Starward Whisky has returned to full Australian ownership, with David Vitale acquiring the brand and ending its 11-year involvement with Diageo’s distill ventures program.
Diageo first invested in Starward in 2015 through its accelerator, supporting the brand’s growth into one of Australia’s leading whisky producers. The exit follows Diageo’s decision in early 2025 to scale back distill ventures.
Over the past decade, Starward has become known for its red wine barrel maturation, modern Australian style and accessible core range.
In 2025, the distillery claimed six of Australia’s 12 Double Gold medals for single malt whisky at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. With the buyout complete, Starward now moves forward under founder-led ownership as Australian whisky continues to gain global attention.