Sullivans Cove 16 Years Old French Oak HH0516｜Tasmanian Single Malt

Sullivans Cove French Oak Ex-Tawny HH0516 is a Tasmanian single malt whisky drawn from a second-fill French oak ex-tawny cask and matured for exactly 16 years. Distilled in Hobart and bottled at natural cask strength, this single cask release represents one of the most significant expressions in Sullivans Cove’s modern history.

French Oak Ex-Tawny Maturation

The distillery matured HH0516 in a second-fill French oak cask previously seasoned with Australian tawny, a fortified wine style traditionally associated with long ageing and oxidative complexity. This cask type allows the spirit to remain expressive while introducing depth, structure, and layered sweetness.

As a result, the whisky develops richness without excess oak dominance. The French oak supports the malt character, while the ex-tawny influence contributes dried fruit intensity, cocoa depth, and subtle rancio notes that unfold gradually.

Single Cask Provenance

Sullivans Cove released this whisky from a single cask, numbered HH0516, yielding a total outturn of just 486 bottles. Each bottle captures a specific moment shaped by cask history, warehouse conditions, and Tasmania’s cool maritime climate.

The distillery bottled this release at cask strength, without chill filtration and with natural colour, preserving the whisky’s full texture and aromatic integrity.

Tasting Profile

Nose
Christmas cake soaked in aged Australian tawny, blood orange, dark cherry, roasted chestnuts, milk chocolate, and gentle old-oak spice.

Palate
Rich and viscous. Fig jam, sticky date pudding, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, and nutmeg, layered with rancio and deep dried-fruit character. The French oak integrates seamlessly, adding structure without overshadowing the spirit.

Finish
Exceptionally long. Dark toffee, black tea, old leather, and a quiet earthy note reminiscent of Tasmanian highland forest floor, a characteristic often revealed by second-fill French oak maturation.

Recognition & Context

HH0516 has received significant international recognition, reflecting its standing within the global single cask category. These accolades place the whisky among the most discussed and referenced modern Tasmanian single malt releases.

(Awards listed below for reference and historical context.)

Bottle Information

• Distilled: 30 September 2005

• Bottled: 5 October 2021

• Cask: HH0516, second-fill French oak ex-Australian tawny (300L)

• Age: 16 years

• ABV: 47.9%

• Outturn: 486 bottles

• Filtration: Non-chill-filtered

• Colour: Natural

A Landmark French Oak Expression

Sullivans Cove 16 Years Old French Oak Ex-Tawny Cask HH0516 suits collectors and enthusiasts seeking a definitive single cask reference. Whether explored slowly or preserved as part of a curated collection, it stands as a benchmark expression shaped by French oak, fortified wine influence, and long Tasmanian maturation.

• Explore more Sullivans Cove French Oak whisky

• Discover other Special Cask and HH series releases

• Browse the full Sullivans Cove single malt whisky range