Heather Tillott
Head Distiller
Heather is our Head Distiller, and manages all aspects of the whisky making process. Originally from the NSW South Coast, Heather is a fifteen year veteran of the hospitality industry and has worked at Sullivans Cove since 2015. With a background in winemaking, her palate and technical knowledge are outstanding, and her passion for Tassie whisky is boundless. Her hobbies include geeking, smelling and cycling, and her favourite drop is Sullivans Cove American Oak Single Cask, neat (and preferably at cask strength).
Patrick Maguire
Senior Distiller
Patrick is the man behind the world’s best single malt whisky. Descended from convicts on both sides of his family and born and raised in Tasmania, he is a true representation of the Tassie spirit. One of the founding fathers of the Tasmanian whisky industry, his passion and vision has survived countless ups and downs.
In 2018, Patrick was inducted into the global Whisky Hall of Fame. The third Aussie ever to be inducted, this accolade places Patrick among the world’s most influential whisky personalities.
Kirsten Laurie
Production Manager
Simon Loader
Chief Financial Officer
Michael Eastman
Inventory Coordinator
Michael is one of the most experienced members of our team, and is currently our guy for everything related to stock control. Unflappable and always affable, Michael has a degree in sustainability and environmental management. As well as working to make Sullivans Cove a greener operation, he also brings years of experience working in retail spirits sales. A Tassie local for most of his life, he loves the outdoor lifestyle and can’t go past a drop of Sullivans Cove American Oak.
Sam Cumming
Sales Manager
Sam is responsible for getting our whiskies to the people who want to drink them. A sucker for a good story, he’ll do whatever he can to chase down bottles for our longstanding customers and loyal fans. Sam has been selling booze in one form or another for years, with a long history in sales is Australia’s craft scene from breweries to distilleries, as well as behind the bar in some of the country’s top venues. When he’s not behind his desk or on the phone, Sam can be found tinkering with motorbikes, in the water spearfishing for some fresh seafood or twanging his guitars.
Ally Bhana
Cellar Door Manager
Ally is our Cellar Door Manager and a true whisky fanatic. Originally from New Zealand, she decided to make the move to Hobart to learn more about the local industry after hearing about the growing whisky scene in Tasmania . On her days off, you might find Ally attending whisky tastings, visiting distilleries, or writing up tasting notes. Ally loves sharing her passion for Sullivans Cove and telling the story of the distillery and the people behind the whisky.
Phillip “Jacko” Jackson
Warehouse Supervisor
Tammy Shearing
Bottling Room Supervisor
Tammy is responsible for our bottling room, painstakingly washing, filling, labelling, polishing and packing every single bottle of Sullivans Cove by hand. Although a whisky novice when she joined the team, she now has a great appreciation for the product, the process of distilling, and enjoys an occasional dram of American Oak. Tasmanian born from convict heritage, Tammy enjoys exploring this beautiful state, loves spending time with her four children and three grandies, and likes nothing more than laying back to read a good book on a secluded beach.
Charlie Ketsimur
Distiller
Charlie is one of our longest-standing distillers. Not only does he keep the still bubbling along day and night, he also acts as a mentor to the younger folks on the production crew and always works with incredible patience and attention to detail. Charlie also helps out with logistics around the distillery, making sure all the various bits and pieces that help us label, pack and send our products are in order. He’s partial to a glass of bubbles on a Friday night, and never fails to pick up a round.
Louise Breen
Administration Supervisor
Lou is the glue that holds the Sullivans Cove business together, with years of experience working across local Tasmanian tourism businesses in sales, marketing and finance. From managing the administration of our distillery, organising social functions and occasionally acting as a personal mentor to the crew when we need advice or support, Lou is always here ensuring our ship sails smoothly. A Hobart local, Lou is happiest in the outdoors or around the people she loves, fishing from her kayak in the local waterways or spending time with her beautiful family.
Edward White
Logistics Coordinator
Ed is responsible for everything coming and going from Sullivans Cove, including picking, packing and shipping every precious bottle that leaves the distillery, making sure it gets where it’s going quickly and safely. After moving down from Queensland with his young family in 2019 specifically to join our team, Ed has quickly become part of the family and settled in to the relaxed pace of Tassie life.
Tyron Tsiaousis
Distiller
Ty hails from South Africa, but has lived in Australia for the last nine years, now as a proud Tasmanian. With 13 years experience in the hospitality industry, Ty is also one of the friendliest people you’re ever likely to meet. While previously our Cellar Door Supervisor, Ty now spends most of his time out the back making whisky and helping to manage the huge job of collecting and cataloguing cask samples for our tasting panel, but if you’re lucky you’ll still find him doing occasional tours and tastings with a passion for whisky that’s nothing short of infectious.
Cameron Ross
Cellar Door
Cam is one of the most knowledgeable members of our Cellar Door team, and is responsible for making sure the crew stays up to date on new releases, tasting notes and cask details. Although born in Brisbane, Cam moved down to Tassie soon after for the more agreeable weather. He has worked in hotels and tourism for many years and his affinity for talking all things whisky puts him right at home at the Cellar Door chatting to visitors. His favourite dram is our rare American Oak Cask Strength (at a whopping 69.1%!), but when that’s not within arms reach, he’ll have an unfiltered American Oak Single Cask, neat.
Richard Mathews
Distiller
Rich is a member of our production crew after moving across from the Cellar Door team, and is one of the most passionate whisky nerds around. With a collection of over 200 bottles at home, his knowledge of whisky is second to none. Starting off his career as a mechanic, his love for Tasmanian whisky soon took over, and he now spends his time practicing his dad jokes in between still runs. If he isn’t working, you may find him enjoying a dram of our very limited American oak cask strength release.
Joy McConnochie
Distiller
Joy joined our production crew in 2019 after moving across from the Cellar Door. Born in New Zealand but raised in Hobart, she has worked in hospitality for over 10 years and loves sharing her passion for Tasmanian whisky with anyone who’ll listen. Her favourite Sullivans Cove whisky is French Oak ex tawny, neat.
Reuben McConnochie
Distiller
Reuben is one of the newest members of our production team, but hopes one day to be a part of the furniture. He has years experience on both sides of some of Hobart’s best gin and whisky bars and there’s nothing in this world he loves more than a dram of Tasmanian whisky. With his extensive knowledge and passion for hospitality and craft spirits, he’s right at home here producing some of the world’s best whisky. Though originally hailing from new Zealand, he’s full of Tasmanian spirit in more ways than one!
Lindsay Pringle
Bottling Room
Lindsay represents a big leap forward for Sullivans Cove as our second person on the bottling line! Alongside Tammy, Lindsay makes sure every label is straight, every bottle is shiny and every release of Sullivans Cove is carefully packed for its journey on. A 7th generation Tasmanian, she loves all things Tassie, so when she’s not at work you might catch her enjoying a scenic hike across our beautiful island, or relaxing at home with a cuppa.
Andrew Barclay
Cellar Door
Andy is the newest member of our Cellar Door Team, leading tours and tastings for visitors to the distillery as well as helping out with bottling, fulfilment and making improvements to the Cellar Door and distillery grounds. Andy has 12 years experience in hospitality working in various venues around Hobart that gave him a passion for Tasmanian spirits. Hobart born and raised, his Australian heritage extends all the way back to The First Fleet on his mother’s side, while his father was born in Scotland, so Andy feels like he’s got whisky in his blood.
