We all like a good crossover – be it Predator vs Alien, Batman vs Superman or Godzilla vs King Kong. Twice the star power, double the fun and possibly two fold the action, not to mention the potential for some popcorn chomping moments! But what happens when a distillery goes borderline rogue, possibly quote-unquote innovative, perhaps a streak of genius…welcome “Starward Co-ferment”!!!

Not whisky, not wine and surely far from being brandy, this one’s an unorthodox take, a Frankenstein of a spirit, that is a fusion of both worlds. The distillery created this concoction of barley wash and Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice in a 1:1 ratio that has been fermented, distilled and then matured for nearly six years in American and French oak barrels that previously held Aussie red wine. Now this technically debars the distillery from labelling this as a whisky, so let’s just refer to this as a whine (sorry for the dad joke)!

ABV : 48% 

Eye : Auburn, Polished Mahogany | Natural Colouring, Non Chill Filtered

Nose : Caramel, rich in dried fruits – plums,  peaches, hints of dates and dark grapes. There’s char, milk chocolate, rum n raisin cake, nutmeg, cardamom and cinnamon sticks, coupled with woody notes, bay leaves and earthy nuances.

Taste : Brown sugar and honey, rich and fruity – figs, dates, peaches, plums and red apples. A hint of smoke, caramel toffee, white pepper with a pinch of cinnamon, a crush of cardamom seeds.

Finish : Medium to Long | Rich deep sweetness from the dried fruits, red wine influences and a warmth that tapers with a host of spices

The Co-Ferment is an experiment that exuberates sherry to muchos uber levels! This hybrid, crossbreed of an experiment has translated to a spirit that has a great sense of complexity, depth, and breadth. There are varied levels of sweetness fused in with spiced aromatics, the spice however isn’t as profound but the richness of the dried fruits is. A stellar dram if you are a sherry schizo, but a point of criticism if you aren’t.

At AUD $139, I enjoyed this concoction be it as weird as it was…at least on paper. Keeping all the theatrics aside this was an experiment gone well, one where age helped mould and instill character to this crossover that went all the way to the box office. I give kudos to the distillery for embracing change and challenging the status quo. BTW, I noticed a Shiraz based release that now joins the Co-Ferment cohort, and I’m sure that’s going to be ringing the cash registers too!

Slainte Mhath!