Review by: TOModera
Continuing on my multi review kick… wait, is it a kick if this is the second? When does something go from “that thing I did once or twice” to a “kick”?
So… continuing on what some might eventually call a “kick” or “just a phase” or “stop touching that in public”, here’s my second multireview, of which I have a special converging of themes for.
We’ve already gone over the potential “kick” I may or may not be on. SO that’s one. And also this is special because it’s the first Aussie whisky I’ve reviewed, so that’s two. I specially stood on my head for 2 hours to prepare, passed out and cracked my head off the credenza. If that doesn’t get me ready, I don’t want to be ready.
Just in case I may do a walkabout. And carry a knife. Don’t know yet.
Also this is part of my Unusual Cask Set reviews. I bought it while in England, and have been enjoying them quite a bit. Feel free to check out Hakushu Bourbon Barrel, Arran Malt: Amarone Cask or Balvenie Caribbean Cask: 14 year. Or don’t, really it doesn’t matter to me… too much…. please excuse me, I have something in my eye!
Finally, the second dram that I’m reviewing today comes from everyone’s favourite Uncle, UncleTobys. He was amazing in that he sent me this highly recommended (and hard to find) dram, and I don’t think I sang his praises enough for the Swap, as this is a rare sum bitch to find, so thanks UncleTobys for being so cool.
Well that’s enough rambling to fill my usual quota, let’s move along to the distillery.
Sullivan’s Cove was established in 1994 (or as Europeans call it, Tuesday), right in the birthplace of Tasmanian whisky, Hobart. According to history, this place had 16 distilleries and countless illegal stills back in the Penal colony days. Well, until prohibition kicked in and lasted 150 years, or as we call it, the 90s.
So yeah, the rest of the world was wondering about Blow while Tasmania was still wondering if booze should be tried. And you thought the 80s sucked for you.
Anyway, Sullivans Cove has since become a multi award winning small batch luxury Tasmanian whisky distiller, never chill filtering or adding any colour. And they use Tasmanian products.
Geez if they find the last Tasmanian Tigers in the wild they’ll win at Australia. Let’s see if they live up to the hype.
Sullivan’s Cove French Oak Cask
Distillery: Sullivans Cove Distillery.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Region: Australia.
ABV: 47.5%.
Age: Unknown.
Cask type: French Oak Cask.
Price: N/A in Ontario.
Color: Caramel
Nose: Pear, caramel, prickly, grapefruit, cream, lilac, passion fruit
Very fruity and deep. I should note that others have found a chocolate flavour, and I can see where they are coming from. For me it separated into a cream and deep fruit flavour however. It’s almost somewhere between a Canuck, a Highland, and a Lowland. Very nice, rich stuff.
Taste: Thick custard, plum, burn, caramel, peanuts, cardamon, peach juice, orange rind, ginger
This is really thick, you can tell they are making this the proper way. And the amount of fruit/sweetness/ginger is almost overpowering. Like having two back to back fruit burritos with Jamba Juice, except I didn’t shit myself afterwards.
Because I’m classy like that.
Finish: Sour Pear, fig pudding, popcorn, burnt meat
The finish was a little simple and tart, and there’s a burnt aspect to it, which I’ll later blame on a little bit of the port and a little bit of them watering it down to a still impressive 47.5% Abv. That being said, it’s still buttery, rich, and a little sour.
Conclusion: This could have been higher, and it has a great nose and taste to it. Reminds me of Pike Creek, personally, however with more mouth feel, taste, and energy to it. Like crystals man, it totally realigned my chakra.
Seriously though, it’s a good, young, well made whisky. It doesn’t pull punches, and has a decadent flavour. Buy this instead of any Dalmore other than the 15 year.
Final Score: 82.
Sullivan’s Cove Port Maturation Cask Strength
Received this sample from UncleTobys in a recent transpacific swap. He highly recommended it, to the point where I would have been a bad person to turn him down. I would have also been a bad person as this is really rare, and really friggin tasty.
Cause I’m classy.
Distillery: Sullivans Cove Distillery.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Region: Australia.
ABV: 60%. Cask Strength.
Age: 6 years. Distilled in 2000. Bottled in 2007.
Cask type: Port Wine Cask
Price: N/A in Ontario
Color: Chestnut
Nose: Raisins, caramel, red grapes, bubblegum, orange, coffee, cranberry, light rose, maple
This is potent. It smacks you in the face yelling “This. IS. AUSTRALIA!” Man that’s a beaut, in every hipster way I can say that. It’s sweet and extremely complex for something that is only 7 years and 11 months old.
Taste: A metric ton of Raspberry, cloves, burn (faded after 5 minutes of drinking), black licorice, sour pear, strawberry, lemon sorbet
Should note: I let this breathe for about 15 minutes, and then nosed it for about 10 minutes, and it still had a nice amount of burn in it. And it’s sweet. Different types of fruits, ice cream and tang to it all over the place. It’s young, so sweet is the main thing, yet there’s still some nice spice popping up out of the cracks of Mordor, attacking the Helms Deep of your mouth.
Finish: Cocoa, vanilla, sour red apple, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, little smoke, cumin
Somewhat sour, somewhat knockout finish. Where the taste may have been a little one note (or rather one and a half note), the finish is what a port whisky should be. Deep flavours, lots of spices, and just enough bitterness to get you through.
Conclusion: I’d say pick this up, but that would be mean as I’m pretty sure this was a very limited release from 6 years ago, so… fuck us I guess? Seriously though, this is a beast of a ported whisky. The youth shows through in the taste, but not by much. If this is what the Aussies are drinking, then I may have to find a job down there at some point so that I don’t have to keep shipping it in.
Final Score: 89.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 