This week we’re looking at smaller/indie/craft distillers, which we’re kicking off with the Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky. I’ve already reviewed the Starward Nova and next is the Starward Two-Fold, which isn’t just differentiated by its process, but by its cask source. But right now we’re talking about this, the Solera, which is completely aged in casks that previously held Apera and blended using a traditional solera method… hence the name.
There’s more info about their Solera in the quote below, but if you’re like me you’re more interested in what Apera is. Apera is a fortified wine, like sherry, native to Australia. The barrels used to make this release come from the McWilliams Winery, a well known Apera maker located between Victoria and New South Wales AUS.
The barrels they use have previously held Apera for at least one, if not many, decade(s) but instead of just dumping spirit in they take a note from the late Jim Swan’s STR notebook. I.e., they shave and re-char the barrels. Which is in stark contrast to the Starward Nova where they take the barrels as-is, and preferably as wet as possible.
Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky Review: Details and Tasting Notes
Solera is a traditional method the Spanish used to age their Sherry and keep it consistent. A fractional amount of each young cask is blended with more mature spirit. It’s the inspiration for making our Solera. And it means there’s still a touch of our first ever cask in every bottle made today.
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Australia
Distiller: Starward
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Apera casks
Age: 3+ years
ABV: 43%
Price: $125
Tasting Notes
EYE
Light Amber
NOSE
Light fruity (Sunkist Gems), dried orchard fruit, malt, graham, honey, touch copper and some wine and vanilla frosting.
PALATE
Vanilla, dried fruit, spice, malty sweet, banana, copper, toasted graham, honey, figs and wine.
FINISH
Medium -> Fruit, wine, malt and a bit of cocoa.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nice sense of balance, medium body and a soft velvety feel.
Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky Review: Overall and Score
My favorite release from Starward yet! Aroma is sweet with malty and fruity notes; Palate is a soft velvety delivery of fruity, candy, earthy and malty tones; Finish slides through warmly and far too quickly.
Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky is a nice, soft, pleasant whisky that’s insanely sippable. Far from being weak and watery, this is a whisky that proves you can get richness at 86 proof. Could it possibly be better at cask strength and NCF? Sure, but as it sits in this bottle it’s a good whisky with the right amount of sweetness that would be the perfect ending to just about any meal.
SCORE: 3.5/5
Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky Review $125
Overall
3.5- Nose (3.5)
- Palate (3.5)
- Finish (3.5)
- BBF (3.5)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)Starward Solera Single Malt Whisky Review Summary
I think I’ve found the perfect digestif whisky. This carries a nicely balanced array of earthy-malty and fruity-sweet notes that softly compliment each other.
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