Today I try a new world whisky, the Sullivans Cove Double Cask single malt whisky. New world whiskies are always a treat. I enjoy exploring all the different world whiskies, sometimes more than the Scottish ones.
With Scottish whiskies, you know what you can expect; a peaty Islay, a smoky Highland or a sweeter Speyside. But with world whiskies, the lines are much less defined. Opening up a dram from the ‘new whisky world’ is very much like opening a lucky packet. You are not sure what you are going to get. Something delicious or “what were they thinking?”.
It is always a fun exploration. Sometimes the bottle shape is more interesting than the inside (like the Wild Reeds whiskey from Schoonspruit Distillery where the bottle is the shape of the African continent), you never know.
A Distillery in Tasmania
The Cove was the initial landing site of what is now the city of Hobart. It was founded on 21 February 1804 by the British, who travelled to the shore via what was then a rocky island named Hunter Island. Being a penal colony, the locals were quite fond of a drink with 16 legal distilleries and countless illegal stills operating by 1824. However, in 1838 Governor John Franklin imposed a total prohibition on distilling which lasted 150 years.
This was only overturned in the early 1990s. Sullivans Cove whisky was established in 1994 at Sullivans Cove. Sullivans Cove is one of Tasmania’s most successful and widely distributed whiskies and available in 11 countries.
Tasmania has some of the most favourable growing conditions on the planet. Deep red basalt soils, ample water and a mild climate result in barley that is perfect for malting. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world and its rainwater is so pure that quantities have been shipped to Australian Olympic athletes competing overseas. One of the World Meteorological Organization-Global Atmosphere Watch network’s three Baseline Air Pollution stations is in Tasmania.
Currently there are an estimated 18 licensed whisky distillers in Australia, with the most significant concentration of them around the island of Tasmania.
The Sullivans Cove Double Cask was aged in American oak bourbon casks and French Port oak casks before being bottled.
Also Read: Glen Grant 10 year old Whisky
Sullivans Cove Double Cask Whisky Review
COUNTRY: Australia
ABV: 40%
COLOUR: Rich Gold
NOSE: Initially, I get hints of grape sweetness and tropical fruits. Malt and toffee apple mix with hints of oak and cinnamon. I find a nose to be quite subtle and fresh. It might be my imagination, but there are faint hints of the typical bourbon vanilla when you add a few drops of water.
PALATE:It starts spicy and then slowly, woody notes come through. There are hints of honey and butterscotch mixed with freshly baked oats cookies and fruit jam. Bits of vanilla and cinnamon float around. Water improves the smoothness and makes it more rounded. Water also brings out more of the ‘bourbon-y’ vanilla sweetness.
FINISH: It builds very slowly from a gentle beginning through to a medium finish. The Double Cask ends in spicy cinnamon and bitter lemon notes.
Rating: VERY GOOD
The Sullivans Cove is an easy-drinking whisky and something that Australia can be very proud of. We had to add water carefully as the dram has a 40% ABV. Generally, whisky in South Africa is bottled at 43%, and I never realised how big a difference the extra bit sometimes make.
Add just a few drops of water to allow the vanilla to come out. Add too much, diluted this whisky, and it became quite watery and thin.
I have spotted several of the Sullivans Cove limited edition releases Amazon like the 18 year old American Oak release, an ex-Tawny cask release and a 12 year old single cask edition. They are in the expensive category.
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Also Read: Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky Review
