Crafting the new rules for whisky

With rising tariffs and growing demand for local spirits, Starward’s Two-Fold is winning over curious whisky drinkers—thanks to its bold flavour, local ingredients and competitive price point.

With escalating tariffs as well as local spirits tax excises at an all-time high, it has never been more important than now for consumers to support Australian distilleries.

“These pressures are squeezing craft distilleries at every turn,” says Starward founder, David Vitale. “At a time when global pressures are making imported spirits less accessible, there has never been a better time to back the local products and people that make our industry vibrant.”

And consumers are responding. One group in particular is leading the charge: American whisky drinkers. Bourbon lovers are increasingly choosing Australian whisky, drawn to its bold character, local provenance, and innovative flavour profiles. Leading this trend is Starward’s Two-Fold—a wheat and single malt whisky. Growing at more than 20% year-on-year (MAT), Two-Fold outperforming the broader whisky category and proving there’s a real demand for locally crafted alternatives.

“The beauty of Two-Fold is that it brings bourbon drinkers into Aussie whisky on their terms,” says Starward founder David Vitale. With its smooth, approachable profile and versatility in serves like the (New) Old Fashioned, it’s bridging the gap between

American whiskey tradition and Aussie innovation. “It’s familiar in structure but matured in Australian red wine barrels for that extra layer of richness that only Starward can deliver” says Vitale.

So, whether you’re a bourbon loyalist or simply looking to buy local, Starward’s Two-Fold is the right whisky for right now.

Crafted in Melbourne, Starward whiskies embody the city’s adventurous spirit and are celebrated for their delicious versatility, uniquely matured in red wine barrels sourced from Australia’s famed wine regions. Each expression bears the distinctive influence of Starward’s wine barrel maturation, offering a diverse range of flavours from single malt to double grain, ensuring there’s a Starward whisky for every drinker’s preference.

www.starward.com.au