Bushmills 21 yo  

 

ABV:   40% ABV

Price:  £160

Distillery:

County Antrim, Bushmills is named from the mills that made the local barley and the River Bush, which remains the water source today.

Oldest distillery in the world – 412 years – 1608 grant from King James I (to a local land owner Sir Thomas Phillips (an English Knight!) to distil whiskey on the site)

Actual distillery wasn’t established until 1784 - Continuous production since after fire in 1885

(Owned by Jose Cuervo (Tequila giants) – bought from Diageo 2014)

Triple distil 100% malted barley – only malt no grain or corn – in in copper pot stills – smoothness and richness

Also do

  • 3 x blends - original (recipe pre-Prohibition); Blackbush (high malt & lighter grain); Redbush (from only ex-Bourbon casks)
  • Single malts – 10, 16 & 21 yo

Whiskey:

(We’ve tasted the 10 yo in March 2017)

Limited number of bottles each year (numbered) – 900 cases pa = ~ 11,000 bottles

Aged for a minimum of 19 years in former Oloroso Sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks (50/50), then married and transferred into Madeira casks for a further 2 years of aging and maturation.

Nose:  Rich toffee, honey, spiced fruit notes and dark mocha.

Palate:  Chewy, dates, pecans, grapes and mango.

Finish:  Sweet, syrupy pipe tobacco and mint.