Sullivans Cove beats own age statement record
Tasmanian distillery Sullivans Cove has once again released Australia’s oldest single malts, two 25-year-old whiskies.
In May this year, the brand released a 24-year-old single malt finished in Apera casks, which was believed at the time to be one of the oldest Australian single malts.
The two new releases both come from single casks laid down in 1999.
The first comes from a single 200-litre American oak ex-Bourbon barrel, named HH0056.
Just 134 bottles are available to purchase by invitation only.
Distillery manager Heather Tillott said: “A seamless expression of spirit, oak and ex-Bourbon cask integration, showcasing balance, complexity, texture and layered flavour. A beautifully curated whisky, richly rewarding from start to finish, and a testament to the refinement and possibilities of long-term maturation.”
The second expression also comes from a single cask, labelled HH0010. This barrel was a 300-litre American oak ex-Bourbon, with just 349 bottles available via ballot.
Tillott added: “A benchmark of balancing the interesting and delicious, HH0010 is one of the defining casks in shaping Sullivans Cove’s approach to careful maturation. A profound display of age and character, and an enduring piece of Tasmanian and global whisky history.”
The two whiskies are said to demonstrate Sullivans Cove’s signature style, with its long fermentations yielding a ‘richly textured’ wash, while its distillation in small alembic stills captures ‘subtle nuance’. The distillery said the larger casks allow slower integration of oak and spirit.
Sullivans Cove’s owner and former distillery manager, Patrick Maguire, laid down the two chosen casks in 1999. He said: “To see two of our casks mature out to 25 years is something we did not expect. These casks were filled during the early days of the distillery and distilling in Tasmania. We had hopes that our locally grown barley and pure Tasmanian water would be the basis for great things.”
Tillott added that Tasmania’s cool maritime climate is ideal for long ageing, creating “a single malt with layered elegance and depth”.
Earlier this year, Sullivans Cove appointed Andy Gaunt as CEO following the departure of managing director Adam Sable.
“This release is more than just a rare single cask,” said Gaunt. “It’s a living record of our history, proof of what patience and conviction can achieve, and a statement of what world whisky has become. Twenty-five years ago, this was an audacious experiment.
“Today, it stands as proof that with skill, craftsmanship, and patience, great whiskies can come from anywhere in the world – especially here in Tasmania.”
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