Starward Two-Fold is an Australian blended whisky made from two different grains – wheat and malted barley. Each grain spirit is matured entirely in separate Australian red wine barrels, then married together to create Two-Fold. It is bottled at 40% ABV. Two-Fold is widely available across Australia for around AUS$65 and intermittently available through Europe and America for £60/ US$39.
Starward is produced at the New World Whisky Distillery located in the Port Melbourne suburb of the state of Victoria. It was founded by David Vitale in 2004 after a visit to a micro-distillery in Tasmania captured his imagination. The following years were used to construct the original distillery at Essendon Fields. It was located close to Melbourne Airport, and production began in 2008. In 2016 the distillery was moved to the current Port Melbourne site to enable a significant increase in capacity.
The first release of Starward appeared in March 2013. All of Starward’s whiskies are made using 100% Australian grown barley and wheat. Their whiskies are matured in Australian wine casks – mainly red wine but also fortified sweet wines.
The original aim of Vitale and Starward remains true to this day. This was to introduce a younger vibrant crowd to whisky and to create a spirit that could be easily used by bartenders and mixologists.
Two-Fold sits within Starward’s wider core range. It is joined by Nova – a single malt matured in Australian red wine barrels, Solera – a single malt matured in Apera (Australian ‘sherry’) barrels, and a 100 proof single malt whisky. They have also released Left-Field exclusively for the European market. It is a single malt matured in a range of Australian red wine barrels. Limited editions and small batch releases are often available in Australia.
Our Tasting Notes
On the nose this rich toffee coloured whisky is vibrant and deliciously fruity. Initial notes of green apple and pear sit alongside sultanas and raisins. Then comes juicy ripe pineapple and apricot plus candied orange. There is a rich confected note like blackberry jam or sticky sun ripened bramble fruit. This character is very familiar in many big bold Australian red wines so pleasing to see it on the nose.
On the palate there are waves of rich red apples, red berries and brambles jam An underlying earthiness, like dusty soil, and cereal notes are drying. Milk chocolate and cocoa powder give sweetness but also provides a further earthy element. A hint of vanilla and clove spices also come through. There is a fresher citrus character, something like blood orange or ruby grapefruit, too. A further more delicate sweetness like icing sugar emerges towards the finish of this whisky.
The finish is long, drying and full of maltiness. There is plenty of dusty earth and warming wood spice, while the big juicy red fruits start to fade in a very pleasant manner.
What’s The Verdict?
This is a bold luscious and rounded whisky that remains very approachable. It is delightful when drunk neat. However it would adapt amazingly well to being used in a ‘New World’ Old Fashioned with plenty of orange citrus and bitters. The rich fruitiness combined with the distinct earthiness does give this whisky an Australian character. Another cracking Starward whisky.
Below is a video review of Starward Two-Fold from our Allotment Dram series. To watch other such videos or subscribe to our YouTube channel – click here.
