Located in Melbourne proper, I was introduced to David Vitale’s Starward distillery as part of a trip to Australia a few years back, and I left with as many bottles as I could safely fit in my suitcase. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best non-Scottish single malts being made anywhere in the world right now, and also one of the most precocious. When Starward finally became available in the states, I made sure Mission was first in line for a single barrel selection, which is how we nabbed this absolutely gorgeous French Oak Red Wine cask of three year old 55.3% cask strength single malt. The decadent aromas of cocoa, port wine, and incense are intoxicating enough, but it’s the color of whisky that first grabs your attention: a dark amber hue that looks much, much older than its true age. The chewiness of the red wine smacks the gums on the finish, leaving you immediately in search of a second sip. -David Driscoll, Mission Sales Manager
