in 2014. Victoria and New South Wales have followed with Starward, Bakery Hill and Archie Rose.
Australian distillers make heavy use of local wine casks: red wine barrels at Starward, and tawny and apera (Australian sherry-style) casks in Tasmania and at Morris of Rutherglen, a fortified wine producer. Large temperature swings, especially on the mainland, speed up maturation, so whiskies are often released young but full in flavour. Australian law requires whisky to be aged for at least two years in wood.
Australian whisky has won major international awards, and Sullivans Cove French Oak was named World’s Best Single Malt in 2014. Producers such as Starward, Lark and Hellyers Road make full-flavoured single malts, often matured in Australian wine casks. Most are young, but the climate and small casks give them plenty of flavour.
Tasmania led the revival of Australian whisky after Bill Lark opened Lark Distillery in 1992 following a change to licensing rules. The island’s cool climate, clean water, local barley and peat suit whisky-making. It now has dozens of distilleries, including Sullivans Cove, Hellyers Road and Overeem.
Australian law requires whisky to be aged in wooden casks for at least two years, one year less than Scotch. Many Australian single malts are bottled at three to eight years old. The warm climate means whisky takes on cask flavour faster than in Scotland.
Starward is a single malt whisky distillery in Melbourne, Victoria, founded in 2007. It is best known for maturing whisky in Australian red wine barrels, giving a fruity, spicy style. Starward makes both core releases and limited editions.
Apera is the Australian name for a fortified wine made in the sherry style, which can no longer be called sherry outside Spain. Australian distillers use casks that held apera, or tawny fortified wine, to mature or finish whisky. They give dried fruit and nutty flavours similar to sherry casks.
About Glenbotal
Glenbotal is an online marketplace for rare, collectable and limited-edition whisky and other spirits. Bottles are listed by partner shops and private sellers, each described as it is, and delivered to the UK and many other countries. Looking for one bottle in particular? Ask us through Find my bottle.
