Starward x Lagavulin limited-edition whisky finished in peated casks lands UK March

Starward Distillery has announced a limited-edition collaborative expression finished in ex-Lagavulin Islay single malt Scotch whisky casks that will be available in the UK from March 2026, bottled at 48% ABV and carrying an RRP of £125. Speciality Brands will distribute small quantities to selected on-trade and off-trade partners following a Speciality Brands announcement posted February 25, 2026.

The release pairs Starward’s signature red wine barrel maturation with peated Lagavulin casks sourced from the Islay distillery. The Spirits Business notes the expression “made its debut in late 2023,” and the UK roll-out more than two years later represents a targeted market expansion rather than a global first release. The Spirits Business also records corporate news that Diageo’s Distill Ventures accelerator programme will no longer be involved with Starward.

David Vitale, founder of Starward, framed the collaboration as a meeting of influences. In the form published by TheWhiskyWire he said: “My earliest inspiration for Starward was to create a deliciously distinctive whisky. While we certainly achieved that with our red wine barrel-matured style, what whisky better epitomises distinctively delicious than Lagavulin? Sourcing these barrels to create this exciting expression gives us a magical opportunity to celebrate the very best of Australian curiosity and Scottish tradition.”

The maturation intent is explicit: the spirit begins life in red wine barrels selected from local vineyards, then receives a finish in ex-Lagavulin peated casks to add peat, maritime savour and structural depth. TheWhiskeyWash describes the use of Lagavulin casks as adding “depth and a savory maritime character” to Starward’s tropical red-fruit profile. SLRmag characterises the result as “building depth and structure while introducing a savoury maritime edge.”

Official tasting notes published by Beth Squires for TheWhiskeyWash give the expression a clear sensory map: “Colour: amber gold. Nose: yellow nectarine, a touch of peat, pineapple, and a hint of iodine. Palate: initially very tropical, with char-grilled pineapple, black tea, and a touch of brine. Finish: drying ash followed by tropical fruits and a touch of oak.” TheWhiskyWire and SLRmag corroborate those markers with mentions of char-grilled pineapple, black tea, a touch of brine, drying ash and wisps of coastal peat.

Speciality Brands will handle UK distribution under managing director Chris Seale, with the company’s published portfolio noted to include Nikka, Chichibu, Michter’s and Cocchi. The Spirits Business offers a US dollar conversion for the RRP at approximately US$169, while multiple outlets emphasise that the UK allocation will be limited in scale and available only to selected partners.

Starward’s Melbourne base and production approach are part of the wider context for the release: TheWhiskeyWash highlights that Starward sources ingredients within a day’s drive of its distillery, selects red wine barrels from local vineyards and leverages Melbourne’s rapidly changing climate to accelerate maturation. TheWhiskeyWash also frames the project as one of a growing number of cross-continental cask-exchange collaborations between Australian and Scottish producers, making this March arrival a bellwether for demand in the UK for Australian single malt finished in celebrated Islay casks.

Starward’s Instagram post states plainly: “We are very excited to announce that Starward is releasing their limited-edition Starward x Lagavulin in the UK from March onwards.” The release will test appetite for a hybrid profile that blends Starward’s tropical red-wine character with Lagavulin’s coastal peat.