Sullivans Cove Double Cask American & French Oak

This is bottle number 517 of 1255, double cask number DC57 from barrel numbers HH149, HH331, HH417, and HH467. A combination of American and European oak casks bottled at 40% ABV.

To smell: slightly sharp on green apple and vanilla, opens up to soft port notes and florals. Given time the port notes pin every other aroma down except for a slight ‘new wood’ smell; it’s a very enjoyable aroma.

The nose is most enjoyable once fully opened up to the port characteristics in my opinion.

To taste: the spirit seems to be drowning at 40%. A short quiet rush on again the apple then port notes which flail about for slightly longer than the ABV would usually allow. Time in the glass bulks the body up a bit, again the port side proving strongest.

Easy drinking. Not offensive in any way (it was a different story on the first dram – I thought I’d have to mix coke with it), nor is it balanced. I’m glad I received it as a gift rather than purchasing it because it’s alright, but not great, and great is what it takes for me to be happy with a purchase. It’s up against stiff competition from other local products that keep raising the bar and it didn’t quite reach the same heights, perhaps expectations were a bit too high on my part.