Starward – Peated Finish (70cl, 48%)

Starward Peated Finish is an Australian single malt from Port Melbourne, distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2022 at 48%. It matured in Australian red wine casks, then spent 18 months in casks that previously held smoky Islay whisky. Starward chose a lighter whisky for this edition than for the earlier UnExpeated, and checked its progress every few months during the finish. It is non-chill-filtered and has no added colour. The nose opens with bright tropical fruit and toasted oak, followed by a hint of sweet peat. Ripe red fruit and yellow peach meet mocha and light peat smoke on the palate. The oak dries the finish gradually, and the peaty aftertaste lasts a very long time.