Description

Sullivans Cove Single Cask XO Brandy (700ml)

Volume: 700ml          ABV: 47.6%          Age: No Age Statement          Country: Australia

Cask No: TDB0005
Bottled: 12.03.2021

The Whisky

Experience the pinnacle of Australian distillation with the Sullivans Cove Single Cask XO Brandy (Batch TDB0005). While Sullivans Cove is globally revered for its world-class single malt whisky, their “XO” (Extra Old) Brandy program represents a hidden frontier of luxury. This 700ml expression was matured in a single 200 litre French oak tawny cask for over a decade, resulting in a spirit of extraordinary depth and texture.

Presented at 47.6% ABV, Batch TDB0005 is a masterclass in patient maturation. Sullivans Cove produces brandy using the same traditional methods as their whisky—utilising wash from local Tasmanian grapes and distilling in their copper pot stills. Because this is a Single Cask release, it captures a unique moment in time that can never be replicated, offering a richness and complexity that rivals the finest Cognacs in the world.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Deeply aromatic and indulgent. You are greeted by a lush wave of stewed plums and dried apricots, followed by the classic tawny influence of toasted walnuts and maple syrup. As it opens, delicate floral notes of honeysuckle mingle with the richness of old leather and dark manuka honey.

Palate: The mouthfeel is exceptionally oily and coating. It delivers a decadent burst of sticky date pudding and orange marmalade, which transitions into a mid-palate of dark chocolate and espresso. The French oak provides a sophisticated structure of baking spices—nutmeg and cinnamon—while the fruit stays bright and jammy throughout.

Finish: Incredibly long, drying, and elegant. The finish lingers with toasted oak and raisin sweetness, finally tapering off with a final, warming flourish of clove and aged grape skins.

Distillery

Sullivans Cove whisky was established in 1994 at Sullivans Cove in Hobart, the birthplace of Tasmanian whisky. Sullivans Cove is the spot where the British first established the settlement that would grow into the City of Hobart. Being a penal colony, the locals were quite fond of a drink with 16 legal distilleries and countless illegal stills operating by 1824. However, in 1838 Governor John Franklin imposed a total prohibition on distilling that lasted 150 years and was only overturned in the early 1990s! Since then the Tasmanian whisky industry has developed into a small but significant force on the global scene. Sullivans Cove is one of Tasmania’s most successful and widely distributed whiskies, available in 11 countries and the winner of some of the most prestigious international whisky awards.

Overall Review

The Sullivans Cove Single Cask XO Brandy Batch TDB0005 is a “connoisseur’s brandy,” praised for its incredible balance of fruit and wood. Critics have lauded its “whisky-drinker’s palate,” noting that the 47.6% ABV provides a robust backbone that makes it a mandatory purchase for collectors who appreciate high end Tasmanian spirits and the art of single cask maturation.