Bushmills whiskey: history, review of taste and types + how to distinguish a fake
The legendary Irish whiskey "Bushmills" is made at the oldest distillery in the region, located near the village of the same name in County Antrim.
The first drink was produced here in the early XVII century, namely in 1608. However, the date of the brand's foundation is considered to be 1784, when the company was officially registered.
One way or another, Bushmills whiskey boasts the oldest origin in the group of strong malt beverages in Ireland. It is not surprising that more than a hundred thousand tourists visit the local distillery every year, and there are many famous people among the fans of the famous product.
History of the Bushmills whiskey brand
The right to be called the founder of the company belongs to the noble landowner Sir Thomas Phillips, who in 1608 received a license for distillation from King James Ⅰ. Whiskey has been produced in the region before, but this is the first time it has been officially produced.
More than a century and a half later, the Old Bushmills Distillery brand and its logo in the form of a distillation cube were registered, which can be seen on branded bottles today.
During the XIX century, the company experienced many crises and difficulties, including a serious increase in barley prices and a devastating fire.
However, these obstacles did not affect the quality of the product: the distillery was rebuilt and re-launched. The result was the well-deserved recognition that came to the company in the 80s and 90s.
Bushmills malt whiskey has won numerous awards at international competitions and received a gold medal at the Paris exhibition in 1889.
The company survived the times of the American "dry law" without any losses.
The hardest time was during the war period, but the forced downtime was followed by rapid development and growing popularity in the following years.
In the 50s and 60s, the company expanded its sales markets and actively promoted its products in the United States.
Throughout the XX century, the brand has repeatedly appeared on the pages of literary works and in films. The most famous of them are the novel "Ulysses" and the drama "The Verdict".
In 2008, in honor of the distillery's 400th anniversary, its image was immortalized on banknotes issued by the Bank of Ireland.
Features of Bushmills whiskey production
The secret of the Irish brand's popularity undoubtedly lies in the high quality of its products and the preservation of ancient traditions.
Bushmills drinks have a special mild and balanced taste with floral, fruity, caramel and honey notes.
The titled manufacturer is in no hurry to introduce innovations and tries to adhere to the old recipe.
The production technology of the legendary drink involves:
The list of blends includes grain and malt whiskeys that are aged for a long time in burnt barrels of bourbon, sherry, port and madeira.
The term of infusion and the choice of a certain type of vessel depends on the category of the drink.
Minimum aging is 4-5 years.
The single malt whiskey is made from selected barley raw materials and spends at least 10 years in barrels.
To dry the malt, a special method is used without frying on peat, which eliminates the smoky flavor of the bouquet and allows the waste to be used for animal feeding.
Fermentation of wort lasts about 60 hours. Distillation is carried out three times, providing the product with softness and richness of shades.
Distillation stills have a slightly elongated shape. When replacing units, their outlines are exactly the same, down to small dents and other design features.
After the last distillation, the strength of the alcohols is about 80%, then diluted to the desired degree.
Overview of types and flavors of Bushmills whiskey
The Bushmills collection includes several types of high-quality single malt and blended whiskeys:
Original
A classic 40% blend, which includes malt whiskey produced at the company's own distillery, infused in sherry barrels, and a light grain distillate aged in bourbon barrels.
Taste: multifaceted, rich, warming, with notes of honey, malt and spices.
Suitable for drinking solo and in cocktails.
Red Bush
The manufacturer's youngest blend, first released in 2017.
The whiskey is aged for 4 years in bourbon barrels.
Good both in pure form and in cocktails.
Bouquet: balanced, rounded, smooth, with woody, vanilla, nutmeg notes, honey aftertaste.
Black Bush
Blended whiskey aged in sherry barrels.
The composition is dominated by a malt component, supplemented by a small amount of light grain distillates.
Taste: deep, smooth, rich, with pronounced sweetness and fruitiness.
Best consumed neat or on the rocks.
Single Malt 10 year
An aged single malt product that has been distilled three times.
10-year maturation in bourbon barrels gives the drink honey, vanilla and chocolate flavors.
The manufacturer recommends consuming it neat, with ice or slightly frozen.
Single Malt 16 year old
Single malt produced using a unique technology.
The drink goes through three aging cycles in different types of barrels: sherry, bourbon and port.
The result is an unusual bouquet with notes of juicy fruits, nuts and spices, and the color is ruby in color.
Best enjoyed neat or in a duet with ice.
Single Malt 21 years old
This single malt whiskey is aged for at least 19 years in sherry and bourbon casks, after which it is aged for 2 years in Madeira casks.
The main achievement of the drink is the award "Best Irish Single Malt 2013".
Deep, delicate bouquet combines dried fruit flavors with hints of spice, malt, nuts and raisins.
How to distinguish a fake Bushmills whiskey
The main protection of the Irish manufacturer against the spread of counterfeit products is the original bottle. A must-attend:
Engraving "1608" on the bottom of the front side, consisting of clear, neatly applied numbers.
The company logo in the form of a distillation boiler and the signature "The Old Bushmills Distillery" on the right side of the container.
The original cork with the logo on the top and the triple inscription "Bushmills Irish Whiskey" on the rim.
Pay attention to the word "Whiskey": it should look exactly like this, and everywhere, not just on the lid.
An evenly glued, embossed label with high-quality, bright letters and numbers.
After examining the vessel, you should pay attention to the contents. The level of the drink should reach exactly to the neck.
The original whiskey does not contain sediment and impurities, its consistency is viscous and oily, bubbles burst slowly when shaking the bottle, but do not disappear immediately.
The price of a quality Irish product cannot be low, although the high cost does not guarantee authenticity.
It is better to buy status drinks in specialized stores, without haste, having previously read the certificate.
Update: 01.02.2019
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon