Tasmanian distillery Sullivans Cove has unveiled a 17 Year Old French Oak ex-Tawny Single Cask (TD0297), a first-of-its-kind cask strength release bottled at 61.3% ABV. Limited to just 343 bottles globally, the whisky was filled in July 2008 and matured for over 17 years before bottling.
The release marks the first time Sullivans Cove has bottled a whisky of this maturity at cask strength. The distillery describes cask strength releases as exceptionally rare within its portfolio.
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“This was a cask that demanded very little intervention,” said Heather Tillott, distillery manager at Sullivans Cove. “After more than seventeen years in French oak, it had developed remarkable depth and composure, and bottling it at cask strength allowed us to share it exactly as we encountered it in the warehouse.”
Tillott added: “Releases like this are rare for Sullivans Cove, but when a cask shows this level of character and resonance, it deserves to be experienced in its fullest form.”
French oak ex-tawny maturation holds particular significance for the distillery. In 2014, a Sullivans Cove French Oak single cask became the first whisky from a distillery outside Scotland and Japan to be named World’s Best Single Malt. The style has since become highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
Official tasting notes from the brand describe grapefruit skin, old Barossa tawny depth, glace pineapple, candied apple, walnuts, and the distillery’s signature waxy, snuffed-candle character on the nose. The palate is full-bodied and oily, with kumquat, green apple, lychee, and gentle mint. The finish offers choc-orange, jasmine, shortbread, gingerbread, musky rose petals, and Pu’erh tea.
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“A rich, dark, and complex single cask, where bold cask influence meets a naturally full spirit,” Tillott said. “The interplay of savory, fruity, and citrus elements is well-structured, with integrated tannin and oak. Every component stands confidently, yet harmoniously, making this a compelling, multi-dimensional whisky.”
Each bottle is presented in a handcrafted solid blackwood box and includes a personal letter from Tillott. The release is available exclusively through Sullivans Cove’s website via ballot.
