🥃 Bushmills
Bushmills is an Irish whiskey brand from Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland: a licence of 1608, current production since 1784, triple distilled. Owned by Proximo Spirits.
Bushmills is the Irish whiskey that people in the UK, Ireland and the US meet most often on the shelf, and it comes from Northern Ireland. The brand is based in the town of Bushmills in County Antrim. The distillery is linked to a royal licence of 1608, while current production dates from 1784. The whiskey is triple distilled, and since 2014 the brand has belonged to Proximo Spirits, a company known for Jose Cuervo tequila.
History. A licence to distil was granted in 1608 to Sir Thomas Phillips in County Antrim; the label mentions it, but the present company was founded in 1784. That is why the slogan about the "oldest distillery" should be read carefully (see the questions below). According to the Irish Times, in 2014 Proximo received Bushmills from Diageo in exchange for a 50% stake in Don Julio. Difford's Guide also mentions that Diageo bought the brand in 2005, so ownership went through several stages.
How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, Original and the 10-year-old are triple distilled. The water comes from Saint Columb's Rill, a tributary of the River Bush. The casks are oak; which ones are used for each version is shown on the label and on the producer's website.
Range. It includes Original, Black Bush (a blend), the 10- and 12-year-old versions and Irish Honey, a whiskey with a honey aroma.
Why this matters to you. Northern Ireland falls within the "Irish Whiskey" GI, so Bushmills is Irish whiskey even though it is located in the United Kingdom. The minimum ageing is 3 years and the strength is 40% ABV (80 proof) or more. Irish Honey is a separate product with a flavour emphasis, so do not compare it directly with classic whiskey. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | licence of 1608 (Sir Thomas Phillips); current production since 1784 (Bushmills, Antrim) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | "Irish Whiskey" GI (Technical File; Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | unpeated malted barley; water from Saint Columb's Rill |
| Distillation method | three times (Original, 10 years), in copper stills |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in wooden casks under the GI rules |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV or more (Original) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bushmills → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Irish Grain Whiskey, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Blended Irish Whiskey
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Jameson, 🥃 Jameson, 🥃 Tullamore Dew, 🥃 Tullamore Dew, 🥃 Redbreast, 🥃 Redbreast, 🥃 Cooley, 🥃 Cooley, 🥃 Connemara, 🥃 Powers
Frequently asked questions
Is Bushmills Irish whiskey if the distillery is in the United Kingdom?
Yes. The “Irish Whiskey” geographical indication covers the whole island, including Northern Ireland, so the label is correct.
Is it the oldest distillery in the world?
Not exactly. A licence dates from 1608 and the present company from 1784, and Kilbeggan (from 1757) competes for the title. The brand claims the oldest working distillery in Ireland.
Why is whiskey spelled with an e on an Irish bottle, and what does the label show in the US?
Irish and American labels use “whiskey”, while Scotch uses “whisky”. A US bottle gives proof as well as ABV, so 40% ABV is 80 proof.
How do pubs in Britain and Ireland usually serve it?
Often neat or with a splash of water; in the US it is also served on the rocks or in a highball.
Which version should I pick: the blend or the older bottlings?
The versions are different drinks: the base line, the blend with a malt and grain mix, the ten- and twelve-year-old and a honey-flavoured one. Read the full name on the label.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Black & White · 🥃 Auchroisk · 🥃 Royal Lochnagar · 🥃 Teaninich
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- Difford's Guide: The Old Bushmills Distillery Co. Ltd (1608 licence, 1784, triple distilled, range, owner Proximo)
- The Irish Times: Bushmills sales rise as it continues new spirits production (18.10.2024; Proximo owner; 2014 deal with Diageo)
- Revenue (Ireland): Geographical Indication for Irish Whiskey and Irish Poteen/Poitin (GI verification, Tax and Duty Manual)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 2 (whisky/whiskey)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)