Old & Rare
24 YEAR OLD AMERICAN OAK SECOND-FILL
Cask Nº: HH0004
Laid down during our fifth year of operation, this cask offers a rare glimpse into the earliest chapters of our distillery's history.
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Cask info
Old & Rare American Oak Second-Fill
Single Cask HH0004 was filled on October 5th, 1999, and patiently matured for 24 years until it reached its peak on January 5th, 2024.
Following its remarkable, decades-long maturation, HH0004 has yielded just 335 bottles at 52% ABV. The style of spirit crafted in 1999 was designed for long-term maturation, and the rich rewards of those additional years are abundant in this exceptional cask.
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.
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
HH0004
24 years, 2 months
52%
2.55 kg 12 x 12 x 26 cm
"Deeply inviting. The epitome of well-aged Sullivans Cove spirit at its full potential. With the transformation this cask has undertaken over 24 years, this whisky reflects a careful and patient approach, illustrating the significance of nurturing the spirit throughout its maturation journey. The result is nothing less than astounding, HH0004 exudes depth and complexity from the moment it's nosed, with a rich interplay of floral, sweet, and savoury elements."
TASTING NOTES
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Nose
Deeply floral, dark and treacly with nuances of anise and spice. An acutely integrated tapestry of savoury, floral and syrupy-sweet notes, the nose opens with buttered popcorn, dark, oaky maple syrup, and a deep cherry/strawberry jam note. Waxy tropical flower and tropical fruit notes (pineapple, frangipani, and coconut) come next, as aromatic base notes of gingerbread, sweetened red bean paste and lots of true cinnamon rise up. The oaky maple syrup note then progresses into rich cacao as the whisky receives air in the glass, and anise and clove weave throughout the layers.
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Palate
The texture and weight of the spirit is incredibly thick and oily. Walnuts and hazelnuts dusted with icing sugar, toasted almonds, more maple syrup and rich cacao welcome the palate. Quickly met by a lathering of leatherwood honey, a burst of tingly oak spice, green peppercorn, and aloe vera. A herbal layer rests above (chamomile and mint), as savoury wafts of beef rendang and a prominent cinnamon/nutmeg note takes its place within the framework of the biscuity base. As the initial flurry of oak spices settle, the creamy and confectionery-driven side to the palate comes forward with taffy, Jersey caramels, marshmallow, and crème caramel.
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Finish
A beautiful crescendo into the finish brings about deep leathery vanillic wafts, cantaloupe with icing sugar, dehydrated papaya and rose perfume. Profound length sees caramel sauce meet bright refreshing flickers of more aloe vera (as the palate) and sweet lemon lollies, as the finish.
American 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 American 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.”