Starward Two-Fold Double-Grain Whisky Review & Tasting Notes

If you're like me, you've probably never heard of Starward Distillery. Or, perhaps you have.  Starward comes from Melbourne, Australia, and they describe themselves as a distiller of "modern Australian whisky."  The founder, David Vitale, wanted to make whisky that was affordable and decided to age them in Australian wine casks. Today, Starward is part of the Diageo family.


Starward was established in 2007 and has several offerings. I'd like to thank Starward for providing me with a sample of its Two-Fold Double-Grain Whisky in exchange for a no-holds-barred, honest review. 


As stated above, Two-Fold is matured in Australian wine casks and the mash is composed of 35% wheat and 65% malted barley. It is bottled at 40% ABV (80°), carries no age statement (although Starward's website suggests three "Melbourne years," whatever that means), and retail in the United States is about $29.99.


And now, let's see where the pedal hits the metal...


Two-Fold presented a brassy appearance. In my Glencairn glass, it left a thick rim that created medium, slow legs to drop back into the pool.


Aromas of coconut and malted barley started off, then plum and vanilla took over. It was a very interesting combination.  When I inhaled through my lips, a blend of vanilla and pineapple came on the scene. 


The mouthfeel was thin and watery. Just like when I inhaled through my lips, flavors of vanilla and pineapple hit my palate. Behind those were dark chocolate and cinnamon spice. And then, on the back, it was a combination of red wine and oak, obviously from the wine casks. 


The finish was mild, warming, and consisted entirely of oak.


Bottle, Bar or Bust:  If I took a guess as to how many Australian whiskies I've had, I'd say very few, and as such, I don't have a good baseline to see how it stacks up against others. Thankfully, the BBB rating system is not governed by that. I found Two-Fold to be very interesting, especially the palate, and the barley with the red wine barrels provided a pleasant experience.  Two-Fold is an easy sipper, the price is one most folk will find affordable, and that's an easy recipe for a Bottle recommendation. 


Cheers!