Sullivans Cove French Oak Ex Apera Special Cask #11 TD273 Whisky 70cl

The Special Cask label is reserved for Sullivan Cove’s rarest whiskies. One of a kind releases that don’t fall into their usual French or American Oak styles, these whiskies must also have exceptional scores from a tasting panel and represent the heights of what Sullivans Cove can achieve. Each Special Cask release will be different, and only one or two casks will be released each year. These might be wine barrels, virgin oak, refills, or something else entirely, but if it’s got a green label, you can be sure you’re getting something unique and incredibly special.

Released in February, 2020 as a Distillery Exclusive this 300L first-fill French Oak ex-apera cask was decanted at twelve years old, at 47.5% ABV.

Nose: This is one is deliciously round on the nose. Melons and ripe cantaloupe with an umami edge. Sweet, confection fruit, quince paste and baklava (nutty, sweet pastry with a perfumed note). Nougat, loads of praline and caramel malt milkshake. A red bitter amaro, orange rind, sweet red bell pepper.

Palate: Beautiful shortbread and apricot jam, with lychee and coconut cream. A mix between coffee and chocolate ice-cream, with a vanilla bean and maybe a vanilla malt milkshake with bits of banana and honey. Fig leaf and cocoa.

Finish: Refined tannins balance perfectly as it swells towards a decadent finish of dulce de leche and bread-and-butter pudding along with cocoa, pepper and toasted marshmallow. Wonderfully delicate and complex.