Cheers to highest price ever for Aussie whisky

A BOTTLE of Tasmanian whisky has set an Australian record price after it was auctioned through Christie’s in London.

The Sullivans Cove American Oak Single Cask No. HH0351 sold for $11,667. It was one of the last remaining bottles of this year’s world’s best single-cask single malt.

Sullivans Cove Distillery, established in 1994, is the second-oldest whisky distillery in Tasmania.

The American Oak cask HH0351 was distilled in June 2000 and decanted in January 2017, making it more than 16 years old. It was matured in a 200L American Oak exbourbon barrel and produced just 136 bottles.

Sullivans Cove Distillery sales and marketing manager Amanda Beck said it is believed to be the highestpriced Australian whisky ever sold.

“Only one bottle of this single cask malt whisky was offered for auction,” she said.

“This is a significant milestone in the Australian whisky industry, and for Sullivans Cove, as our whiskies begin to reach levels of maturity, quality and price associated with the great whisky producing nations of the world.”

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

Head distiller Patrick Maguire said it was an honour to achieve such a price and follows its world’s best singlecask single malt award in March at the World Whiskies Awards.

The Sullivan’s Cove French Oak was also named World’s Best Single Malt outright, at the awards in 2014.