Tasmania's Sullivans Cove is the first Australian whisky distillery to win the prestigious Craft Producer of the Year title at the World Whisky Awards last week, an accolade distillery manager Heather Tillott is still buzzing about.

The winemaker turned distiller joined Sullivans Cove eight years ago, and brings her wine palate prowess to the world of whisky, putting the brand on the global stage.

Since Tillott has been with the company, it's scored more than 51 awards including Highly Commended Distiller Manager in 2020 at the Icons of Whisky Australia awards. What's more, in an industry dominated by men, she's proof that the future is female in the whisky sphere.

"It's not just a fluke to win this," says Tillott, who was in London for the first time in two years to accept this award.

"We've been globally recognised as not just a small distillery that got lucky from Tasmania, but one that has earned our stripes and we're here to stay. They recognise our business and philosophical approach to whisky making."

At the awards, Sullivans Cove also took out Best Australian Single Cask Single Malt for its American Oak Old & Rare HH0609. It follows the distillery's World's Best Single Malt win in 2014 and awards for World's Best Single Cask Single Malt in 2018 and 2019.

While these all rate highly, it's the holistic recognition of the brand and what it does that matters most for Tillett.

The small business, which employs 25, is focused now on recruiting winemakers to help with the craft whisky boom.

"Those of us who have come from a wine background look at whisky from a different perspective, but I feel the palate development in the wine industry is a great precursor for whisky," Tillott says. "Taking on more winemakers is a good move."

Sullivans Cove, 1/10 Lamb Pl, Cambridge, Tasmania