Starward Single Cask Strength Malt 3 year
Mission Liquor selected, Barrel 10548, size 225L Barrique from Barossa Valley, Bottle 240. Matured in French Oak Red wine barrel for 3 years. Filled 08/2017, Bottled 06/2021. 55.3 ABV Cask Strength. Non-Chillfiltered, and assumed natural color.
First impression March 12 2022, 9:55pm, and first Australian Whisky I’ve had.
Nose: Red vines, red wine, mocha(malt), mocha toffee, slight grain grizzle, young malt, red berries, grape seed, grape vine, sapling, chocolate red wine, cocoa grain,
Palate: Red vines, hint barley sour, cocoa malt, mocha powder, Barley grain, red berry and wine, barley milk,
Finish: Soft, a bit acidic. Mocha, slight sweet ‘n’ bitter, toasted wine,
With water,
Nose: More wine driven, less mocha, wine saltanas, fruited toast, bright merlot,
Palate: Bright red wine, Velvet melt(P), Barley silk, light toffee, orange oil, sangria,
Finish: Less acidic, some sour gruel, barley spirit, wine water,
On ice: Works. The wine part takes over here.
So far: Very young, side by side with the wine, wind-up a lot, but it delivers with patience and water. Wine lovers will get a kick out of this one, but the Maltser might struggle here. The Red wine cask in question isn’t said, but it could be Shiraz that was previously held. Will have to take time to review, but a good 84 points in this.
Final: Limited run, which it seems like it was expermenting with a full on wine maturation, this is probably better suited in a blend. The red wine is going against a young malt, which needs tempering with water. 82 points