• Nova

Nova

Single Malt Whisky
750ml / 41%

4.7
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
37 Reviews
Regular price $55
Add Personalized Engraving $30

Our signature single malt.

Our Nova single malt whisky has received many global awards, including Double Gold medals at both the 2023 and 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as the 2022 New York World Spirits Competition. Nova is a true expression of our red wine barrel maturation process, boasting exceptional length and a layered complexity like no other single malt you've tasted before.

Nova borrows from tradition but breaks away from it too.

A deliciously balanced and bold whisky for sharing and mixing, Nova is matured exclusively in red wine barrels sourced from wineries making shiraz, cabernets and pinot noirs. This whisky reflects Melbourne's unique nature in every sip. From the vibrant culinary scene to the wild weather, Nova celebrates all that is unique and wonderful about making whiskies in Melbourne.

Tasting notes

Nose / Like we took bright flavors of red berries and orchard fruit and coated them in soft oak spice.


Palate / Imagine a rich red berry pudding covered in vanilla, caramel and spice.


Finish / Balanced and long. The sweetness fades and the delicious flavor goes on.

It all starts with our new-make spirit.

All Nova’s carefully sourced ingredients come from just a day’s drive away from the Melbourne distillery.

We double-distil our single malt whisky using Australian malted barley. Borrowing from the craft brewing scene, we ferment our barley with brewers’ yeast for an extra bold flavor. Then we installed custom water jackets on our giant copper stills to better control the distillation. It's tricks like this that mean we can pick the fruity characters we like and keep each batch consistent.

Then come the barrels.

We go local.

We source barrels from wineries in the nearby Yarra Valley and Barossa Valley so they keep their fresh red wine flavor profile. Then, they’re lightly charred or steamed. Often, the barrels are still wet with wine when we fill them.

For us, it's all about the flavor. As we fill our barrels at a lower alcohol proof than other single malts, our whisky takes in all the more red wine fruit characters and tannins.

Next comes climate

A far cry from the sunny Australian stereotype, Melbourne is famed for experiencing ‘four seasons in a day’. Bad news for beachgoers, good news for whisky. Fluctuating weather makes Nova work hard in the barrel, extracting maximum flavor from the wood in just a short time. We call this elemental maturation.

And it’s why we couldn’t make Nova anywhere else.

4.7
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
Based on 37 reviews
92%would recommend this product
37 reviews
  • Lemmy
    Verified Reviewer
    Age Bracket 35 - 44
    What is your whisky wisdom? I catalogue my collection
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    1 week ago
    Age Bracket 35 - 44
    What is your whisky wisdom? I catalogue my collection
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Nova - Pure Starward Beauty

    The nose is so inviting, ripe red raspberries clinging to the cleanest sprit.

    Again on the palette, summer red berries, smooth and refined with and extremely satisfying sweet finish.

    This is pure raw Starward in Australian red wine barrels. Never get tired of drink this. Yum!

  • Alex F.
    Verified Buyer
    Age Bracket 35 - 44
    What is your whisky wisdom? I catalogue my collection
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    1 week ago
    Age Bracket 35 - 44
    What is your whisky wisdom? I catalogue my collection
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Classic Starward Expression

    Huge fan of Nova. It’s very easy drinking breakfast whisky. Not too sweet, finishes with a delightful red wine dryness. It’s viscous without being too high in alcohol. On the nose it has all the tropical fruity esters that Starward is famous for. Always an enjoyable dram. Trouble is once the bottle is open, it’s hard to put down!

  • Bob b.
    Verified Buyer
    Age Bracket 65+
    What is your whisky wisdom? Regular whisky drinker
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    1 month ago
    Age Bracket 65+
    What is your whisky wisdom? Regular whisky drinker
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Review on nova whiskey

    Loved the sweet taste of the wine in the nova excellent drink

  • Ross C.
    Verified Buyer
    Age Bracket 55 - 64
    What is your whisky wisdom? Regular whisky drinker
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    1 month ago
    Age Bracket 55 - 64
    What is your whisky wisdom? Regular whisky drinker
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    NOVA

    Pleasantly surprised by not in the same league as Solera.

  • Matthew K.
    Verified Buyer
    Age Bracket 55 - 64
    What is your whisky wisdom? Regular whisky drinker
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    2 months ago
    Age Bracket 55 - 64
    What is your whisky wisdom? Regular whisky drinker
    When would you drink this whisky? Any occasion
    Was this purchased as a gift or for your collection? Myself/ Collection
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    Nova

    Have had Nova on several occasions but this bottle wasn't up to the standard of the other bottles I've had.

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