First Impressions
Fortis is Starward's muscular older sibling to Nova — bottled at a hefty 50% ABV and matured exclusively in freshly emptied Australian red wine barrels from the Barossa, Yarra and beyond.
Distillery & Heritage
Founded by David Vitale in 2007, Starward has become Melbourne's flagship malt distillery, operating out of Port Melbourne since 2016. Fortis launched in 2020 as a permanent cask-strength expression.
Tasting Notes in Detail
The nose leaps out of the glass with stewed plum, blackberry jam and dark chocolate. The palate is dense and oily — black cherry and raisin up front, then cocoa, espresso and a wave of warming oak spice.
Verdict
Outstanding value for a cask-strength single malt of this quality.
