Tasmanian distillery Sullivans Cove has taken out World’s Best Single Cask Single Malt at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards in London, its fourth global title and a record in the competition’s history.
The winning expression is the distillery’s 18 Year Old French Oak ex-White Wine (Single Cask No. TD0112), matured for 18 years before bottling. The cask is now sold out. Previous world titles were awarded in 2014, 2018, and 2019.
The result is in part a function of production discipline. Sullivans Cove uses extended fermentations, Charantais-style alembic stills with worm tub condensers, and exclusively full-size casks, with bottling decisions made on sensory readiness rather than fixed age targets.
White wine casks are an active oak format that requires close monitoring; the distillery says the 18-year maturation demanded continuous sensory assessment and incremental decision-making across the life of the cask.
The World Whiskies Awards also recognised two Sullivans Cove staff members in its Icons of Whisky category. Director of Whisky Creation, Heather Tillott, was named Global Innovator Manager of the Year, and Supply Chain manager, Marcelo Viapiana, won Global Warehouse Manager of the Year.
Marcelo Viapiana, took home Global Warehouse Manager of the Year at the 2026 World Whisky Awards.
Tillott said the white wine cask format is not forgiving.
“An 18-year-old whisky matured in French oak ex-white wine is exceptionally rare in Australia, and it is not a style that can be approached passively. These casks bring structure, brightness and tannin, which over extended time require both resilience from the spirit and precise, considered management in the bond store. Every stage of its maturation has been closely observed and carefully guided,” Tillott said.
CEO Andy Gaunt said the win reflects the distillery’s approach to cask management rather than any single release.
“Sullivans Cove has never set out to follow established pathways. We have focused on understanding our own conditions, our own materials, and building a framework that allows each cask to reach its full potential. The success of an 18-year-old white wine cask highlights the quality of Australian wine casks when paired with the right spirit and long-term intent,” Gaunt said.
Founded in Hobart in 1994, Sullivans Cove is a small-batch, single cask producer. Releases are limited to a few hundred bottles per cask. Current wine cask expressions are available through the distillery’s website.
