Celebrating its 30-year anniversary, Tasmanian distillery Sullivans Cove has announced the exclusive release of Australia's oldest whisky, their 24-year-old single-cask, HH0004.
The American Oak Second-Fill barrel surpasses Sullivans Cove’s own previous record-holding 22-year-old single cask whisky.
Laid down during the distillery's fifth year of operation, the whisky spent 24 years slowly maturing in their bond store, with the Sullivans Cove sensory panel tasting HH0004 nineteen times in the past three years alone to ensure this cask was bottled at "its peak of flavour and harmony".
Tasting notes include a sweet and nutty welcome to the palate, with maple syrup and rich cacao, and the finish brings about leathery vanilla, cantaloupe with icing sugar, papaya and rose , "a rich interplay of floral, sweet, and savoury elements".
Distillery manager Heather Tillott described the crafting of a great single-cask whiskey as a "journey of engagement".
"The people involved must be engaged with the liquid and the process through every season of the expedition. Using their senses to listen to the maturation and asking: What does this spirit need to reach its full potential?
"Finesse is not born of chance, but of tact and grounded engagement. Twenty-four years of listening and collaboratively working with this cask has allowed a window into the sublime, and we are delighted to share its depth and complexity with you.”
As a single cask release, HH0004 yielded 335 bottles that will be made available exclusively to Sullivans Cove mailing list subscribers via ballot on 20th May, for $2,500. The mailing list can be joined at www.sullivanscove.com.
Following a recent refurbishment, Sullivans Cove is reopening its visitor experience to guests later this month.
