Two Old Bushmills Whiskies – 25 Year Old and a 30 Year Old
Bushmills is the world’s oldest licenced distillery with its licence being granted in 1608.
I have visited Ireland (North and South) on many occasions and a road trip from Belfast up the Antrim Coast is fantastic. Spectacular views and many hidden small villages. My destination was Bushmills Distillery. On the trip I had two particular stop offs first the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, a heart-stopping and your heart in the mouth as you cross the rope bridge 30 metres above the sea. The next must visit, is the World known Giants Causeway, mind-boggling and mystical.
The Distillery has a great selection of tours and a large visitor centre.
Let’s taste these two well-aged Irish Single Malt Whiskies.
Youngest first. This 25 Year Old Whiskey was matured in Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels for between 4 and 6 years then transferred into first-fill ruby port pipes for the remaining 21 years.
Bushmills 25 Year Old – Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 46% Alc/vol 70 cl, Non-Chill Filtered
Colour…Dark rich amber with red tint
Nose…The nose offered sherry, spiced wine, chocolate raisin sweetness, rich and elegant, dark cherries, singed oak staves.
Taste…Firstly is a luxurious mouth feel, playful notes of sultana, pecan and raisins, tangy dark berries from the garden, 70% melted dark chocolate and honey over vanilla ice-cream.
Finish…Berry sweetness together with oak and mild spices remain in charge of a long delightful finish.
Grand dram smooth and sumptuous, one wee word of warning do not add water, this takes away the complexity and sweetness of this exceptional Whiskey.
Up next is the 30 Year Old Whiskey. Matured for 14 years in bourbon barrels and sherry butts, finished in first-fill Pedro Ximenez cask for the remaining 16 years.
Bushmills 30 Year Old Irish Single Malt Whiskey – 46% Alc/vol 70 cl, Non-chill Filtered
Colour…Copper gold
Nose…I was drawn into a spectacular opulence of plump raisins, dates, and mixed sweet spices, deep but somehow delicate.
Taste…Ultra smooth, fig jam, dried fruits, blood oranges, salted caramel ice cream, maple syrup, sugared almonds, toffee nut brittle, my palate is doing somersaults at the flavours and sweetness.
Finish…Long finish, dried fruitiness, a beautiful delight to the senses.
Like its younger brother, refrain from adding water. This is an outstanding Whisky full of elegance and beauty.
If any of our readers get a chance to have a dram of these outstanding Whiskies take it with both hands and enjoy the gentleness of the Whiskey.
