The Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask Single Malt is my first experience with Tasmanian whisky and was another one of the great whiskies I got to try at the Purple Valley tasting. It was a nice light dram that didn’t overpower my palate and produced something new each time I sipped my 1/2 oz. sample. I was curious about Sullivan’s Cove before the tasting and now I’m dying to try their other expressions like the bourbon and port finishes.
Hailing from Tasmania (a bit south of Australia), Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask is completely made with ingredients from the little island which makes this an even more unique and intriguing dram. This makes it not just an export, but an expression of Tasmania itself.
Overall this was one of the lightest whiskies I’ve had in a while that wasn’t a blend. It was so light on the nose, flavor, feel and finish that I was surprised at the depth of flavor it was able to deliver with each sip. Though in the spirit of honesty I have to say that while I liked it, I would have liked it more if it were a bit more bold.
If you’ve tried the Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask Single Malt Whisky I’d love to see your thoughts or notes in the comments below.
Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask Review
ABV: 40%
Price: $80
Distiller: Tasmanian Distillery
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
The first thing I thought of was raw pumpkin and it completely took me off guard. Giving it a second to get my bearings straight I gave it another sniff and picked up vanilla, caramel, sugar beets, malt and just a whiff of wood.
TASTE
Incredibly light with an overall nutty quality to it. Inside that nutty wrapper was some sugar beet, honey, wood, malt and a very strange cognac-meets-port grapiness to it.
FEEL
It has an effortlessness about it. Very light in the mouth with a small amount of burn… more like a singe.
FINISH
A very short finish of malt and watery caramel.
SCORE: NA/100 – Didn’t get to spend enough time with it to feel confident about a score but would estimate in the mid 80’s
A fantastic drop from the apple Isle, and a multi award winning distillery. This is their entry range, but gives you a great sense of what their top shelf delivers. Sullivans Cove whiskeys are increasingly hard to find, and if you find a bottle, grab it. If you can get hold of the french or american oak versions, grab as many as you can!