Starward Solera Single Malt Shelf Review

Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.

Today, we continue the push to review the core expressions from Australia’s hottest distillery: Starward. Starward has taken the world by storm with its unique marriage of Australian single malt aged in local Australian red wine barrels. After becoming “The World’s Most Awarded Distillery” in 2022, they have some big shoes to fill.

Next on our list, we are going to jump into their Solera Single Malt which uses the traditional solera method to fractionally fill barrels of various ages and types to create a homogenous end product. While it may sound a bit complicated, the upshot is that Starward says that every bottle of Solera Single Malt has a small portion of their original distillate in it! This Solera expression is aged in barrels that previously held Apera (the Australian term for sherry) and is bottled at 43% ABV. Let’s dive in and see if this is worth the $70 price.  

Age: At least 3 years

ABV: 43%

Cask: Ex-Apera casks

MSRP: $68

Distillery Name: Starward

Review Date: 12/29/22

Nose: Big floral bouquet and lots of fruit. Almost like someone walked into a room with an Edible Arrangement. Apples, peaches, pears, and orange zest. It’s bright, with a touch of playdough funk. But overall, a good nose.

 Palate: The fruit continues on the front of the palate, with green apple slices, caramel and tropical fruit notes. Like a jammy banana foster. Big on the front of the palate before more acidity and spice comes through on the back.  Mouthfeel is fine, but not great. The 43% helps it feel a bit more full but begs for more. 

 Finish: Short finish that highlights the barrel impact. It turns dry, with wood spice and lingering apple peel.  

Score: 85

Would I buy again? While this Starward Solera is a good whisky, I don’t find it as fun and unique as the Two-Fold Double Grain I reviewed previously. This Solera definitely feels like a more traditional red wine finished single malt, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this may be the better choice for you. It’s a fun, fruity ride with more spice and a drying finish. It still feels on the young side but has hints of that older whisky poking through. But at almost $70, I’d probably end up picking up one of the finished Green Spots or Arran Amarone finish instead.