Old & Rare
17 YEAR OLD FRENCH OAK SECOND-FILL
Cask Nº: TD0028
One of our oldest French oak second-fill matured single casks, this 17 year old whisky captivates with its intricate layers and perfect balance.
Sold out
This whisky is no longer available, but to find out when more will be released, please join our mailing list.
Cask info
Old & Rare French Oak Second-Fill
Single cask TD0028 was distilled on the 10th of August 2005 and decanted on the 22nd of March 2023, ageing in a single 300L French oak second-fill cask for 17 years and 7 months. Bottled at 48.3% ABV, this cask yielded only 415 bottles.
Second-fill casks allow for long-term maturation without being overtaken by the influence of oak or pre-fill. The result is a whisky of perfect balance: our signature spirit character harmonises seamlessly with the soft oak profile, allowing the fruity esters from our copper Alembic still, Myrtle, to shine through. In addition to the notes of dark jammy berries, aromatic spice and bright fruit, these whiskies exhibit a depth and refinement that can only come from age.
As single cask bottlings, every tiny batch is different, expressing the unique characteristics of each barrel. Each bottle comes in a handmade, solid oak presentation box, and includes a letter of authenticity signed by our Distillery Manager.
DETAILS
TD0028
17 years, 7 months old
48.3%
1.98 kg 11 x 11 x 24 cm
"Just delightful. Two lives ago, this cask was saturated in Tawny, with the spirit of the life prior to this speaking very much that narrative. This life, however, is one generation removed, and the Tawny memories have faded. What hasn’t faded is the complexity. It is no small feat to attain such balance and complexity in a French oak matured spirit, without the aid of an immediate fortified prefill. This is a whisky to sit with and listen to its stories."
TASTING NOTES
-
Nose
Rich, sultry and sublime. Freshly baked croissant with thick orange marmalade, honeycomb, dried rose petals and jam sponge with vanilla cream frosting. Going deeper yields sticky gingerbread, spiced pears and earthy tones of honey glazed parsnip, burnished leather and the distinctive anise of toasted caraway seeds.
-
Palate
The texture is luxurious and immediately coats the palate with intense orange blossom, sandalwood and notes of tart summer strawberries and ginger wine. Mouth-watering cinnamon spice with raspberry jam brings to mind a plump jam doughnut. Red currant jelly, liquorice allsorts, vine leaves, sugar snap peas and old English toffee, with the sweet tang of cloudy lemonade on a warm day.
-
Finish
A gentle crescendo of flavour showcasing the best of Sullivans after this long in the barrel. It has taken a great many years to develop the complex and delightful interplay on show here between spirit and cask; the brine and citrussy anise rolling between layers of oak and spice. As the waves subside there are playful notes of granny smith apple, cantaloupe melon and greengage, with a not unnoticed, and rather tantalizing hint of the rim of an expertly made margarita.
French Oak
Second-Fill
'Refill' or 'second-fill' means this barrel has been used to mature Sullivans Cove whisky before. Refill casks are a canvas for spirit character to shine. If you asked around here at Sullivans Cove, you'd quickly find out our refill barrels are a staff favourite.
All French Oak“Our dedication to long-term maturation has remained the same since 1994, enabling us to consistently release Australia’s oldest whiskies, a choice underpinned by one ethos - the whisky comes good when the whisky comes good; we don’t bottle to a schedule, instead, we are guided by the liquid.”
“Our dedication to long-term maturation has remained the same since 1994, enabling us to consistently release Australia’s oldest whiskies, a choice underpinned by one ethos - the whisky comes good when the whisky comes good; we don’t bottle to a schedule, instead, we are guided by the liquid.”