Starward Two Fold Whisky 750ML

Starward Two Fold Whisky 750ML is a double grain Australian whisky bottled at 40% ABV and matured in Australian red wine barrels. A Double Gold Medal winner at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Two Fold stands as one of the few whiskies in the world built around wheat as a core grain component, delivering a profile that bridges the gap between malt whisky and wheated bourbon.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Melbourne, Australia  |  Double Grain (NAS)  |  Distillery: Starward Whisky

Production & Heritage

Starward Whisky was founded by David Vitale in Melbourne, Australia, with a mission to create whisky rooted in Australian ingredients and climate. Two Fold uses a mashbill of 60% wheat and 40% malted barley, with each grain distilled separately before being married and matured in 100-liter Barossa Valley Shiraz casks. Melbourne's notoriously unpredictable weather — swinging between extremes within a single day — drives an accelerated interaction between spirit and wood, a process the distillery calls "elemental maturation." This approach yields a distinctly fruit-forward, grain-rich whisky that wears its Australian terroir openly.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted hazelnuts lead into fresh, sweet berries and a layer of slightly burnt toast. Oak emerges next, followed by a rich, creamy brown butter note that ties the nose together.

Taste: The palate opens with sweet berry jam spread over buttered toast — warm, approachable, and grain-forward. At mid-palate, fresh cream and melted caramel build density, while notes of raspberries and cream, rosé wine, strawberries, and tropical fruit add complexity and brightness.

Finish: Medium in length, with warm baking spices lingering alongside gentle oak. It fades to a pleasant weave of fruit and malt, leaving behind a trace of nuttiness and dried fruit sweetness.

How to Drink Two Fold

Two Fold drinks well neat at room temperature, where its grain sweetness and red-fruit character come through cleanly. A single ice cube opens up the tropical and berry notes without flattening the texture. It also performs remarkably well in cocktails:

• Whisky Sour — the berry jam and cream notes complement fresh citrus, creating a layered, balanced sour.
• Old Fashioned — caramel and toasted grain provide a natural backbone for bitters and a twist of orange peel.
• Highball — the wine-barrel fruitiness lifts beautifully with soda water and a sprig of fresh mint or a few raspberries.

Best For

• Introducing someone to Australian whisky for the first time
• Building a home cocktail bar with a versatile, food-friendly base spirit
• Gifting a bourbon drinker curious about world whisky
• Pairing experiments at a whisky-and-cheese evening

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Two Fold taste like? Two Fold delivers sweet berry jam, buttered toast, melted caramel, and fresh cream, with a warm spice and gentle oak finish. It reads as fruit-forward and grain-rich, closer to a wheated style than a heavily peated or sherried malt.

How does Two Fold compare to wheated bourbons like Maker's Mark? Both share a soft, approachable grain sweetness thanks to a high wheat content, but Two Fold's maturation in Barossa Shiraz barrels introduces distinct red-fruit and rosé wine notes that wheated bourbons typically lack. The overall profile is less corn-sweet and more berry-driven than a classic Kentucky wheater.

Is Two Fold good for cocktails? Two Fold is an excellent cocktail whisky because its fruit-and-grain balance holds up well alongside citrus, bitters, and sweeteners without being overpowered. It works especially well in spirit-forward and shaken drinks alike.

Where is Two Fold made? Two Fold is distilled and matured at the Starward distillery in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The spirit's red wine barrel maturation uses casks sourced from the Barossa Valley, one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions.

What foods pair well with Two Fold? Soft, creamy cheeses like brie or triple-cream pair naturally with the whisky's butter and berry notes. Dark chocolate brings out the toasted hazelnut character. Grilled stone fruit or berry tarts mirror the Shiraz-barrel fruitiness. Charcuterie — especially prosciutto — complements the warm spice and oak. Vanilla panna cotta echoes the cream and caramel mid-palate.

What sizes does Two Fold come in? The standard expression is widely available in a 750ml bottle, with a 200ml format also offered in some markets.

Is Two Fold worth the price? Two Fold positions as an accessible, everyday-drinking tier within the Starward range, priced below their single malt expressions. For a Double Gold Medal–winning whisky with a genuinely unusual grain bill and maturation profile, it represents strong value within the broader world whisky category.

Why Two Fold?

Two Fold's 60/40 wheat-to-malt mashbill is a rarity in world whisky, and its maturation in small-format 100-liter Barossa Shiraz casks gives it a regional fingerprint that no Scotch or bourbon can replicate. The Double Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — part of a sweep that helped Starward earn "Most Awarded Distillery of the Year" honors — confirms this is more than an interesting concept. Melbourne's volatile climate does real work here, accelerating barrel interaction and producing a depth of flavor that belies its approachable price point. For drinkers who already love wheated bourbons and want to explore further, Two Fold is the logical next step.