Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
In February of this year, Bushmills Distillery released Bushmills 25 Year Old and 30 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskeys. This review focuses on the 30 Year Old, which is the oldest expression released to date to join Bushmill’s global range of single malts. With an abundance of stock to draw from, Bushmill’s claims the distinction of being the only whiskey producer in Ireland able to annually release such ultra-rare, high age statement expressions.
Bushmills has adhered to traditional methods of single malt production for centuries, inevitably earning the distinction of being the largest producer of Irish single malt whiskey in the world. The over 400-year-old Old Bushmills Distillery, located in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Although there wasn’t a dedicated brick-and-mortar space dedicated to distilling, in 1608 Sir Thomas Phillipps began establishing brand awareness of ‘Bushmills’ whiskey after being granted a license by King James I to distill whiskey in the area.
The Old Bushmills Distillery was eventually founded in 1784 by Hugh Anderson, who formed the first Bushmills Whiskey Company, becoming its first officially registered owner.
Bushmills 30 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey is the one of the newest additions to Bushmill’s permanent range of single malt expressions. Triple-distilled in 1992 in traditional Irish copper pot stills, this small batch whiskey is bottled at 92 proof without chill filtration. It consists of a 100% Irish barley mash bill that’s aged for 14 years in bourbon barrels and sherry butts before finishing in first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for another 16 years. The water used to cut their whiskey comes from a tributary of the River Bush, which is sourced from the Antrim Hills and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, the name Bushmills is a combination of the river itself and the local barley mills, which resided close to the 33.5 mile river, that initially supplied the distillery. According to Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan, “We have an obsession when it comes to our ingredients, our processes, and the wood we put our whiskey in. Oak has been our infatuation for over 400 years!”
The distillery’s official tasting notes for Bushmill 30 Year Single Malt suggest, “Rich, inviting aromas of dried fruit entwined with toffee delight the nose. Velvety and smooth mouth feel brings hints of dates and figs, followed by praline and orange peel, developing into warm vanilla and pastry notes.”
Bushmills 30 Year Old Single Malt is currently available in limited quantities throughout the US with a recommended SRP of $2,200 for a 700ml bottle. It will become available worldwide sometime within the next few months.
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Tasting Notes: Bushmills 30 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Vital Stats: 92 proof (46% ABV), 100% Irish barley mash bill, 700ml SRP $2,200.
Appearance: Golden auburn with a subtle hint of green.
Nose: Lush earthy notes of orchard fruits, fresh cut rose stems, and citrusy fresh cut wood, with hints of dew-misted roses, vanilla-toffee, and a slight (well-maintained) antique furniture scent.
Palate: The low burn on the palate offers notes of fresh dates, buttery citrus, sweet tea, and mango/peach flavored gummy rings with a fleeting nuttiness on the mid-palate, followed quickly by a peppery essence on the back end.
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