Starward Fortis

Dan Murphy’s Australian Whisky tasting. Another blind pour of a well received offering. Starward recently cleaned up at the San Francisco spirits competition, eight double golds and most awarded distillery of the year. As of yet though, I haven’t been wowed by what I’ve tried. They’ve been good, but nothing to write home about yet. N: artificial strawberry (think strawberry sweets), winey, milk chocolate (I think, caramel, and a slight ethanol presence. P: jams, slight oaky tannin, sugary dried fruit sweetness, buttery toffee. Surprisingly gentle at 50%. F: long finish. Really long. vanilla lingers and lingers, toasty and slight berry. Fairly non distinctive and blends into the masses of sherried speysides, which are better, more nuanced and generally cheaper. Although inoffensive and well made it is sadly another ultimately forgettable whisky. But, to be fair to it; also completely enjoyable whilst in the moment. Final verdict, just another OK Starward. I’m a little let down I think. I wanted it to impress me, especially after the SFSC 8 double gold hype. Distiller whisky taste #71

cherrry sweetness, berries, chemical high pep bubble gum sweetness, creamy, nail polish 2 delicate, oaky and woody, you get high pep, bitterness at the tail end, oaky and tannin 2 high sustain oaky and pep 2 2 starward fortis cotton candy sweetness, high pep bubble guym, artifical apple syrup, blackcurrent jam, no peat or smoke, unique cough syrup 2.5 sweetness cotton candy, high pep, grain-like - unique tasting doesn't seem like barley, - need a few mouth before you really start to appreciate this. It can be quite smooth and easy to drink actually 2.75 mid sustain light oak and low low smoke 2.5 2.5

Nose is very strong makes your nose hairs rise. Has some leather and a little vanilla. Pallette has some sweet fruits and maybe a little sour in addition to a caramel flavor that turns into a a strong warming burn that lingers a bit. Overall this is a pretty good whisky, but not for the faint of heart, has some nice flavor to it.

Figs, vanilla, raisins, a little and spicy leather on the nose. Berry cobbler with spices and cloves on the palette pulling from the American oak and red wine barrels. Maybe a light touch of mint. Sweet with decent burn at 50% abv. All around tasty, but in small quantities because of the higher proof and high cost.

Lovely nose with tannins and caramel notes, dried fruit, interesting body with great tannins, chocolate, caramel (!), black berries, medium long finish.

Tried as part of a whisky flight. Neat. Smell of tobacco and leather. Banana bread, caramel. Smooth, medium spiced.