Starward Whisky announced that founder David Vitale has fully acquired the business and will lead its next chapter, returning the brand to founder-led stewardship.

Founded in 2007, Starward has grown from an urban distilling experiment into an internationally awarded distillery, recognised globally for its distinctive red-wine-barrel maturation and modern Australian style. 

Over the past decade, the brand has built a strong presence across Australia and key international markets, supported since 2015 by Diageo’s Distill Ventures accelerator program. The acquisition marks the conclusion of Diageo and other shareholder involvement in the business.

“It’s been more than ten years since I last led Starward,” Vitale said in a news release. “With the considerable volume of work done in that time by a deeply dedicated team, this feels like a rare opportunity to scale what we know works, in a category that’s only just getting started. I feel incredibly lucky to be doing that with the best brand, the best people, and the best years still ahead of us.”

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About Starward

Crafted in Melbourne, Australia, Starward whiskies embody the city’s adventurous spirit and are celebrated for their versatility, matured in red wine barrels sourced from Australia’s famed wine regions. Each expression bears the distinctive influence of Starward’s wine barrel maturation, offering a diverse range of flavours from single malt to double grain. For more information, visit https://starward.com.au/.