1 3

Old & Rare

24 Year Old American Oak Apera Finish

Cask Nº HH0005

$2,272.73 (AUD)
$2,272.73 AUD

Matured in American oak across two distinct casks, this stands as one of the most significant and limited releases in our history.

Ballot release

The ballot for this whisky opens on
Monday 12 May 2025 at 10:00am AEST
Subscribe to be notified:

Subscribe
How our ballot works

This whisky is released via ballot to ensure everyone has a fair chance to experience it. Join our mailing list for more information on upcoming releases and to be able to enter the ballot process. Read our Ballot FAQ for more information. Strictly limited to one bottle per household.

View full details

  • 1

    Join

    Ensure you’re subscribed to our mailing list – it’s the only way to get information on upcoming releases. We email our subscribers before every release with all the details.

  • 2

    Enter

    Enter the ballot via your email (one entry per household) for your chance to purchase a bottle. We partner with an authentication system to ensure every entry is legitimate. A part of this process is providing your payment details to help us know your entry is genuine.

  • 3

    Enjoy

    If your ballot is successful, congratulations – your whisky will be automatically purchased and delivered to your door. If you missed out, we’ll boost your entry the next time you enter a ballot.

    Ballot FAQs
Cask info

Old & Rare American Oak

24 Year Old Single Cask Nº HH0005 was first filled into a 300L American oak cask in October 1999. After almost 18 years, it was decanted in June 2017 and transferred to its final cask - an American oak 225L ex-Apera cask - in September 2017. There it spent its final seven years maturing before being decanted in October 2024.

After an incredible, decades-long maturation, HH0004 yielded just 324 bottles at 51.1%.

Some casks demand us to look deeper to ensure they realise their full potential - HH0005 did exactly that; it asked us to reconsider what a finishing cask could be. Typical of Sullivans Cove’s spirit of this era, this whisky was bold, meaty, and full-bodied from the very beginning. However, there was a greater depth of balance to be discovered, and we felt that the delicacy of an American Oak ex-Apera cask would be the perfect match.

The bringing together of elements from two casks in order to find harmony takes time, patience, and trust in our intuition. Throughout the final seven years, while the whisky was finishing, we began to see a transformation - the robust and the delicate brought together in a truly remarkable way. The style of spirit we were producing in 1999 was destined for long-term maturation, and the benefits of those extra years are abundant in this cask. It’s creamy and textural, with a full body and a robust oak structure that truly reflects its extended maturation.

DETAILS
next
prev
Cask Nº

HH0005

Age

24 Years, 9 Months

Filled on

08/10/1999

Decanted on

16/10/2024

Bottles 324
ALC/VOL

51.1%

24 Year Old American Oak Apera Finish (HH0005)
24 Year Old American Oak Apera Finish (HH0005)

“Vanilla-laden oak, meaty and robust spirit from a bygone era, and the fun fruit of Apera have co-created pure brilliance under the unrushed guardianship of Sullivans Cove’s guiding palates. And yes, while this is a single cask finished in Apera, what has unfolded is not merely a finish - it’s a complete integration, where spirit and cask have truly married. Impeccably balanced, unmistakably Sullivans. And then, there’s the age - felt in the body, the texture, the citrus, the gamey notes. Telling of its time, and all the better for it.”

Heather Tillott, Distillery Manager

TASTING NOTES

  • Nose

    A captivating wave of chocolate and coconut - broad, full and inviting. Sweet and very fruity, with golden raisins and muscatels leading the way. The warmth of baking apples and walnuts grounds the richness, while nougat notes - thick cream, vanilla, sweet delicate spice and almonds - add a gentle opulence. Entirely beguiling. Bright flashes of orange peel follow, then loads and loads of banana milkshake takes you to the palate.

  • Palate

    Full-bodied with a sublime texture - thick silk, almost velvet. A layered expression of sweet timber and earth meets cherries, dark chocolate, and a delicate gamey quality. Notes of caramel toffee and buttercream fudge come in waves, with a buttery-nutty character unfolding through the mid-palate. Light floral nuances and citrus spice bring energy. There is a deep integration of Apera influence here - not merely surface-level, but embedded within the spirit and oak. Apple juice, fresh and vibrant, lingers.

  • Finish

    Gentle cinnamon gives way to a hint of clove and black pepper, warming the palate before the rich depth of chocolate begins to unfold. The finish is long and persistent, with layers of macadamia, hazelnut, and Nutella creating a smooth, nutty complexity. A touch of salted peanut brittle and maple syrup adds sweetness, while a light grip of oak lingers, leaving you reaching for more.