Inside a dimly lit warehouse in Hobart’s outer suburbs, a new era is dawning. For years, this unassuming fortress, just off the beaten track and far from prying eyes, has been home to Australia’s (and arguably the world’s) premier whisky maker. But tonight, in front of a small selection of friends, family and avid spirits lovers, Sullivans Cove steps into the modern age.
In Australia, few names evoke such intrigue as Sullivans Cove. The Cambridge distillery, which has thrice won World’s Best at the World Whiskies Awards, is somewhat of an enigma. The spirit is unparalleled, the makers highly revered and yet bottles remain nigh-on impossible to get your hands on, but that is all about to change.
The Tasmanian whisky icon has unveiled a first look at its new expansion—a $14 million overhaul that promises to deliver the kind of experience the coveted label deserves. Replete with a bold new visitor experience, elevated tastings, and a revamped cellar door, the upgraded facade is a far stretch from the endearingly understated venue that I visited just months earlier. But for all its shiny new features, many of which come designed by internationally renowned architects and designers, Sullivans Cove hasn’t lost its spirit of authenticity.
“In this day and age, everything is instantaneous,” Sullivans Cove managing director Adam Sable tells me. “But with whisky, you’ve got three ingredients in a barrel and you let it sit over time.”
“There is no artificial romance with Sullivans Cove. We don’t pretend to be something that we’re not.”
“It’s a very old-school approach to making something. We are quite different in our approach in that we focus on simple, single-barrel distillation. It’s quite an inefficient way to do it, but that’s us. In one barrel of whisky, there’s nowhere to hide.”
Sullivans Cove Distillery Upgrade
For Sable and co, the distillery expansion is two-fold. Not only does a revamped visitor experience allow Sullivans Cove to bring customers along for the journey, but the increased production capabilities also ensure that expressions find their way into the hands of people who will actually drink them.
Central to this is the introduction of new grain handling, fermenting, and distilling equipment, meticulously designed to allow further control over the brewing and distilling process. Furthermore, Sullivans Cove has added two new stills – a wash still and a spirit still named Eva and Goldie –
to accompany Myrtle, the original copper pot still that has served as the sole provider for the label’s award-winning liquid. It’s a monumental upgrade that is set to triple the distillery’s production capabilities almost overnight, which does pose an interesting prospect.
To me, the bespoke nature of the label has always been to its advantage, with the distillery’s delightfully approachable character flowing from maturation house to cellar door to liquid. As distillery manager Heather Tillott assures me, the new surroundings haven’t altered the unmistakable Sullivans Cove house style.
“The newly upgraded facility allows us to lean into our unique production practices and work more efficiently, but not in a cold, clinical way,” Tillott explains. “There are aspects of the production process that we deliberately slow down. We want efficiencies in areas that don’t impact the character of the spirit. As always, it’s the liquid that leads us.”
The New Era of Sullivans Cove
In a sense, the opening of the new distillery marks a milestone moment long overdue. Despite winning a swathe of accolades and laying claim to the world’s most coveted single malt release, Sullivans Cove remains the industry’s quiet achiever, and its humble, inaudacious home has always lived up to the moniker.
This opening, complete with a dazzling light show, a captivating performance from the
musicians of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and some of the distillery’s oldest and rarest whiskies, is a sign that Sullivans Cove is stepping out of the shadows and firmly onto the global stage. As Sable, and anyone who has had the pleasure of tasting the label’s enigmatic, altruistic spirit would tell you—it’s where they belong.
“This is an amazing moment in time when we pause to both reflect on and celebrate our history while looking ahead to the exciting future of Sullivans Cove,” Sable says. “The expanded distillery and new visitor experience elevate 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.”
Revamped Visitor Experience
As Sable alludes to, the revamped visitor experience takes guests on a dazzling refined journey through the world of Sullivans Cove. Designed by renowned Melbourne-based architect Yaron Kanor from Studio Y, the upgraded tasting and cellar door offering can now welcome 100 seated guests, offering guided tours showcasing the inner workings of this iconic whisky brand.
Rich with natural wood tones and soft yellow lighting, the seated visitor section evokes an almost Japanese-style of minimalistic design. The aesthetics are as warming as the liquid itself, inviting guests to stay long and sip well into the night. As Sable reveals, however, the visitor experience almost left Cambrdige entirely.
“We did consider relocating the distillery back to the centre of town,” he tells me. “We looked at a number of locations, and it was very tempting, but ultimately, we decided that this was the best site for producing the best whisky. Other sites may have been more conducive to the visitor experience, but we always prioritise the whisky.”
“When I first got involved with the business about eight years ago, this one shed was the distillery—it’s where we produced, it’s where we matured our whisky. There were barrels upon barrels, and it looked amazing, and it was romantic, but it wasn’t exactly efficient in terms of operation. Now, we have this bank of warehouses scattered around Tasmania full of barrels. It’s been a journey.”
If you ask me, it’s the perfect dichotomy—opulent luxury contrast against good old-fashioned craftsmanship. This new distillery may be a far stretch from the endearing simple structure that formerly housed the award-winning elixir, but it’s more of an evolution than a rebrand. Make no mistake, the spirit of Sullivans Cove is alive and well in Cambridge.
The new Sullivans Cove distillery is located at 1/10 Lamb Place in the Tasmanian suburb of Cambridge. Tastings and tours are available throughout the week, with the cellar door open to the public for sales, explainers and drinks.
