- The Starward Co-Ferment Grape x Malt Australian Spirit arrives with a little more hype than your usual release from the celebrated Melbourne distillery.
- Boundaries have certainly been pushed with this fusion of Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice and malted barley wash, producing something that can neither be classified as wine nor whisky.
- With a price tag of $139, punters will only be provided a chance to purchase the Starward Co-Ferment Grape x Malt Australian Spirit via ballot draw.
Almost two decades ago, Starward Whisky burst onto the scene with a unique maturation process involving red wine barrels. In 2025, the David Vitale-founded distillery has legitimately broken new ground by marrying the crafts of wine and whisky-making to produce something that’s neither wine nor whisky.
Introducing the Starward Co-Ferment Grape x Malt Australian Spirit.
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This bold taxonomy-defying expression (hence the mouthful of a title) is made from equal parts freshly crushed Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice and Starward’s signature malted barley wash; the mixture undergoes co-fermentation and distillation before maturing for nearly six years in a combination of fresh and charred Australian red wine barrels.
The result?
A velvety texture with fruit-forward tasting notes of blackberry, quince paste, and toffee. The nose presents aromas of said blackberries, cinnamon, and vanilla; while the palate reveals fig and blackcurrant, culminating in a long finish that’s rich with toasted oak, black fruits, along with chalky tannins.
Head Distiller & Blender, Carlie Dyer, explained: “When I first joined Starward, I was really inspired by our red wine barrel maturation and how they influenced those signature fruit-forward notes in our whisky.“
“That’s when I started wondering… what would happen if two ancient arts came together to create something entirely new? Not just in maturation, but from the very beginning of the distillation process? That was the question that kick-started this experimentation, and we never looked back.”
“Starward Co-Ferment is a release that’s close to my heart, and I am incredibly proud of the entire team for creating what is a beautifully balanced and complex spirit,” said Vitale.
“In addition to making history, it’s bloody delicious, and I can’t wait to see how our fans embrace it in their repertoire.”
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Bottled at 46% ABV, the Co-Ferment Grape x Malt Australian Spirit will be available on a limited basis for $139. But like many of Starward’s other limited releases, the catch is you’ll have to enter a ballot just for the privilege of purchasing your own 700ml bottle.
Ballot winners will be drawn on May 16th, 2025, with the remaining stock thereafter to be up for grabs via Starward Distiller & Bar in Port Melbourne during trading hours. Hit the link below to enter.
