A $14 million dollar distillery revamp puts the award-winning whisky brand Sullivans Cove in a prestigious new lane of its own. Situated in a quaint pocket of Hobart, Tasmania, there’s plenty of reasons to make the 20-minute drive from the city centre to the liquid gold sanctuary when on your next trip to the Apple Isle.
The refurbishment coincides with the brand’s 30th anniversary; chiming in a new era for Sullivans Cove who has also bottled an amazing new drop to celebrate the milestone – taking whisky from each decade of its past, to craft a new collectable bottle.
From the moment you walk into the well-appointed new tasting room and anniversary bar, you’re drawn into the rich palette that riffs on the bottled narrative here. Think interior accents of vanilla and caramel that mimic the spirit itself; elegant, vivacious and a little mysterious too.
The distillery comes with two new copper pot stills and an abundance of state-of-the-art technology.
The space is purposefully earthed in copper and reddish-brown tones; think timber panelling that’s tactile and heart-warming, while velvet chairs and low oak tables keep it intimate. You momentarily feel that you could be anywhere in the world – from an underground whisky bar in Tokyo to a chic den in New York.
Sullivans Cove has also added two new stills to the revamped site – a wash still and a spirit still named Eva and Goldie – which now accompany Myrtle – the original copper pot still has been instrumental in crafting their spirit for the last three decades.
Designed by Yaron Kanor from Studio Y in Melbourne – where sleek architecture and upgraded interior leans on all that is contemporary and heritage-like at once.
You get a prime view of the distillery from the tasting room which can accomodate 100 guests inside – this is where you can sip and sample the whisky.
Guests now have a chance to do guided tours to see how Sullivans Cove strike gold with every bottle – it makes for a perfect destination for tourists and whisky enthusiasts looking to do something bespoke when in Hobart.
What an absolute privilege it was to sit beside Distillery Manager Heather Tillott and hear her talk about a love of whisky distilling and perfecting the flavour profiles with each blended bottle she helps craft.
Tillott made the move to Hobart over a decade ago from Sydney; swapping wine making for whisky curiosity that drives her work agenda each and every day.
She’s hardly one to take the credit for the accolades; it’s a team effort here and tasting panels are part of the process well before they bottle a spirit.
Founded in 1994, Sullivans Cove is Australia’s most decorated whisky distillery, having won World’s Best at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014, 2018 and 2019.
To help celebrate the 30th anniversary and official opening of the new site, Sullivans Cove enlisted members of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra as its musical backdrop for this intimate soiree. From syrupy string solos to dramatic filmic momentum, it was the perfect score for the evening.
Crafting the 30th anniversary Sullivans Cove bottle is a career highlight for Tillott.
“Our whisky is predominantly single cask and small batch and we make a few hundred bottles per barrel. Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” says Heather Tillott.
“It’s special to be able to share this one that celebrates our three decades and three eras of Sullivans Cove,” she adds.
“We wanted to create a whisky blend that would clearly show something that was unique as an introduction of each era.
“The first era of Sullivans Cove was epitomised by a heavy, oily spirit and has become a hallmark of our spirit to this day. We have kept that running through all of our spirit styles since we started,” she explains.
“The middle years were very fruity and vibrant with lots of tropical notes, and the more recent years, we’re taking a bit of both and adding some interesting spice to it as well,” says Tillott.
According to Managing Director Adam Sable, the new facility is an amazing moment in the brand’s history.
“The expanded distillery and new visitor experience elevates the space to the same exceptional standard as our liquid, offering guests a luxurious setting in which to enjoy our whisky while overlooking the working distillery where it all comes to life,” says Adam Sable.
They say it takes a village; here it takes a close-knit island to strike liquid gold.
We love that you get a chance to sample some rare whiskies, learn about the distilling processes and lean into the magic that happens at Sullivans Cove.
The cult-like status of their releases speaks volumes – it means their product is available only via an online ballot, or on-pour at a select number of venues, operating almost exclusively direct to consumer. Get to know the distillery’s tasting room bar team and you’re in for a treat.
