We’re moving Down Under today. The Asian whisky scene is much closer to Australia of course, so it’s not surprising they’re looking at Sullivan’s Cove or Hellyer’s Road for single cask releases. These two releases were bottled for The Antelope Macau, but the Sullivan’s Cove is a good example of how Asian bottlers like to cooperate. The Antelope is on the label, but they also mention Lucky Choice, Kanpaikai, Bar Code, Caky and Two Moons.
Sullivan’s Cove 18 yo 2006 (47,5%, OB for The Antelope and friends 2025, barrel #TD0158, 154 btl.)
Nose: a carpenter walks into a sweet shop. Rich and silky at the same time. Lots of coconut cream, tinned pineapple, banana and honey. Big vanilla as well. Then fresh oak shavings and a hint of varnish. Luckily there’s enough lemon and green apple to break the sweetness, keeping it from becoming bloated.
Mouth: quite classic, just a little over-oaked in my opinion. The citrus fruits become slightly bitter grapefruit peelings and salty preserved lemons, along with nutmeg and ginger. Green and white pepper too. Mid-palate some nice mango notes appear. Then back to plain oak shavings, with some vanilla cake and green banana in the distance.
Finish: quite long, a mix of zesty lemons, sweet wood, toasted marshmallow and fresh oak spice.
I’m generally not a fan of these active casks. A lot of nice elements here, Still available, e.g. from Gommone in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Hellyer’s Road 20 yo 2003 (56,6%, OB for LMdW / The Antelope, cask #3114.06)
Nose: more stewed fruits. Lots of nectarines and peaches, guava and subtle lychee. Also oranges and orange blossom honey with candied ginger. It becomes increasingly tropical, also adding some sweet passion fruit purée. Quite a striking fruitiness, and the wood influence is more integrated than in the Sullivan’s Cove. A very subtle (volatile) diesel note in the distance.
Mouth: plenty of stone fruit (candy) again. Peaches, nectarines, kiwi and banana, still having the passion fruit. On the other hand it also imparts a heavily charred theme, with something of mocha, mint and a firm earthiness. Now that I think of it, could this be lightly peated? Some bushfire notes, roasted nuts and chocolate. Then chicory and salted caramel.
Finish: long, more spicy now (pepper, aniseed, green tea), with liquorice and flashes of fruit.
A spectacular nose, very fruity and full despite its relative simplicity. On the palate we found the same fruity core but also an earthiness, which I’m not sure fit in entirely. Heavily toasted casks again? Score: 89/100