Starward Octave Barrels The Octavius 2018 / 2021 3 Years
Specialising in red wine barrels, Starward takes advantage of the Australian climate and experiments with various bottlings in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city.Australia is really not known as a whisky country. "Four seasons in a day" say the inhabitants about their own climate. In the morning, you never know whether you need a sunshade or an umbrella. But this means that the whisky works much faster with the cask than it would if the temperatures were constant. At Starward, they think in terms of projects. There is not "the one" standard bottling, as is the case with other distilleries. Basically, they bottle with a lower alcohol content than usual, which should lead to a sweeter character. In addition, the climate is drier. This in turn means that the alcohol content of the whisky increases instead of decreasing.
Tasting Notes
Nose
We immediately feel like we are in a car paint shop. After the first impression has faded, bourbon-like aromas of ripe peach take over, which are clearly replaced by berry-like red wine at the end. An interesting journey.
Palate
Toasted toastbread with maple syrup goes hand in hand with overly toasted croutons. In the background, we perceive oak and a slight alcoholic spiciness.
Finish
If we were in Finland in the snow at -20 degrees, the long, very alcoholic, spicy finish would probably do us good and warm us up. Otherwise, unfortunately, there's not much.
Thoughts
Marcel 65/100
For a three-years Australian whisky, the Octavius surprisingly delivers a lot of character and drinking pleasure – even if the alcoholic sharpness sometimes takes center stage. The experiment with small casks and the Down Under climate produces exciting aromas that leave you wanting more, but an additional two years of maturation would definitely do it good.
Sascha 65/100
The Octavius shows interesting approaches in balance and complexity, but suffers from an overly dominant alcoholic sharpness that limits the tasting experience. The use of small 100-liter casks and the Australian climate accelerate maturation, yet a longer cask time would be necessary to harmonize the structure and fully realize its potential.
Value for Money: Expensive
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76/100Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Australian climate influence the maturation of the Starward Octave Barrels The Octavius?
The variable climate in Melbourne, with rapid temperature fluctuations, causes the whisky to interact with the cask more quickly than under constant temperatures. This results in more intense flavor development, while the alcohol content tends to rise due to the dry climate rather than decrease.
What role do red wine casks play in this whisky?
Starward uses red wine casks to impart fruity and berry notes to the whisky. These casks contribute to the characteristic aromas of ripe peach and red wine that define the flavor profile of the Octavius.
Why does the Starward Octave Barrels The Octavius have a comparatively low alcohol content of 48%?
Starward bottles this whisky at a lower-than-usual alcohol level to create a sweeter and more approachable character. However, the subsequent maturation in the dry Australian climate causes the alcohol content to increase through evaporation.