Starward's US strategy takes flight

Starward whiskies will be available in airports across the US from November following its partnership deal with DFS Group. Australia's leading whisky will be sold at Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, JFK International Airport and Honolulu International Airport.

Scott English, Starward Commercial Sales Director said: "Global Travel Retail is an important opportunity for Starward. It is an unparalleled opportunity to engage with an audience who are keen to discover and explore something new. To be able to partner with DFS, we are now able to access a large portion of the world's travellers, right as they are looking to discover what the world has to offer."

The Starward core range of whiskies will be available in a Travel Retail exclusive one litre bottle. Each whisky bears the Starward stamp from its wine barrel maturation, yet each whisky offers something new.

From single malt to double grain, American or French oak influences or approachability and complexity. The DFS range are all sold in one litre bottles and includes:

• Nova is Starward's signature single malt whisky fully matured in red wine barrels, Nova is a deliciously balanced and bold whisky for sharing.
• Solera is Starward's first whisky. Made using the traditional solera process means there is a drop of its first whisky in every bottle. Matured in Australian Apera barrels, this whisky is a bona fide Starward Australian take on a traditional whisky.
• 100 Proof, also known as Fortis in Australia, is a single malt Australian whisky and Starward's first higher ABV release, matured in 100 per cent American Oak red wine barrels to give it a fuller and richer mouthfeel.

Limited releases from Starward's special projects and experimental range will also make it to market.

Marie d'Hauteville, Vice President Spirits, Wine, Tobacco, Food and Gifts and Partnerships from DFS Group comments "We are pleased to partner with Starward to bring this modern, forward thinking and highly awarded whisky to all our North America airport locations. This is another great example of New World innovation adding a new and exciting element to the traditional whisky market which we look forward to introducing to our traveling customers."

Over the past three years, Starward has had its sights firmly planted on expanding internationally and is now established in New Zealand, US, Germany, UK, France and Japan. The US is a particular priority where the brand has partnered with the US Michelin Guide and in San Francisco where is was named Most Awarded Distillery of the Year having won 12 double golds at the SFWSC. Starward also has partnerships in Travel Retail with Dufry, Heinemann, Lotte, ARI, Lagardere.