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Bushmills is a successful Irish whiskey brand that exports its products to more than 40 countries. The whiskey is produced, aged and bottled at Ireland’s oldest distillery in County Antrim. The plant is open to the public and annually attracts about 200 tourists.
Technology features
Bushmills Irish whiskey differs from its closest relative, scotch, in two aspects – raw materials and technology. This whiskey is distilled in traditional copper stills from mash made from malt (sprouted grain) and whole barley. Such whiskey – pot still – is made only in Ireland. In terms of technology, the Bushmills distillery uses triple distillation, rather than double distillation, as in Scotland. This allows you to make alcohol of higher purity, and as a result, neutral and light.
The taste of whiskey largely depends on the unique shape of the stills. At the Bushmills factory, they look like huge retorts. In case of deterioration of the old distillation apparatus, it is replaced with a new one – exactly the same, reproducing even existing dents.
Brand History
The company dates back to 1608. True, back in the 70s of the last century, another date appeared on the bottles as the year of the founding of the plant – 1784. It was then that the Old Bushmills Distillery trademark was registered. Even so, Bushmills is the oldest distillery in the world. But master blender Colum Egan has iron arguments in favor of the first version: the company has an original document, according to which in 1608 King James I granted a license to distill “living water” to Sir Thomas Phillips. Sir Thomas was a landlord and had good business acumen. Whiskey had been distilled in Antrim County before, but he legalized the business and succeeded.
The name of the distillery merged two words – Bush, the name of the river, the water of which is used for brand whiskey – and mill, which means mill. The mill was also quite real, it was on it that the malt was ground.
The most important milestones in the history of the brand:
- 1608 – April 20, Sir Phillips received a license to distill, which marked the beginning of the production of Bushmills whiskey.
- 1784 – Hugh Anderson founded the Old Bushmills Distillery.
- 1885 – the buildings of the distillery burned down during a fire, but it was soon rebuilt, and work resumed.
- The 1880s-early 1900s were the “golden” years of the company. Old Bushmills wins numerous prizes in international competitions, including the only gold medal awarded for whiskey at the 1889 Paris Exposition.
- 1933 is a difficult period due to the introduction of Prohibition in the United States. Despite all the difficulties, Belfast businessman Samuel Wilson, who bought the company in 1923, expands production, believing in change for the better.
- 1939-1945 – during the Second World War, production was stopped, because officers of the allied forces were temporarily housed in the factory building. In Dublin, the head office with all the archives was damaged as a result of an airstrike.
- 1950s-1960s – the time of a new rise. Production resumed after the war, and Bushmills became increasingly popular. Export sales soared, especially in the US.
- 1998 – The company is acquired by Pernod Ricard.
- 2005 – Pernod Ricard sells Bushmills for £200m to its main competitor, Diageo.
- 2008 – celebration of the 400th anniversary of the brand. In honor of such a solid anniversary, the Bank of Ireland issued a series of banknotes depicting the Old Bushmills distillery.
- 2014 – Diageo sold Bushmills to Mexican company Jose Cuervo.
Awards
- 2013 – Gold medal (Bushmills Original) at The Irish Whiskey Masters;
- 2013 – Gold medal (Bushmills Original) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition;
- 2013 – Gold medal (Bushmills Black Bush) at the International Wine & Spirit Competition;
- 2013 – Highest Master Award (Bushmills Black Bush) at The Irish Whiskey Masters;
- 2013 and 2014 – Highest Master Award (Bushmills Irish Honey) at The Irish Whiskey Masters.
- 2013 – Gold medal (Bushmills 10 Year Old) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition;
- 2014 – Gold medal (Bushmills 10 Year Old) at The Irish Whiskey Masters;
- 2014 – Gold medal (Bushmills 10 Year Old) at the World Whiskeys Awards;
- 2014 – Gold medal (Bushmills 10 Year Old) at the International Wine & Spirit Competition;
- 2015 – Gold Medal (Bushmills 10 Year Old) at the Wizards of Whiskey Awards;
- 2013 and 2014 – Gold medal (Bushmills 16 Year Old) at The Irish Whiskey Masters;
- 2013 – Double Gold Medal (Bushmills 16 Year Old) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition;
- 2014 – Gold medal (Bushmills 16 Year Old) at the World Whiskeys Awards;
- 2015 – Gold Medal (Bushmills 16 Year Old) at the Wizards of Whiskey Awards;
- 2013 – Double Gold Medal (Bushmills 21 Year Old) at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition;
- 2014 – Gold medal (Bushmills 21 Year Old) at the International Wine & Spirit Competition;
- 2015 – Gold Medal (Bushmills 21 Year Old) at the Wizards of Whiskey Awards.
