Starward Tawny Cask 2018 / Bot.2022 Single Malt Australian Whisky

Natalie Ford — Nice but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a pleasant dram — raisiny sweetness, some vanilla, soft oak. But at nearly £96 for a no-age-statement whisky I expected a bit more complexity. The tawny cask does most of the heavy lifting. I'd buy it on sale but probably not at full price again.

Ingrid Holm — Nice but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a pleasant dram — raisiny sweetness, some vanilla, soft oak. But at nearly £96 for a no-age-statement whisky I expected a bit more complexity. The tawny cask does most of the heavy lifting. I'd buy it on sale but probably not at full price again.

Jake Morrison — Nice but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a pleasant dram — raisiny sweetness, some vanilla, soft oak. But at nearly £96 for a no-age-statement whisky I expected a bit more complexity. The tawny cask does most of the heavy lifting. I'd buy it on sale but probably not at full price again.

Luciano Bianchi — Tawny port magic

9/10

The tawny port cask influence is front and centre here — dried figs, dark cherry, and this gorgeous sticky toffee thing on the finish. At 50% it carries real weight without being a bruiser. I keep coming back to this bottle and it's disappearing way too fast.

Farah Abboud — Tawny port magic

9/10

The tawny port cask influence is front and centre here — dried figs, dark cherry, and this gorgeous sticky toffee thing on the finish. At 50% it carries real weight without being a bruiser. I keep coming back to this bottle and it's disappearing way too fast.

Elena Morozova — Tawny port magic

9/10

The tawny port cask influence is front and centre here — dried figs, dark cherry, and this gorgeous sticky toffee thing on the finish. At 50% it carries real weight without being a bruiser. I keep coming back to this bottle and it's disappearing way too fast.

Hannah Brooks — Punches above its weight

9/10

I've had a few Starward bottlings but this 2018/2022 tawny cask release is their best work in my opinion. Rich and fruity on the nose, then butterscotch and stewed plums on the palate with a long spiced finish. The Melbourne climate clearly speeds up maturation because this tastes older than it is.

Aiko Tanaka — Punches above its weight

9/10

I've had a few Starward bottlings but this 2018/2022 tawny cask release is their best work in my opinion. Rich and fruity on the nose, then butterscotch and stewed plums on the palate with a long spiced finish. The Melbourne climate clearly speeds up maturation because this tastes older than it is.

Ryan Mitchell — Punches above its weight

9/10

I've had a few Starward bottlings but this 2018/2022 tawny cask release is their best work in my opinion. Rich and fruity on the nose, then butterscotch and stewed plums on the palate with a long spiced finish. The Melbourne climate clearly speeds up maturation because this tastes older than it is.

Omar Diallo — Nice but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a pleasant dram — raisiny sweetness, some vanilla, soft oak. But at nearly £96 for a no-age-statement whisky I expected a bit more complexity. The tawny cask does most of the heavy lifting. I'd buy it on sale but probably not at full price again.

Rafael Santos — Nice but pricey for what it is

7/10

Look, it's a pleasant dram — raisiny sweetness, some vanilla, soft oak. But at nearly £96 for a no-age-statement whisky I expected a bit more complexity. The tawny cask does most of the heavy lifting. I'd buy it on sale but probably not at full price again.

Kofi Asante — Tawny port magic

9/10

The tawny port cask influence is front and centre here — dried figs, dark cherry, and this gorgeous sticky toffee thing on the finish. At 50% it carries real weight without being a bruiser. I keep coming back to this bottle and it's disappearing way too fast.

Petra Novak — Tawny port magic

9/10

The tawny port cask influence is front and centre here — dried figs, dark cherry, and this gorgeous sticky toffee thing on the finish. At 50% it carries real weight without being a bruiser. I keep coming back to this bottle and it's disappearing way too fast.

Astrid Nilsen — Good not great

7/10

Picked this up out of curiosity since I'd never tried Australian whisky before. It's well made — clean spirit, the tawny influence gives it a nice berry and toffee character. I just found the mid-palate a bit one-dimensional compared to similarly priced Scotch single malts. Decent introduction to the category though, I'd try their other expressions.

Jorge Castillo — Good not great

7/10

Picked this up out of curiosity since I'd never tried Australian whisky before. It's well made — clean spirit, the tawny influence gives it a nice berry and toffee character. I just found the mid-palate a bit one-dimensional compared to similarly priced Scotch single malts. Decent introduction to the category though, I'd try their other expressions.

Nia Okafor — Good not great

7/10

Picked this up out of curiosity since I'd never tried Australian whisky before. It's well made — clean spirit, the tawny influence gives it a nice berry and toffee character. I just found the mid-palate a bit one-dimensional compared to similarly priced Scotch single malts. Decent introduction to the category though, I'd try their other expressions.

Natasha Volkov — Punches above its weight

9/10

I've had a few Starward bottlings but this 2018/2022 tawny cask release is their best work in my opinion. Rich and fruity on the nose, then butterscotch and stewed plums on the palate with a long spiced finish. The Melbourne climate clearly speeds up maturation because this tastes older than it is.

Isabella Rossi — Punches above its weight

9/10

I've had a few Starward bottlings but this 2018/2022 tawny cask release is their best work in my opinion. Rich and fruity on the nose, then butterscotch and stewed plums on the palate with a long spiced finish. The Melbourne climate clearly speeds up maturation because this tastes older than it is.

Kenji Watanabe — Perfect after-dinner pour

8/10

This is my go-to dessert whisky right now. The port cask gives it dried fruit and plum jam notes that pair ridiculously well with dark chocolate. Finish lingers nicely with some warming spice from that 50% ABV. My wife who doesn't even like whisky asked for a second taste.

Ravi Krishnan — Perfect after-dinner pour

8/10

This is my go-to dessert whisky right now. The port cask gives it dried fruit and plum jam notes that pair ridiculously well with dark chocolate. Finish lingers nicely with some warming spice from that 50% ABV. My wife who doesn't even like whisky asked for a second taste.