Irish

Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review

Can sherry, bourbon and port casks make Bushmills 16 a standout Irish single malt? Discover its rich fruit, spice and oak in our review.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:

A 16-Year-Old single malt Irish whiskey from Northern Ireland’s Bushmills. The expression is matured in ex-Oloroso sherry and bourbon seasoned casks for just over 15-years, before being finished in port pipes for nine months. Bottled at 40% ABV.
Appearance:
Rose Gold
Nose:
Sweet aromas open on the nose with honey and ripe fruits including cherries, plums and strawberry liquor accompanied by a touch of pear. After the sweetness, there are notes of light black pepper, leather, and cinnamon bark.
Palate:
Spicy and rich on the palate, opening with juicy fruits including peaches, nectarines, plums and red berries in syrup, followed by honey and vanilla. There are also notes of Christmas spices, clove and pepper, before becoming increasingly oaky.
Finish:
Short to medium finish, with a final flourish of jammy fruits and syrup.
Comments:
The Bushmills 16-Year-Old is a good example of combining different types of cask maturation; there’s plenty of influence from the sherry and port barrels with dried and jammy red fruits. I’d probably award a score of 7.5 out of 10 based on my own experience, but let’s be generous and give a score of 8. I’d be interested to sample a stronger version of the Bushmills 16-Year-Old, but it’s clear why this is a continually popular aged Irish single malt whiskey.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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