The very last eight Twin Packs of The Starward Seafarer – are set to be sold by London’s Whisky.Auction online from June 2 to June 11, with proceeds going to charities The Scarf Community (Australia) and The Benevolent Society (UK). The Seafarer is a one-of-a-kind drop from Australian whisky innovators Starward, along with its Sister Cask.

A total of 110 Seafarer Twin Packs were bottled earlier this year at 48% ABV, selling out within a matter of time via the Starward Distillery and Starward.com.au. The last remaining eight Seafarer Twin Packs, which comprises of 2 x 500ml cask strength (54% ABV) bottles, elegantly presented in a custom wooden box.

Proceeds from the auction will be donated to The Scarf Community – a social enterprise that helps young Australians find jobs while adding flavour and heart to the local hospitality industry, and The Benevolent Society (UK) – a charity that provides practical, emotional and financial support to current or former drinks industry employees who face difficult circumstances.

The unique Seafarer whisky made its way back to Melbourne in March following an epic 12-month journey around-the-globe in a barrique cask fixed upon the open decks of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

The Seafarer is the product of an innovative partnership between Starward and Cunard designed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s inaugural home porting in Australia last year. The Seafarer has truly earnt its sea legs after travelling 95,000 nautical miles, experiencing extreme temperatures ranging from zero to 32 degrees centigrade, moving with the motion of the ocean and soaking up the salt of the sea air, as part of a daring marine maturation process.

Starward founder David Vitale says, “The maturation environment is crucial to the final flavour of any whisky and there is no doubt The Seafarer’s odyssey onboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth has produced rich, bold flavours. Even if we put a barrel of the same whisky on another ship for a year, we could never emulate the same weather conditions. The Seafarer is an exceptional Australian whisky unlike no other.”

Initially aged for more than two years in the Starward distillery before embarking on its adventure, The Seafarer was housed in a 225-litre Australian red wine barrel secured on Queen Elizabeth’s open decks. During its journey, The Seafarer spent 160 days at sea and a further 187 days visiting more than 90 ports around the globe, including St Petersburg, Helsinki, Lisbon, Venice, Hong Kong, Penang and Cape Town. Appropriately, The Seafarer was also on board for the Queen Elizabeth’s calls to multiple ports in the celebrated whisky-producing nations of Scotland and Japan.

The Seafarer, when compared to its Sister Cask – the same whisky that stayed behind at Starward’s Melbourne-based distillery in a control barrel – is vastly different.

“While The Seafarer still features Starward’s trademark red wine barrel characteristics, the oak influences are stronger, our jammy features are further developed and the dessert cooking spices, such as vanillin, are much more identifiable. This whisky is best enjoyed neat or with a dash of water to savour the flavours on the palate,” continued David.

For more information on the auction and the charities involved, please visit:

www.whisky.auction/charity/starward

www.whisky.auction/auctions/starward

www.scarfcommunity.org

www.thebenevolent.org.uk

Official Tasting Notes

COLOUR

• The Seafarer: Vivid sunset orange
• Sister Cask: Rich copper gold

NOSE

• The Seafarer: Soft aroma of marzipan, apricot, red apple, currants and baked spices
• Sister Cask: Baked sweet biscuit, berry compote, orchard fruit and delicate allspice

PALATE

• The Seafarer: Warming with French oak spice and mildly salted berries
• Sister Cask: Full; pear, cookie dough and fresh oak leading to a dry, berry laden finish