Starward Peated Finish

The Peated Finish builds upon Starward's initial peat experiment, UnExpeated. Similar to UnExpeated, the Peated Project blends new-world whisky with traditional Islay peated casks. The key distinction between this Peated release and UnExpeated is the longer barrel aging period for this one (18 months compared to 9 months) and a slightly lighter Starward blend. As with UnExpeated, this expression was initially matured in Starward's signature red wine barrels. Overall, Starward aimed for a richer, smokier profile that better reflected the origin of the Islay barrels. Nose: My curiosity is piqued again! The aroma is welcoming, creamy, and smooth. There are charred, juicy stone fruits (like apricot and peach), well-balanced dark chocolate, a hint of espresso, and a toasty barrel influence leaning towards toffee. Is there a malt presence? Perhaps, but it's subtle to me. The peat is subdued and slightly rubbery. Palate: It's a bit thin with a slight tingle. Smoke is prominent, characterized by a woody and ashy quality. A very light malt note carries peach iced tea, strawberry sweetness, bitter mocha, and some drying oak. It's well-balanced, I think, but also a little uninspired. Finish: Medium in length. The peat lingers as a gentle, rubbery or medicinal reminder of Islay. A refreshing juiciness emerges from the back, and I can just detect a preserved lemon note. The oak presents somewhat like pencil shavings. I was quite eager for this pour after being intrigued by UnExpeated. However, I'm now a bit disappointed. The nose, while interesting, especially compared to its predecessor, didn't quite deliver the same impact. The peat felt artificial and overly rubbery, lacking the pleasant contrast of fresh and dark notes. The palate then became quite dull. The peat recedes, leaving a dry, woody smoke without the savory, BBQ character found in the younger version. The advertised tropical Starward spirit was more evident in the peach and strawberry notes but didn't offer the same experience as UnExpeated. The finish offered a pleasant preserved lemon touch, but the oak had become too dominant by that point. Again, these are not truly peated whiskies. Starward took the simpler approach, resulting in something undeniably UnExpeated on one hand, but also pedestrian and lackluster on the other. If you're seeking an Australian peated whisky, I stand by one of my top recommendations: Limeburners Darkest Winter. It's pricey, but in my opinion, worth every penny. If you prefer Starward, definitely opt for UnExpeated over this one. Starward current ratings: Fortis: 3.25/5 Whisky Club Exclusive, Maple Cask: 2/5 Whisky Club Exclusive, Cognac Cask: 3.5/5 Projects, Octave Barrels: 3.75/5 Projects, Dolce: 2.25/5 Projects, Bourbon Cask: 3.5/5 Projects, Tawny #2: 3.5/5 Projects, UnExpeated: 3.75/5 Projects, Peated: 2.75/5 Small Batch, Hungarian Oak: 3/5 Small Batch, Sticky Toffee Apple: 3.25/5 Small Batch, Chardonnay: 4/5

This Australian malt from Starward is a peated finish expression, bottled at 48% alcohol by volume, and it presents an interesting feature: it was finished in a barrel that previously held peated Islay whisky. Much has been discussed regarding peated water or barrels, but in reality, peat intensity (ppm) only originates from peated malt. This was filled in 2017 and bottled in 2022. On the nose, it lacks peatiness. You'll find classic notes of red apple, cinnamon, and toffee. Vanilla powder is also present. Not much else stands out. On the palate, I consider this to be a below-average whisky. It has cinnamon, apples, some spice, and a hint of sulfur. The peat is detectable only in the aftertaste. It's smoky, with notes of burnt hay, grass, salt, and some spices. In conclusion, this particular expression did not impress me whatsoever. It possesses some traditional flavors, but it is far too straightforward for a 48% abv drink. The peat character is virtually absent until the finish, and even then, it's very subtle. My rating for it is 73 out of 100.