New single malt from the 2026 World’s Best-winning Tasmanian distillery celebrates whisky made for sharing
May 11, 2026 (London, UK) — Award-winning Tasmanian distillery Sullivans Cove Distillery unveiled Navigator, a new limited-edition single malt whisky launched globally on Friday May 8.
Inspired by Hobart’s historic waterfront and the origins of the Sullivans Cove name itself, Navigator is a whisky shaped by place, patience and the idea of bringing people together around the table. The release draws on the harbour’s long history as a point of arrival and exchange, with the name Navigator charting a course home – back to Sullivans Cove, back to the waterfront, and back to the gastronomic vision that started it all.
Matured for 16 years entirely in American Oak, the new release combines carefully selected refill hogsheads and first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, including some of the oldest American Oak casks in the distillery’s bond store.
The whisky delivers the rich, oily texture Sullivans Cove is known for, layered with bright citrus, creamy vanilla, buttery shortbread and gentle spice, finishing with hints of tropical fruit and soft coastal salinity.
Rather than positioning whisky solely as an after-dinner drink, Navigator was created with food and sharing in mind – particularly Tasmania’s world-renowned seafood and produce.
Distillery Manager Heather Tillott said the release reconnects with the heart of Sullivans Cove’s whisky-making identity.
“Navigator is a return to what has always mattered here – spirit that has a seat at the table: full body and heavy weight, thick texture and layered complexity. American Oak played a defining role in our early years, and this release revisits that foundation through the lens of time and maturity.”
CEO Andy Gaunt said the inspiration for the whisky traces back to the distillery’s earliest vision.
“Our founder once saw abalone paired with single malt whisky while travelling through Japan, and it sparked the idea of creating a Tasmanian whisky designed to sit naturally alongside great food and conversation. Navigator brings that original vision to life.”
The release arrives following another milestone year for Sullivans Cove Distillery, which was recently recognised among the world’s best at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards.
With only 1,372 bottles available worldwide, Navigator is a strictly limited edition release and will be available via Sullivanscove.com on May 8
https://sullivanscove.com/products/navigator-series-american-oak-whisky-ns0001
Tasting Notes
Bright lemon and orange lead into layers of vanilla cream, buttery shortbread and walnut, while the palate carries Sullivans Cove’s signature oily texture and subtle maritime salinity. The finish is long, rich and gently spiced with notes of tropical fruit and nougat.
Perfectly suited to seafood pairings including oysters, sashimi, lobster and scallops.
Release Details
- Navigator
- 16-Year-Old Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky
- 47.2% ABV
- Limited to 1,372 bottles worldwide
- Launching globally May 8, 2026
- Available via Sullivanscove.com
Link to purchase: https://sullivanscove.com/products/navigator-series-american-oak-whisky-ns0001
About Sullivans Cove
Sullivans Cove Distillery is the sum of many things; an unrushed approach to distilling, its geographic location – Tasmania, Australia – and above all, a dedication to realise the full potential of every cask. Founded in 1994, Sullivans Cove is Australia’s most decorated whisky distillery, having won World’s Best at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014, 2018 and 2019. Using local ingredients their unrushed process does not follow timelines. The whisky comes good when the whisky comes good. The Sullivans Cove mentality does not compromise; whatever it takes to craft exceptional single cask whisky. Only a couple of hundred bottles of the world-class, award-winning whisky are released at a time, each batch having its own unique character and flavour profiles. No two batches are the same. To taste a whisky that can never be replicated visit sullivanscove.com.
Sullivans Cove Production Process:
At Sullivans Cove, every step of production is guided by a singular obsession: to create a unique spirit capable of standing the test of time. Fermentations are among the longest in the world of whisky, yielding a rich, briny, complex wash destined for decades in cask. Distillation in a high-reflux, Charentais-style alembic still extracts fragrance and nuance, while passage through a traditional worm tub condenser ensures intimate copper contact, adding clarity and texture.
Maturation is approached with meticulous care: only large casks are used, and each is tasted repeatedly over many years, monitoring the whisky as it develops extraordinary depth and layered complexity. Once each individual cask has reached its peak of flavour, harmony and integration, the Sullivans Cove sensory team often undertakes ABV trials to determine the optimum bottling strength for each specific cask. The final drip dilution – inspired by centuries-old Cognac techniques – brings the spirit to that perfect drinking strength, slowly, while preserving its vibrancy and texture, filtering nothing out.
Every element is intentional: Sullivans Cove is a bold, resilient spirit, crafted from the start to evolve gracefully over decades and deliver a single malt of remarkable richness and careful balance.
