PRODUCT INFO
Cask Number TD0409. Bottle No. 154 of 359
9 years, 8 months old
47.5% ALC/VOL
700ml
Made in Tasmania
2.225 kg
12 x 12 x 26 cm
Sullivans Cove French Oak has become a legend. One of the most sought-after whiskies in the world, and the style that put the Australian whisky industry on the map after winning World’s Best at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014, and again in 2019.
Aged in French Oak ex-Tawny barrels, this whisky embodies the coming together of Sullivans Cove Distillery and our powerhouse Australian fortified wine industry with rich flavours of Christmas spice, chocolate, and dark dried fruits. As a single cask bottling, every tiny batch is different, expressing the unique characteristics of each barrel.
Aged for 9 years, 8 months, in a 300 litre, French oak ex-Tawny cask, TD0405 is a classic example of the Sullivans Cove French Oak ex-Tawny style. Bottled unflocked and unfiltered at 47.5% abv this cask produced a mere 477 bottles.
Nose: From the first nose, it boasts an incredible depth, full of dark and rich delights. Entry brings notes of Canelés - a small French pastry flavoured with rum and vanilla with a soft and tender custard centre and a dark, thick caramelized crust - coffee toffee and a side of sweet, spiced oak char and antique furniture (hello French oak!). As the nose opens further it moves between dark, spiced fruit pastries and tropical fruits with a creamy, white chocolate mousse side. Nougat, maple, lolly snakes and blood orange amaro are all there too.
Palate: For all the French oak ex-Tawny driven depth and darkness the nose provided, the transition to the palate is unexpectedly soft and gentle. With a pause and a pop of tropical fruit, we are reminded who is in control here, and it isn’t the oak. Sullivans Cove spirit arrives with passionfruit, guava and candied mandarin peel, stepping onto a red carpet of French oak-derived tannins and gentle swells of spice, providing a medley of tart berries, lemon, and juicy fruit gum. As the palate progresses, notes of oak, spirit, and Tawny move through one another creating an exquisite interplay of flavours; toasty tobacco, plum sauce and blackened yakitori, paprika honey roasted cashews, and freeze-dried strawberries coated in white chocolate.
Finish: A truly layered and delightful finish that allows each component a moment in centre stage. French oak ex-Tawny leads the way with dates in dark chocolate, almond butter and Madeira wine, all underpinned by an aromatic and savoury depth of incense and spiced ginger tea. With incredible length and restraint, a delightful and unexpected spirit-derived note of waxy peach candies and lemon drizzle cake emerges and lingers long after the oak and pre-fill have drifted away.
