Tasmania’s Sullivans Cove has announced the release of the Sullivans Cove 25 Year Old, the oldest single malt whisky ever bottled in Australia and one of the oldest produced by any new world whisky distillery.
The release marks a milestone not only for the Hobart-based distillery but for the broader Australian and global whisky sectors, underlining the potential of long-term maturation outside the traditional whisky regions.
Reaching 25 years of age, the whisky represents Sullivans Cove’s commitment to slow, deliberate fermentations, precise distillation, and the use of full-size casks to enable natural development over decades. The distillery said the release is the result of decades of patience and careful cask management, reflecting both its heritage and Tasmania’s suitability for extended ageing.
“A seamless expression of spirit, oak and ex-Bourbon cask integration, showcasing balance, complexity, texture and layered flavour. A beautifully curated whisky, richly rewarding from start to finish, and a testament to the refinement and possibilities of long-term maturation,” said Sullivans Cove Distillery Manager, Heather Tillott.
Two single casks make up the release. Cask No. HH0056, matured in a 200L American Oak ex-Bourbon barrel, yielded just 134 bottles available by invitation, while Cask No. HH0010, a 300L American Oak Refill cask, produced 349 bottles to be released via ballot. Tillott described HH0010 as “a benchmark of balancing the interesting and delicious… a profound display of age and character, and an enduring piece of Tasmanian and global whisky history.”
The casks were laid down in 1999 by then Distillery Manager and Owner Patrick Maguire, during the early years of Tasmania’s whisky revival. “To see two of our casks mature out to 25 years is something we did not expect. These casks were filled during the early days of the distillery and distilling in Tasmania. We had hopes that our locally grown barley and pure Tasmanian water would be the basis for great things,” Maguire said.
Sullivans Cove CEO Andy Gaunt said the 25 Year Old was more than a rare single cask release. “It’s a living record of our history, proof of what patience and conviction can achieve, and a statement of what world whisky has become. Twenty-five years ago, this was an audacious experiment. Today, it stands as proof that with skill, craftsmanship, and patience, great whiskies can come from anywhere in the world – especially here in Tasmania.”
The launch also highlights Tasmania’s growing international reputation as a whisky destination. Sarah Kingston Clark, CEO of Tourism Tasmania, said: “This extraordinary release speaks to the very soul of Tasmanian whisky – shaped by our pristine environment, our climate, and a culture of patience and craft. Sullivans Cove not only elevates Tasmania’s reputation on the global stage for world-class whisky but also reminds visitors that some of the most remarkable stories of flavour and time are being written right here on our island.”
The Sullivans Cove 25 Year Old reinforces the distillery’s standing as a pioneer of Australia’s whisky industry and a benchmark for the world whisky category.
25 Year Old Single Cask No HH0056 – Matured in a 200L American oak ex-Bourbon cask, just 134 bottles, by invitation only. For enquiries about this special cask please contact concierge@sullivanscove.com
25 Year Old Single Cask No HH0010 – Matured in a 300L American Oak Second-Fill cask, 349 bottles, available via ballot.
The ballot for Single Cask No HH0010 opened at 6am (AEST), 23 October.
Together, these two single casks yield fewer than 500 bottles worldwide, each a tribute to the foresight of those who laid them down.
See highlights from the launch of these whiskies:
