JohnS Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I stumbled across this article in today's news. It's nice to know that Tasmanian whisky is currently so highly rated amonst whisky aficionados. http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/top-drop/tasmanian-whisky-cleans-up-again-at-world-whisky-awards-20150320-1m3rvw.html 2
TCContender Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 Wow, will have to track down a bottle, whisky has definitely moved beyond the traditional countries known for its production. The success of the craft beer industry really set the stage for some phenomenal small batch distillers. Thanks for sharing an interesting read!
JohnS Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 My pleasure. A friendly word of warning though, Sullivan's Cove bottles are hard to track down. I was fortunate to pick up a bottle last year, they are around here in Australia currently, but not in great quantities.
TCContender Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Sadly, once whisky start winning awards and gaining notoriety, they get very difficult to obtain. I will certainly keep an eye out for Sullivan's Cove.
Mr.T Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Thanks for sharing. I have an unopened bottle of Sullivan's Cove. Looking forward to trying it when the moment calls for it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
sengjc Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 It's a bittersweet win: on one hand, it's great for the local industry. On the other, I can hardly find a bottle of Tassie drop on the shelf anymore (Hellyers Road does not count).
JohnS Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 It's a bittersweet win: on one hand, it's great for the local industry. On the other, I can hardly find a bottle of Tassie drop on the shelf anymore (Hellyers Road does not count). Yes, agreed!
jat Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Word of caution. The bottles offer up for competition are generally not the same as found in retail outlets. Competition bottles come from casks identified early in their ageing and they're monitored for change and not blended with the rest in the storehouse. Remember what you buy, even the single malts are a blend of casks to even out the highs and lows across the storehouse and from season to season once they're passed the ageing mark. I don't know if Sullivans have done this, but after tasting their product against some of the other in Tas, particularly Nant and Overeem, I'm a bit sceptical that their retail stock could have won such acclaim. But then taste like all things personal is subjective. And I wouldn't refuse a drop if offered. 3
sengjc Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Word of caution. The bottles offer up for competition are generally not the same as found in retail outlets. Competition bottles come from casks identified early in their ageing and they're monitored for change and not blended with the rest in the storehouse. Remember what you buy, even the single malts are a blend of casks to even out the highs and lows across the storehouse and from season to season once they're passed the ageing mark. I don't know if Sullivans have done this, but after tasting their product against some of the other in Tas, particularly Nant and Overeem, I'm a bit sceptical that their retail stock could have won such acclaim. But then taste like all things personal is subjective. And I wouldn't refuse a drop if offered. I think in the case of the Sullivan's Cove, the competition bottle that won the 2014 WWA is the same as the retail bottle as the batch number had been identified. The challenge would be to find that particular batch on retail for a decent price is all. It is interesting you would point that out about the Sullivan's Cove when compared to other Tassie drops - when the similar opportunity was presented to me during the 2013 Whisky Live Melbourne, I can say I prefer Overeem to the Sullivan's Cove. Nant and Lark are ok but a little rustic and rough edged for my taste though this gets ironed out with water.
Guest Robo Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 I visited Sullivan Cove Distillery way back in 2000 when no one even mentioned Tasmania as a single malt producer. I was amazed by the quality product from Sullivan Cove. In fact, it was Sullivan Cove that first attracted me to single malt whiskey, and now single malt whiskey is hands down my favourite spirit. Unfortunately, Tasmanian whiskey is rarely found in Canada.
Guest rob Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 A friend of mine is a store manager at one of our large liquor retail chains (Dan Murphy's) was telling me years ago about the quality of Sullicans Cove (on a dollar / quality scale).... He was saying even when discounted to $80 he couldn't sell it.... No one would buy it, even when he thoroughly recommended it. (I bought a mixed 6 pack back then!) He's saying the same people who scoffed at it then and payed it no attention at $80 are knocking each other out of the way to pay over $200 per bottle.
JohnS Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 A friend of mine is a store manager at one of our large liquor retail chains (Dan Murphy's) was telling me years ago about the quality of Sullicans Cove (on a dollar / quality scale).... He was saying even when discounted to $80 he couldn't sell it.... No one would buy it, even when he thoroughly recommended it. (I bought a mixed 6 pack back then!) He's saying the same people who scoffed at it then and payed it no attention at $80 are knocking each other out of the way to pay over $200 per bottle. Good one you, Rob! I don't think any Dan Murphy's stock it anymore, currently!
