Distillery
Bushmills
Bushmills is a historic Irish whiskey brand produced in the village of Bushmills (County Antrim, Northern Ireland). Its production is known for triple distillation, the use of 100% malt for its single malts, and a range that includes expressions such as Black Bush, 10 and 16 years.
- Bushmills · County Antrim · United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
- Since 1784
- 4 products
The story
Official records link spirit production in the area to a license granted in 1608; the company associated with the current site was officially established in 1784. Over the centuries the facility was rebuilt after a major fire (1885) and went through various ownership phases, including membership of the Irish Distillers group (1970s), later Pernod Ricard and Diageo, until the brand was transferred to the Beckmann family / Proximo Spirits (operation announced in 2014). In recent years the company expanded its facilities with the new Causeway Distillery to increase production capacity.
Production philosophy
Emphasize local tradition and product quality: production rooted in the territory (water from the River Bush), loyalty to triple distillation and the use of malt for single malts, and careful maturation in selected casks to achieve a soft, fruity profile.
Territory
Village of Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland; the distillery uses water from the River Bush and is close to the Giant's Causeway.
Awards and recognition
Gold medal for whiskey at the Paris Exposition of 1889 (noted in the company history); Black Bush: gold medal at the World Spirits Awards in San Francisco (2013).
Production method
Triple distillation, use of pot stills for distillation, controlled fermentations and maturation in casks; single malts are made with 100% malted barley.
Distillation
Triple distillation in pot stills (traditional Irish method).
Ageing
Maturation in wooden casks (various types depending on the expressions); some expressions include finishing or additional ageing in fortified wine or dessert wine casks.
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Bushmills
- Categories
- Irish whiskey
- Irish single malt
- blended whiskey
- Raw materials
- malted barley
- corn (for some blends)
- water (River Bush)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- ex-bourbon
- Oloroso sherry casks (Jerez)
- Port casks
- Madeira casks
- used Marsala casks / other finishes
- Representative products
- Bushmills Black Bush
- Bushmills Single Malt 10 years
- Bushmills Single Malt 16 years (Three Woods)
- Bushmills Irish Original (Original)
What makes it distinctive
- The site is linked to a distilling licence from 1608 (the distillery claims the title of 'oldest licensed distillery').
- Faithful to the tradition of triple distillation and the use of malt for single malts.
- Range includes both blends and single malts with various ages and finishes (e.g. 10, 16, 21 years).
- Opening of the Causeway Distillery to increase production capacity and support new expressions.