Bushmills

Bushmills is one of the oldest and most iconic distilleries in the world, and is definitely one of the symbols of Irish whiskey. Its history dates back to 1608, when King James I granted a licence for distillation in County Antrim in the north of Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery itself was officially founded in 1784, making it the oldest continuously operating legal whiskey distillery in the world. This historical fact is still part of the brand's identity and a source of its prestige.

Bushmills is located in the town of Bushmills, not far from the famous natural monument Giant's Causeway, and thanks to its location, it draws pure water from the River Bush, which forms the basis of its characteristic distillate.

Unlike many Irish distilleries, Bushmills primarily produces single malt whiskey, i.e. whiskey made exclusively from malted barley, which is traditionally triple distilled in copper pot stills. This process gives the resulting distillate its typical smoothness and fruity-honey character. In addition to single malts, Bushmills also produces blends that combine single malt with grain whiskey, making them more accessible to a wider audience.

Bushmills whiskey is matured in a combination of American bourbon casks and European sherry casks, giving it complexity, layers of sweetness, fruity tones and spicy nuances.

Portfolio and special editions:

Bushmills Original – also known as ‘White Label’, is a smooth blend that serves as an introduction to the brand.

Bushmills Black Bush – a blend with a high proportion of single malt whiskey (up to 80%), which is matured mainly in sherry casks. It has a rich, grape and nutty flavour.

Bushmills Single Malts – the key pillars of the brand, in age categories of 10, 16 and 21 years.

10-year-old: fresh, honeyed, with notes of vanilla and fresh fruit.

16-year-old: matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, with a finish in port casks – offering a complex combination of chocolate, dried fruit and nuts.

21-year-old: exclusive, matured in Oloroso sherry casks and finally in Madeira – very rich and subtly exotic character.

Limited editions – Bushmills also regularly releases special bottlings, including the ‘Causeway Collection’ series, which are often single cask or specially finished in rare casks (Madeira, Marsala, Burgundy).

Bushmills has gone through various periods during its long history. In the 20th century, it experienced the ups and downs of the Irish whiskey industry. In 2005, it came under the ownership of Diageo, which invested in its modernisation and expansion. Since 2014, it has been in the hands of the Mexican group José Cuervo (Casa Cuervo), which continues to develop the brand and increase its global availability.

Bushmills differs from other Irish whiskeys in its Northern Irish identity, emphasis on the single malt tradition and delicate, fruity flavour profile. It is a brand that proudly draws on its history, but at the same time is not afraid to experiment – thanks to this, it has maintained its status as one of the most respected Irish whiskeys worldwide.