Starward Nova Whisky

Australia's highest-selling domestically produced single malt whisky, Starward Nova is a benchmark product. Easy drinking, affordable and uniquely Australian, Nova is matured in red wine casks (largely shiraz from the Barossa), imparting plenty of juicy red fruit notes onto a backbone of soft, tropical malt reminiscent of an Australian-style pale ale. Light on the palate at 41%, this is designed to be an everyday dram rather than a mind-blowing work of complexity, and it does the job with consistency and aplomb.

Fred Siggins