Starward

Melbourne's Starward is, in many ways, the first modern Australian whisky distillery. Established in '07 by former tech entrepreneur and home-brewer David Vitale, Starward was the first distillery in Australia to lean into uniquely Australian flavours through the large-scale use of Australian red wine casks for maturing single malt. The brand's modern branding, accessible pricepoint and urban location have seen Starward become the highest-selling locally produced whisky on the market and one of the few Australian whiskies on shelves internationally. Starward pioneered modern Australian blended whisky with its Two Fold label and deliberately created whiskies designed to mature in the unpredictable Melbourne climate. Starward is to Australian whisky what Little Creatures is to beer: an early, and still hugely successful, adopter of a uniquely Australian style that many have followed. Starward's standard releases are easy-to-find, easy-to-drink workhorse Australian whiskies and many of its special editions and single-cask releases are exceptional. Vitale's winning personality and true love of hospitality have held him in good stead, too, and Starward's unwavering support for Melbourne bars has been a pillar of its success. The distillery in Port Melbourne is also open to visitors, and it has a full-service cocktail and whisky bar.   -FRED SIGGINS