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Starward Distillery moves to Port Melbourne from Essendon Airport

Daniel Lewis

Shiny whisky stills inside the new Starward Distillery.
Shiny whisky stills inside the new Starward Distillery.Carmen Zammit

Melbourne distiller Starward Whisky's ascension in an ever-crowded (and increasingly lucrative) local craft spirit market has forced relocation from a converted aircraft hangar at Essendon Fields to a twice-the-size Port Melbourne warehouse.

The 3500-square-metre site showcases gleaming distillation equipment, some 2500 full-to-the-brim barrels and a polished open-plan bar to fully enjoy the fruits of the operation.

Starward's mainstay Solera and wine-cask editions are served neat or on the rocks – or as the hero in, say, a whisky sour or Old Fashioned cocktail.

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There are also some interesting experimental drops and a barrel-aged Korenwijn gin, while collaborations with brewers Moondog and Boatrocker will please beer enthusiasts.

A charcuterie and cheese menu is in the works.

Daily hosted tours of the site ($10) include whisky tastings.

Open Fri 2pm-late; Sat-Sun noon-late.

Starward Distillery, 50 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne, 9005 4420, starward.com.au

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