Starward 2017 Ginger Beer Cask Finish

At Spirits in the Sky – a Belgian whisky festival – my friend Niek pushes a glass under my nose. I smell, frown and ask, ‘Is this whisky?’ Niek laughs and replies: 'That was also my first thought’. Turned out to be the Starward Ginger Beer Cask Finish, something I haven't come across very often (I remember a Teeling that I didn't really like and that's exceptional). I needed to know more about this, so we went back to the booth together to get a closer look at this strange Australian. On the nose I get oranges and chocolate – orangettes – as well as Fanta Orange and ginger beer. Nicely spicy, but does not remind me remotely of whisky, rather of some liqueur with oranges in the leading role.
It arrives rather sharply and is immediately sweet and sour. Think grapefruit juice with a lot of freshly shaved ginger in the mix. This is particularly outspoken and stimulating, but tasty? Actually, no. Also a bit too spicy, a little too much wood for me. The finish is mercifully short, while you mainly get orange and ginger. A nice experience, for sure. But I don't want a whole bottle of this. Add to that the fact that you fork over about 75 EUR for 500ml and the choice to skip this one is quickly made.