In 2014, the Sullivans Cove cemented its international reputation when it won World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards for its 12-year-old French Oak single-cask whisky — the first distillery outside of Scotland or Japan to do so. Its win shook the whisky landscape, defying expectations of where in the world the best single malt whiskies could come from.
Since then, Sullivans Cove has maintained its world-class status, winning the title of World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt consecutively in 2018 and 2019 for its American Oak and French Oak expressions, showcasing the distillery’s expertise in the precise maturation of single malt whisky.
Now, Sullivans Cove is marking another major milestone. Sullivans Cove 25 Years Old is the oldest single malt whisky ever bottled in Australia — and the implications go beyond one country. It’s a significant moment in the coming of age of new world whisky, offering a first taste of high-age statement single malt from non-traditional whisky regions.
The distillery has revealed two single-cask, quarter-century bottlings: Single Cask No HH0056, matured in an American oak ex-bourbon barrel, with a yield of 134 bottles, which will be available by invitation only. With a more generous — although still extremely exclusive — output of 349 bottles, the second release is Single Cask No HH0010.
Sullivans Cove is releasing its 25 Years Old Single Cask HH0010 by ballot — meaning you have the opportunity to taste this highly limited bottling for yourself. Sign up to the ballot for your chance to claim a bottle.
Matured in a 300-litre American oak second-fill cask, the 25-year-old Cask No HH0010 balances “the interesting and the delicious”, according to Heather Tillott, distillery manager. “HH0010 is one of the defining casks in shaping Sullivans Cove’s approach to careful maturation,” she added.
The casks were laid down in 1999 by Patrick Maguire, former Sullivans Cove distillery manager and owner. Patrick couldn’t know then, in the nascent years of Australian whisky, that two-and-a-half decades later these two casks would come to represent the coming of age of new world whisky.
“To see two of our casks mature out to 25 years is something we did not expect,” admitted Patrick. He added, “We had hope that our locally grown barley and pure Tasmanian water would be the basis for great things.”
The hope came true: Sullivans Cove’s expert use of Tasmania’s ingredients and climate has proven itself repeatedly, through its awards, milestones, and international recognition.
Every step in Sullivans Cove’s whisky making is designed to create the ideal conditions for long maturations. Extended fermentation times create rich and complex wash that is distilled in Charentais-style alembic stills. A traditional worm tub condenser adds clarity and texture to the nuanced spirit. Casks are expertly selected — Sullivans Cove uses exclusively large casks, which over the years develop the spirit into a complex, layered whisky.
At the time of its founding, Sullivans Cove was a bold leap: a purpose-built single malt whisky distillery, on the opposite side of the globe from the style’s traditional Scottish home. It takes trust, patience, and a wholehearted respect for the spirit to create a long-aged spirit from these origins, but Sullivans Cove’s dedication to craftsmanship and precision was indefatigable.
Thirty years on, the distillery has shown that world-class single malts can come from any region — whether its whisky traditions are years, decades, or centuries old.