Interesting Facts
- There are many well-known people from the world of cinema, music, show business among the brand’s fans: among them is the founder of the Men’s Style website Theophilius London, popular musical groups – the folk-rock band Bon Iver and the electro-funk duet Chromeo.
- One of Bushmills’ ambassadors was the actor and musician Elijah Wood, best known for his role as the hobbit Frodo. He approached his new position very responsibly and developed the design of the original headphones made from barrels in which Bushmills whiskey was aged.
- In 2013, Aaron Paul, the star of the TV series Breaking Bad, took part in the brand’s advertising campaign.
Types of whiskey Bushmills
Bushmills Original, 40%
A classic blend, which is produced according to the oldest recipe not only of the brand, but of Ireland as a whole. One of the best varieties – last year alone received 36 different awards. The composition includes 5-year-old grain whiskey and triple distilled malt whiskey. Before blending, grain spirits are aged in bourbon casks, while malt spirits are aged in sherry casks.
The aroma is floral, herbal, with a subtle hint of smoke. The taste is soft, with notes of malt, honey, cardamom. The drink can be enjoyed neat, with an ice cube or used as a base for a cocktail.
Bushmills Black Bush, 40%
Blend with a high proportion of malt whiskeys aged 8-11 years in Oloroso sherry casks. The grain spirits for this blend are aged in bourbon barrels for 5 years.
The balance of the blend is expressed in a rich fruity aroma and surprisingly smooth creamy taste with hints of vanilla. Equally good in its pure form and with the addition of an ice cube. Received the top award in its category at the 2010 World Whiskey Awards.
Bushmills 10 Year Old, 40%
A 10 year old single malt made from 100% barley malt. Received numerous awards and medals, highly acclaimed by Whiskey Bible author Jim Murray with a score of 92,5. Matured in American bourbon barrels, rich in aromas of honey, vanilla and milk chocolate.
On the palate you can hear notes of ripe pear, baked apple, steamed sweet raisins. In the aftertaste, sweetness flows into astringency and echoes of citrus. The manufacturer recommends serving the drink as is, with ice or even slightly chilled.
Bushmills 16 Year Old, 40%
Single malt whiskey with a complex and rich taste, awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition in 2010. A 16-year aging in three types of barrels gives this effect: first, bourbon and sherry containers are used, after which additional aging takes place in port wine barrels.
The drink acquires a rich mahogany color and aroma, in which cherry jam, caramelized fruits, and cassia bark are guessed. The taste is spicy, with a variety of tones: manuka honey, peaches in syrup, prunes. The aftertaste is slightly astringent, with notes of red berries.
Bushmills 21 Year Old, 40%
The brand’s oldest and most award-winning single malt whiskey. Produced in a limited edition, each bottle is numbered. In 2013, he won the “Best Irish Single Malt of the Year” nomination. Aged for 19 years in bourbon and sherry casks, after which a two-year “marriage” takes place in Madeira casks.
The aroma takes all the best from each barrel and pleases with notes of mocha, honey, dark chocolate. Dates, pecans, grapes and mango are felt on the palate, which turn into subtle notes of mint and raisins towards the finish.
Bushmills Irish Honey, 35%
Bushmills offers its own answer to the market interest in flavored whiskeys. The drink consists of Irish honey and Irish whiskey – grain, 5 years old, and malt, ripened for at least 10 years.
Aroma with clear honey tones, backed by hints of apple, ripe pear and nuts. The taste is not cloying and very soft, closer to the finish, sweet notes begin to be interrupted by salty and spicy ones. Good as a digestif, great with cola or ice cubes.