OZCUBAN Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Word of caution. The bottles offer up for competition are generally not the same as found in retail outlets. Competition bottles come from casks identified early in their ageing and they're monitored for change and not blended with the rest in the storehouse. Remember what you buy, even the single malts are a blend of casks to even out the highs and lows across the storehouse and from season to season once they're passed the ageing mark. I don't know if Sullivans have done this, but after tasting their product against some of the other in Tas, particularly Nant and Overeem, I'm a bit sceptical that their retail stock could have won such acclaim. But then taste like all things personal is subjective. And I wouldn't refuse a drop if offered. I have heard the same Jason the guy at my local said to me that most of the whiskeys offered up the WWA are usually very small batch never intended for public release so the bottom line is in the case of Sullivan's cove you'll never get to taste the award winning drop such a shame
sengjc Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 ...Unfortunately, Tasmanian whiskey is rarely found in Canada. Likewise, good Canadian 100% Rye is rare in Australia.
JohnS Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 I went to my local Dan Murphy's store ( a liquor distribution outlet in Australia) in Hurstville, Sydney last Wednesday and was surpirised to find that they had American Oak for $AU199 and the award-winning French Oak for $AU339. They had about 7 bottles of each. I went back tonight, 5 days later, to find all the bottles of French Oak gone. I inquired politely at the desk, out of curiosity, as to where the bottles were, because I presumed that the bottles could not be sold out in that time. The assistant informed that they were purchased on Saturday by 3 customers buying 2 and 3 bottles at a time. "He who hesitates is lost", wrote Joseph Addison in the 18th century...how true, friends!
sengjc Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I went to my local Dan Murphy's store ( a liquor distribution outlet in Australia) in Hurstville, Sydney last Wednesday and was surpirised to find that they had American Oak for $AU199 and the award-winning French Oak for $AU339. They had about 7 bottles of each. 2015-03-25 16.49.51.jpg I went back tonight, 5 days later, to find all the bottles of French Oak gone. I inquired politely at the desk, out of curiosity, as to where the bottles were, because I presumed that the bottles could not be sold out in that time. The assistant informed that they were purchased on Saturday by 3 customers buying 2 and 3 bottles at a time. "He who hesitates is lost", wrote Joseph Addison in the 18th century...how true, friends! At $339 a bottle of the French Oak... not sure if there was much lost. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD 1
JohnS Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 At $339 a bottle of the French Oak... not sure if there was much lost. No doubt you are right, as I trust your palate. I can live with my bottle of Double Cask purchased for a more reasonable $AU110 a year ago. I still saw the American Oak there tonight, that stock has not moved!
Rye Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I really like the Sullivan's cove that I've tried. Both nice, but I preferred the cask strength
Rye Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I'm not sure why it says "Australian" on the bottles here and "Tasmanian" on the ones there...
Guest rob Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I'm not sure why it says "Australian" on the bottles here and "Tasmanian" on the ones there... Import versus export bottles. The Tasmanian designation is for our local market.
Baldy Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 Funny. I tried the same with @Rye and don't like it at all. Not for my taste.
Guest rob Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 No doubt you are right, as I trust your palate. I can live with my bottle of Double Cask purchased for a more reasonable $AU110 a year ago. I still saw the American Oak there tonight, that stock has not moved! The American oak would be the flavour of the month if it had won a significant award last year. The French cask that won was from a particular barrel, and by no means represents the quality in the rest of the casks - let alone anything that is bottles 12 months down the track. The American oak will be gone soon as well, as people beat themselves up, to empty their wallets for anything that bares the name. People are sheep.
JohnS Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 The American oak will be gone soon as well, as people beat themselves up, to empty their wallets for anything that bares the name. People are sheep. Definitely...you are correct, Rob. I guess I was greatly surprised by two things this week. Firstly, that the French Oak was in stock and secondly, just how quickly it was out of stock!
sengjc Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 ...as I trust your palate... That's a dangerous thing but thanks, nonetheless. I don't know, $339 for a bottle of Tassie whisky just seems over the top. The bottleshop in Melbourne where I got some last year has just received new stock of this and they have it for sale at $350. Just over the Christmas period, one of the local Dan Murphy's had a few bottles at $190...
Guest rob Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 The cellar door at Sullivan's Cove online store are sold out of both the Double Cask and French. They were priced about $20 more than Dan's. If buy the double at Dan's price (but they're sold out too) but the current pricing of the French and American is gouging in my opinion. I'd be buying a list of other stuff before I buy at those prices. Nicks have Glenfarclas 1 litre for $105 at the moment - that's insane!
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