Explore the Great Taste of Bushmills Irish Whiskey

  • 01 of 05

    About Bushmills Irish Whiskey

    Bushmills Irish Whiskey Portfolio
    Bushmills has a fantastic range of Irish whiskey and there's sure to be something in here for everyone. Bushmills Irish Whiskey

    An Irish tradition and a "License to Distill."

    It was in 1608 that King James I granted the Bushmills region of Ireland an official license to distill, but Bushmills' notoriety is thought to 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.

    The Full Range of Bushmills Irish Whiskey 

    Bushmills regularly releases special and limited edition of their whiskey, but these bottlings tend to be staples in the brand's portfolio.

    • Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey - The foundation of the portfolio, this is the whiskey that is found in most bars. Use this one in any Irish whiskey cocktail you please, it will not disappoint.
      • Retails for around $22-35 for a 750ml bottle
      • 40% ABV (80 proof)
    • Bushmills Black Bush - A whiskey that concentrates on malt whiskey aged in oloroso sherry casks. It is an old recipe that has found a new life and is fantastic no matter how you choose to drink it.
      • Retails for around $35-45 for a 750ml bottle
      • 40% ABV (80 proof)
    • Bushmills 10 Year Single Malt - Triple-distilled from 100% malted barley, then aged for 10 years in used bourbon barrels. It has a sweet and delicate profile that is impressive.
      • Retails for around $35-45 for a 750ml bottle
      • 40% ABV (80 proof)
    • Bushmills 16 Year Single Malt - Both oloroso sherry and bourbon barrels are used for this 16-year-old whiskey that is finished for several months in port wine casks. Flavorful, with fruit, spice and nutty notes. Best to drink neat or on the rocks.
      • Retails for around $65-75 for a 750ml bottle
      • 40% ABV (80 proof)
    • Bushmills 21 Year Single Malt - The whiskies are aged in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks for 19 years before finishing in madeira casks for 2 more years. Spectacular whiskey and the pinnacle of the brand's offerings.
      • Retails for around $120-140 for a 750ml bottle
      • 40% ABV (80 proof)
    • Bushmills Irish Honey - Not technically a 'whiskey' because it has additional flavors, this is one of the newer offerings from Bushmills. It is a blend of their triple-distilled whiskey with 'Real Irish Honey and other natural flavours." It is delicious and can be enjoyed straight, on the rocks, or as a substitute for other honey liqueurs.
      • Retails for around $25-35 for a 750ml bottle
      • 35% ABV (70 proof)
    • Bushmills 1608 - A commemorative bottling that blends bourbon and sherry aged whiskies with Irish grain whiskey. It has a luscious, creamy profile and sold only in select markets.
      • Retails for $75-100 per 750ml bottle
      • 46% ABV (92 proof)

    Bushmills Cocktails

    Any of the whiskies produced by Bushmills is an excellent candidate for creating great cocktails. If you have a recipe that calls for Irish whiskey, feel free to pour in a little Bushmills. Here are a few of the brand's signature drinks.

    About Bushmills Irish Whiskey

  • 02 of 05

    Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey

    Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
    An Irish whiskey you can rely on, Bushmills Original is perfect for any cocktail and should be a regular in your bar. George Rose / Getty Images

    The Irish whiskey you can rely on for a great drink at a good price.

    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 whiskey and a light Irish grain whiskey  that is aged for at least 5 years in used American bourbon and 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 the Irish Coffee and Whiskey Ginger.

    • Retails for around $22-35 for a 750ml bottle
    • 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

    Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

  • 03 of 05

    Black Bush

    Bushmills whiskey & glasses, Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
    Black Bush is one of Bushmills great bottles of Irish whiskey and is a slight upgrade from the original. It's still affordable for cocktails. VisitBritain/Martin Brent / Getty Images

    An old recipe with a new name and look.

    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 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 the Black and Red.

    • Retails for around $35-45 for a 750ml bottle
    • 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

    Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

  • 04 of 05

    Bushmills 10 YO Single Malt Irish Whiskey

    Bushmills Distillery - Barrels of Single Malt Irish Whiskey
    The single malt whiskeys from Bushmills are very special and range from 10-21 years in the barrel. © Michael St. Maur Sheil/Corbis/VCG / Getty Images

    Get a taste of single malts, Irish-style!

    The Bushmills 10-Year-Old Single Malt is one of the premier offerings from this distillery. This is an entry-level introduction to the brand's single malt line which also includes 16- and 21-year-old whiskies. 

    Nose

    This particular dram from Bushmills offers up a light, sweet nose with aromas of malt sugar, green apples, vanilla and fresh caramels. To describe the nose as elegant would be most accurate. Where some whiskies almost assault one's senses, Bushmills 10 offers a more sensuous look as it charms.

    Body and Palate

    Bushmills 10 is relatively light bodied, but not in a bad way. Its lightness on the tongue reinforces the feeling that this is an elegant, sophisticated whiskey. Baked pears, green apples, fleur de sel caramels and vanilla fudge notes all make appearances on the palate. If you like it when your whiskies feature fruit notes, this is sure to please.

    Finish

    Like a perfect evening, Bushmills 10 single malt finishes too quickly. Its brief finish leaves one wanting more, and notes of fresh pound cake and vanilla wafers put an almost dessert-like end to this whiskey.

    All in all, Bushmills 10-year-old single malt is an elegant stunner, more aperitif than digestif. I think you'll be surprised at how good this whiskey really is.

    • Retails for around $35-45 for a 750ml bottle
    • 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)

    Written by Lance Mayhew

    Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below.
  • 05 of 05

    Bushmills 1608

    Barrels of pure malt whiskey at Bushmills Distillery.
    The Bushmills distillery was founded in 1608 and you will see that date on many of its products, including a special whiskey called 1608. David Sanger / Getty Images

    A creamy Irish whiskey that is a pure delight.

    Built on a 400-year foundation of producing classic Irish whiskey, Bushmills 1608 is a superiorly smooth, flavorful, and melt in your mouth whiskey. This whiskey owes its creaminess to a specialty barley corn 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.

    There is no reason to refrain from mixing 1608. Try it in a Burning BushIrish Martini or Black Nail, anything that will complement, but not distract from, its smooth, sweet character.

    Bushmills 1608 was originally released in 2008 as a limited edition bottle. It was supposed to remain in the 'luxury travel market' and, as of 2016, bottles of 1608 can still be found. It's worth picking up if you spot it.

    • Retails for $75-100 per 750ml bottle
    • 46% alcohol by volume (92 proof)

    Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.