Starward Australian Whisky

About the distillery

Starward is located in Port Melbourne, just around 10 minutes from the center of Melbourne, and is an Australian whisky distillery with a clearly local signature. It’s the red wine casks, the city’s ever-changing weather, and ingredients sourced from the nearby area that set the direction. The result is a modern whisky profile that’s closely tied to Melbourne and the city’s wine and food culture.

History

Starward began with David Vitale and a simple ambition: to create a whisky that felt distinctly Australian and could reach beyond the country’s borders. With the Australian wine region so close by, the project shifted away from what was expected and toward a more local path. The distillery itself describes it as trying something new and not looking back. At the same time, a workplace grew up around it, with many in the team coming from the brewing and winemaking world, and with the focus placed on flavor rather than tradition for tradition’s sake. That line is still what carries Starward today: a distillery in Melbourne shaped by wine casks, local ingredients, and a very deliberate Australian identity.

Ingredients and production

Starward works with ingredients sourced within a day’s drive from the Port Melbourne distillery, and the connection to the area is evident in everything from ingredients to maturation. The text doesn’t mention the full details of mashing, fermentation, or distillation, but it describes a team with many former brewers and winemakers, pointing to a practical, flavor-driven approach. The key is the use of red wine casks as part of the house method, and in the range, influences from American and French e.g. are also mentioned. The combination of local ingredients and production close to both the brewing and winemaking professions gives Starward a profile that’s clearly rooted in Melbourne rather than using classic Scottish distillation language.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation is one of Starward’s clearest hallmarks. The whisky is matured in red wine casks, and the distillery itself highlights Melbourne’s famous shifting weather as part of the explanation for the flavor. When temperatures fluctuate, the casks work faster because they contract and expand more intensely. That means the whisky gets extra contact with the wood. The range also mentions American oak and French oak, so the house isn’t working with only wine casks, but with several oak expressions in maturation.

Whiskies

The current range, which is visible here, spans from the house’s single malt and double grain to the lighter wheat and single malt, and a ready-mixed whisky cocktail. Nova stands as the single malt, Honeycomb as the double grain, and Two-Fold as a combination of wheat and single malt. Together, they form a range that moves from a pure malt profile to more accessible blends, showing that Starward works broadly with Australian whisky rather than a single style. In addition, there are special releases and invitation-only releases in the The Drop program, pointing to a distillery with both a core range and experimental side projects.

Style and flavor profile of the whiskies

Starward’s profile leans toward fruitiness, especially driven by red wine casks, and the whisky is also described as influenced by oak from both American, French, and red-wine-related maturation. The range descriptions also point to a style designed for blending and sharing, making the expression more open and immediate than heavy and smoky. The overall impression is a modern whisky with clear fruit, pronounced wood influence, and a rounded, approachable character.

Visit the distillery

Starward can be visited publicly in Port Melbourne, and the venue functions both as a working distillery and a bar. Guests can book tables for cocktails and light bites, take guided tours and tastings, or choose more in-depth experiences such as Distillery Tour & Tasting, Whisky Masterclass & Barrel Tasting, and From Cask to Cocktail. Opening hours are Thursday to Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00, while Monday to Wednesday are closed. Private events and larger group functions are also offered, and booking takes place directly through the distillery’s booking system.

The listed opening hours are Thursday–Sunday 12:00–18:00; Monday–Wednesday closed.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Starward is built on the idea of making a whisky that is clearly Australian and not bound by tradition for tradition’s sake. Flavor is the guiding principle, and the distillery highlights that the team consists of many former brewers and winemakers. The local sourcing line is just as central: the ingredients are collected within a day’s drive from the distillery, and maturation in red wine casks is a deliberate part of the house’s identity.

Sustainability

All ingredients are sourced within a day’s drive from the distillery.

Latest news

David Vitale inducted into the Australian Distillers Hall of Fame – 2026-06-24

Starward highlights that founder David Vitale has been inducted into the Australian Distillers Hall of Fame.

Co-Ferment Shiraz presented as the next exploration – 2026-05-07

Starward marks a new exploration with Co-Ferment Shiraz as part of the ongoing work on flavor development.

Medals and World Whisky Day 2025 – 2025-05-12

Starward highlights recent medal wins and uses World Whisky Day 2025 as an opportunity to share results from the distillery.