Bushmills Irish Whiskey

It was in 1608 that King James I granted the Bushmills region of Ireland an official license to distill, but Bushmills' notoriety has been thought go back a few centuries prior, with tales of King Henry II's troops imbibing on its spirits. The tradition is alive at the oldest operating distillery in Ireland, where the entire process, from distillation to bottling, takes place. Over the last 400 years Bushmills has developed a name worldwide as a fine example of classic Irish whiskey and today, the distillery has a rich portfolio of whiskey.

Built on the foundations of 400 years of producing classic Irish whiskey, Bushmills 1608 is a superiorly smooth, flavorful, melt in your mouth whiskey. This whiskey owes its creaminess to a specialty barleycorn malt that takes on a crystalline appearance after a light toasting. The bottled 1608 is a blend of Bushmills malt whiskies (a selection from those aged in either American oak or Spanish sherry casks), a small amount of Irish grain whiskey and the crystallized malt.

Bushmills 1608 has a toffee-like smoothness with vanilla, honey and dried fruit notes. It is warm and inviting and a fine example of craft Irish whiskey. When tasting it straight I liked it best neat; ice seemed a distraction and unnecessary dilution of the whiskey's sweetness. That said, there is no reason to refrain from mixing 1608. Try it in a Burning Bush, Irish Martini or Black Nail, anything that will compliment, but not distract from, its smooth, sweet character.

Between February and December of 2008 Bushmills 1608 will be available in the United States. But after that you will have to travel to the distillery to taste 400 years of craftsmanship in this form.

• Retails for $100 per 750ml bottle
• 46% alc/volume (92 proof)

This is the base of the distillery's portfolio and it is a great bottle to have in stock for "everyday" use. Bushmills Original is a blend of triple distilled malt whisky and a light Irish grain whiskey that is aged for at least 5 years in used American bourbon an Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. The inviting whiskey is rich with spicy vanilla and oak notes that beg to be mixed in almost any drink you can think of. Favorites have to be an Irish Coffee and Everybody's Irish.

• Retails for around $22 per 750ml bottle
• 40% alc/volume (80 proof)

A lengthy name for anything behind the bar, Old Bushmills Special Old Liqueur Whiskey (released 1934) eventually became known as Black Bush (in the bar, then on the bottle) due to its noticeable, dark label. This Irish whiskey is made of triple distilled malted barley, with the majority of the parts aged in used Spanish sherry casks. The result is a rich, fruit and nut flavor that is smooth and mixable. Try this whiskey with bitter and light, sweet cocktails like Black and Red or Koi Cocktail.

• Retails for around $35 per 750ml bottle
• 40% alc/volume (80 proof)

• Bushmills also produces a 10, 16 and 21 year old malt Irish whiskey along with an Irish cream liqueur.
• Distilled in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
• Tours of the historical distillery are available, visit their website for details.
• Imported by Diageo

More Bushmills Cocktails:

• Giants' Gate Cocktail
• Irish Buck
• Irish Punch