Diageo's Distill Ventures invests in Australia's Starward Whisky

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Distill Ventures, part of spirits giant Diageo (LSE: DGE.L - news) , on Wednesday said it has invested in Starward whisky, to help the Australian start-up boost its production and expand into new export markets.

This marks the second whisky investment for Distill, which was set up in 2013 to invest in early-stage brands and help them grow. Last week, it announced an investment in Stauning Whisky, based in Denmark.

It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) did not disclose the size of the investment.

Diageo, which owns the world's top-selling spirit brand, Smirnoff vodka, as well as big names including Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray, is responding to consumers' growing interest in micro-distillers and craft spirits with its own new brands, as well as with Distill Ventures.

(Reporting by Martinne Geller in London; editing by Jason Neely)