When Diageo took over Bushmills distillery from Pernod Ricard in 2005, sales volumes had been flat for over 10 years. The new owners set a goal to reach 1 million cases by the end of 2012 and set about investing (to the tune of around €45 million) in the distillery itself as well as the brand. Diageo increased the production rate to five days a week and since 2008, they have implemented a seven-day week. This tripled production in just 2.5 years. Bushmills uses two kinds of malt, one unpeated and one slightly peated. The distillery uses triple distillation, something they’ve done since the 1930s. The core range of single malts consists of a 10 year old, a 16 year old with a finish in port pipes for 6-9 months and a 21 year old finished in Madeira casks for two years. There is also a 12 year old Distillery Reserve which is sold exclusively at the distillery. Black Bush and Bushmills Original are the two main blended whiskeys in the range. To celebrate the 400th anniversary, a Bushmills 1608 Anniversary Edition was launched. The malt whiskey part was distilled using a proportion of crystal malt (malted barley which has been dried at a high temperature whilst the grains are still moist, thus partly converting the grain’s starch into sugars and caramelising them). This special ingredient gives the blend distinct toffee/chocolatey notes. The grain whiskey used for Bushmills blended whiskeys is, in fact, bought from Midleton distillery in Cork which is owned by arch-rival Pernod Ricard.
€42Original price was: €42.€38Current price is: €38.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Golden hue to deep amber gold. This is based on the published tasting notes and product descriptions reviewed, which vary slightly in wording.
Nose: Rich dried fruit with vanilla spice, prunes and figs. This is based on the official published tasting notes and matching reviewed descriptions.
Palate: Raisins, nuts, vanilla, honey, praline, aromatic spice and rich sherry wood. This is based on the official published tasting notes and matching reviewed descriptions.
Finish: Long, dried-fruit-led, with apple pie and sweet wood. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
€89Original price was: €89.€75Current price is: €75.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Ruby red. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Nose: Big and robust, with treacle toffee and sweet spice accents of cinnamon and nutmeg. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Palate: Caramelised peaches and mango with toasted almonds and walnuts, giving exceptional depth and complexity. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Finish: Layered and lingering, with concentrated jammed berries leading into a silky milk chocolate finish. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Colour: Amber gold to dark chestnut brown. This is based on the official published tasting notes and reviewed release descriptions.
Nose: Caramelised brown sugar, gentle toasted oak, candied orange and vanilla. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Palate: Warming ginger, fig, plum and cherry, with hazelnut, chocolate and mellow oak. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Finish: Long, sweet and refined, with warming ginger, coffee, candied fruits and gentle toasted oak. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Colour: Rich gold with a distinctive amber hue. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Nose: Crisp apple freshness, honeyed malt, creamy toffee, pineapple and coconut. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Palate: Caramelised brown sugar, sticky toffee and a creamy mouthfeel, with the Bushmills malt character running through it. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
Finish: Long, soft and smooth, with a lingering sugary sweetness from the rum cask influence. This is based on the official published tasting notes.
€92Original price was: €92.€79Current price is: €79.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep gold to ruby-tinted amber. This is an inference based on the full ruby port cask maturation and the published flavour profile.
Nose: Warm and fruity, with plum, almonds, ripe red berries, honey, vanilla and a gentle port-wine note. This is based on the official published tasting notes and reviewed product descriptions.
Palate: Rich and dark, with chocolate, exotic spices, damson, caramelised fruit and black coffee. This is based on the official published tasting notes and reviewed product descriptions.
Finish: Long, soft and slightly dry, with honey, oak and lingering chocolate-toned fruit. This is based on the published tasting notes reviewed.
