Deep in the heart of Port Melbourne’s bustling industrial area, something magical has been brewing. The inconspicuous locale, lined with leafy trees and a smattering of cafes, is home to Australian spirits icon Starward Whisky, which this week claimed international recognition. At the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the Two-Fold and Nova producer was named ‘Most Awarded International Distillery’ for the second time in three years.
Held annually, the SFWSC celebrates the brightest and best spirits producers from around the globe. This year, more than 5,000 entries, including premier releases from producers in Scotland, Japan, the U.S.A., the U.K., and more, were submitted for judging, however, it was Starward that came out on top.
The Melbourne-based distillery nabbed eight platinum medals, 13 double gold medals and 13 gold medals for its impressive catalogue of home-grown whisky. The remarkable figure represented the largest individual haul of medals by any distillery, earning Starward the esteemed ‘Most Awarded International Distillery’ honour.
“It’s absolutely surreal… There’s no other way to say it,” Starward founder David Vitale explained. “Sixteen years ago, I set out to craft a whisky that reflected Melbourne in every sip, and now it’s Melbourne that has allowed our whisky to shine bright on the global stage. We have an abundance of Australian red wine barrels on our doorstep, unpredictable weather (which is maturation’s best friend), and some of the purest water in the world; all the makings for award-winning whisky. For this, I’m so grateful and this is our tribute to the city that is reflected in every drop of Starward.”
For Starward and Vitale, global recognition is becoming commonplace. In 2022, the label became the first Australian distillery to claim the SFWSC’s top honour after a panel of experts awarded Starward 12 Double Gold and three Gold medals. In 2023, the Melbourne distillery followed it up with a stunning 12 Double Golds, 10 Golds and five Silvers, with this year’s result cementing its place in spirits history. According to Starward’s chief executive officer, Simon Marton, securing the ‘Most Awarded’ title for the second time was further proof of Australia’s burgeoning spirits sector.
“To be recognised as the world’s best not once, but now twice, is an incredible achievement,” Marton said. “There is no doubt that Australian whisky has earned its place amongst the world’s icons and we’re excited to help take a taste of Australia to the world. We certainly see this achievement as a testament to our team’s passion, drive and dedication in taking our whisky to new horizons, and we look forward to leveraging this momentum to drive growth and awareness for our home-grown whisky.”
The San Franciso World Spirits Competition is one of the longest-running and most influential spirits competitions in the world. Held in May 2024, the competition sees over 5,000 releases across gin, vodka, tequila and whisky blindly tasted and rated by an expert judging panel.
