The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is owned and operated by Diageo plc of London, United Kingdom, and is a popular tourist attraction, with around 110,000 visitors per year. According to the company, a distillery by this name was first recorded in 1743, although at the time it was "in the hands of smugglers".
Some whiskey bottled under the Bushmills whiskey brand is produced at the Bushmills Distillery. A licence to distil in the area was granted to Sir Thomas Phillips in 1608 by King James I, and the 1608 date is printed on the labels of the Bushmills brand whiskey.
The Bushmills Distillery claims to be - and is almost unanimously considered to be - the oldest licensed distillery in the world.
Bushmills Malt matures in two different types of barrels containing Oloroso Sherry and American Bourbon for a minimum of 10 years, resulting in a smooth and unique taste.
Image of Old Bushmills Distillery
Technical Details
Cask
American ex-Bourbon casks, Spanish ex-Oloroso casks
Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Amber gold
NOSE: Initial accents of zesty citrus fruits intertwined with the distinctive Bushmills honey character, followed by lingering sweet aromas of fresh vanilla and creamy milk chocolate
TASTE: On the palate, mellow sweet notes of vanilla, milk chocolate and fresh honeysuckle married with delicate traces of toasted oak
FINISH: A crisp finish that dwindles gently on the palate
Manufacturer
The "Old Bushmills" Distillery Co. Ltd
Since
Thursday 12 February, 2004
