13 May 2024
Sullivans Cove’s commitment to long-term maturation in full-size casks for the past three decades has allowed them to consistently release Australia's best and oldest whiskies, with each cask being one-of-a-kind.
Laid down during the distillery's fifth year of operation, HH0004 spent 24 years slowly maturing in their bond store. Patient and unhurried, the Sullivans Cove sensory panel tasted HH0004 nineteen times in the past three years alone to ensure this cask was bottled at its peak of flavour and harmony.
Sullivans Cove handcrafts exceptional, award winning single-cask whisky, firmly cementing itself amongst the world’s most sought-after whisky brands. HH0004 is deeply inviting, the epitome of well-aged Sullivans Cove spirit at its full potential.
Managing Director Adam Sable said: “Our 24-year-old whisky is a true labour of love and patience, reflecting our obsession with producing the best whisky possible without compromise.”
Distillery Manager Heather Tillott said: “The crafting of truly great single-cask whisky is 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.”
Sullivans Cove has a proven track record of excellence, having been named World's Best at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014, 2018 and 2019 and Icons of Whisky Craft Producer of the Year in 2022.
Celebrating its 30-year anniversary, 2024 is shaping up to be a year of big milestones for Australia's most decorated whisky brand, recently winning six awards at the prestigious 2024 World Whiskies Awards in London. Following an impressive refurbishment, Sullivans Cove is reopening its visitor experience to guests from around the world later this month.
As a single cask release, HH0004 yielded only 335 bottles that will be made available exclusively to Sullivans Cove mailing list subscribers via ballot on 20th May. Join the mailing list here.
HH0004 Tasting Notes:
Nose: Deeply floral, dark and treacly with nuances of anise and spice. An acutely integrated tapestry of savoury, floral and syrupy-sweet notes, the nose opens with buttered popcorn, dark, oaky maple syrup, and a deep cherry/strawberry jam note. Waxy tropical flower and tropical fruit notes (pineapple, frangipani, and coconut) come next, as aromatic base notes of gingerbread, sweetened red bean paste and lots of true cinnamon rise up. The oaky maple syrup note then progresses into rich cacao as the whisky receives air in the glass, and anise and clove weave throughout the layers.
Palate: The texture and weight of the spirit is incredibly thick and oily Walnuts and hazelnuts dusted with icing sugar, toasted almonds, more maple syrup and rich cacao welcome the palate. Quickly met by a lathering of leatherwood honey, a burst of tingly oak spice, green peppercorn, and aloe vera. A herbal layer rests above (chamomile and mint), as savoury wafts of beef rendang and a prominent cinnamon/nutmeg note takes its place within the framework of the biscuity base. As the initial flurry of oak spices settle, the creamy and confectionery-driven side to the palate comes forward with taffy, Jersey caramels, marshmallow, and crème caramel.
Finish: A beautiful crescendo into the finish brings about deep leathery vanillic wafts, cantaloupe with icing sugar, dehydrated papaya and rose perfume. Profound length sees caramel sauce meet bright refreshing flickers of more aloe vera (as the palate) and sweet lemon lollies, as the finish.
Overall: Deeply inviting. The epitome of well-aged Sullivans Cove spirit at its full potential. With the transformation this cask has undertaken over 24 years, this whisky reflects a careful and patient approach, illustrating the significance of nurturing the spirit throughout its maturation journey. The result is nothing less than astounding, HH0004 exudes depth and complexity from the moment it's nosed, with a rich interplay of floral, sweet, and savoury elements.
