As president of Women Who Whiskey’s Chicago Chapter, I’ve wanted to do a single cask bottling for a while now. We wanted a unique whisky, but one that would appeal to drinkers across the whisky spectrum and be approachable even for non-whisky lovers. Suddenly the stars aligned and we were able to work with Starward distillery, whose whisky hit all our requirements, and the Women Who Whiskey Chicago Starward Single Cask Whisky was born.
Women Who Whiskey Chicago Starward Single Cask Whisky
Single Casks & Single Malt
I’m fascinated by single cask bottlings. They have a special allure to them. Not only are they limited based on the sheer fact that one barrel can only produce so many bottles, but also because they don’t have the benefit of dozens (or sometimes hundreds) of other barrels to balance out the flavor or any impurities. So usually single cask bottlings have interesting tasting notes and unique characteristics, which I love.
That’s also why I have a soft spot for single malt whisky. For me, bourbons and ryes tend to have such similar flavor profiles that they’re boring. Even Japanese whisky is almost too well balanced for my liking. But single malts, especially the funky ones I like, are full of random notes of this flavor or that, all of which cause me to stop and think about what I’m drinking. (That’s one of my favorite things about whisky.) It’s all the more entertaining considering the mashbill starts at the same place — you know, 100% malted barley — so the differences are all based on barrels, water source, and geography.
Starward Distillery in Australia
When I first learned about Starward Distillery in Melbourne, Australia, I was intrigued by the geographical aspect alone. But it’s not enough to have a distillery in a unique location (unfortunately plenty of oddly located distilleries aren’t producing whisky worth drinking). Except Starward had a unique advantage: lots and lots of Australian wine barrels.
And not just any wine barrels. Because of their proximity to wineries, Starward gets wine barrels just days after wine leaves them, often arriving at the distillery still wet. The turnaround time between when wine leaves the barrels and whisky refills it can be as short as 48 hours. That’s incredible!
It’s not just Australian wine barrels that give Starward an advantage. It’s also the Australian weather. Because the temperature extremes can be so drastic, it’s often said that Melbourne experiences all four seasons in one day. And dramatic weather makes for quickly maturating whisky. So Starward’s whisky, usually only aged around 3 years, tastes like it’s been in a barrel closer to 10.
Related :: Listen to Kelli and Starward Brand Ambassador Jake Hukee discuss this single cask on the Key in the Lake podcast!
Why We Picked Starward
The first time I tried Starward, I immediately loved the rich, fruity flavor with hints of spice. But one of my first thoughts was how versatile it is. And it’s proven that again and again. My wine friends who think they don’t like whisky are instantly smitten with a glass of Starward Nova. Bourbon friends appreciate the sweetness, while rye fans pick up on the spiciness, and scotch lovers recognize the wine-finished single malt flavors. It hits all the right notes for everyone.
So it was an easy choice for a Women Who Whiskey Chicago single cask bottling. Our goal was a whisky that would appeal to all the whisky drinkers in our club, from cocktail-only drinkers to single malt scotch drinks and everything in between. We think Starward will be perfect for all of them.
Starward is also a unique choice for a single cask bottling. Single casks of American distilleries, especially bourbons, are everywhere. But we wanted something different. And with less than 18 single barrel bottlings in the United States and only three in the state of Illinois, the Women Who Whiskey Chicago Starward Single Cask bottle is definitely rare!
Women Who Whiskey Chicago Starward Single Cask Whisky Tasting Notes
The Women Who Whiskey Chicago Starward Single Cask Whisky, formerly known as Barrel no. 3310, is a 225 liter American oak barrique that previously held Shiraz wine in the Barossa valley. For three years and one month it nurtured 100% malted barley distilled at Starward Distillery in Melbourne while experiencing the dramatic fluctuations of Australian weather. And in June 2020 it made its way into 258 bottles at 55% ABV (110 proof).
It’s an absolutely beautiful whisky, with a nice balance of richness, heat, and spice. On the nose I got a lot of cinnamon, vanilla, malt, oak, and caramel notes. And the palate reminded me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal (you know, those sweet cinnamon flavors mixed with malty grain). Then the rich spice notes come through with warm vanilla, brown sugar, and hints of apples and pears. It finishes sweet and spicy, with a touch of red fruit.
Getting a Bottle
If you’re in the Chicago area and would like a bottle, very limited quantities are available through this link until they are sold out. UPDATE: They are very much sold out!
If you’re outside Chicago, the Women Who Whiskey Chicago Starward Single Cask Whisky is a single cask of Starward’s Nova. While Nova is aged in Shiraz, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir barrels and bottled at 41% ABV, our single cask is only aged in Shiraz and bottled at 55%. Nova is is widely available worldwide. (Check here to find out where to get it near you.)
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Even though I didn’t get to personally hand pick this whisky, it’s still exciting to work with Starward on such a fun project. Hopefully next time we’ll get to decide on the cask at the distillery in Melbourne! But until then, I’ll transport myself to Australia one glass of Starward whisky at a time.
Related :: More on Women Who Whiskey Chicago, Interesting Whisky from Around the World, and discussing this single cask on the Key in the Lake podcast
