🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old
Irish single malt line of the Bushmills brand; distilled three times; aged at least 10 years in bourbon and sherry casks; 40% ABV.
Bushmills 10 Year Old is a single malt whiskey from the Bushmills brand in Northern Ireland, made only from malted barley with no grain whiskey in the blend. The line was launched in 1985. The strength is 40% ABV, and the components are at least ten years old.
Difford's Guide writes that the whiskey is made from unpeated Irish malted barley and distilled three times. According to The Spirits Educator, it matures for at least 10 years in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, and distillation takes place in copper stills. Unlike the blends, there is no grain component here.
Why this matters to you. This is the most accessible single malt line of Bushmills, so it is a comfortable step up from Original or Black Bush toward older expressions with their own finish. For comparison: the 12-year-old version was added to the permanent range only in January 2022, according to Difford's Guide. The age on the label refers to the youngest whiskey in the bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | line launched in 1985 (per Difford's Guide) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | PGI “Irish Whiskey” (Technical File; Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | unpeated Irish malted barley |
| Distillation method | three times, in copper stills |
| Cask type | bourbon and oloroso sherry casks |
| Minimum maturation | at least 10 years (per The Spirits Educator) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Sherry, 🍷 Oak barrel, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Bushmills, 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Redbreast
Frequently asked questions
Is Bushmills 10 a single malt whiskey?
Yes. According to The Spirits Educator, it is made from 100% malted barley, not a blend with grain whiskey.
When did Bushmills 10 Year Old appear?
In 1985, according to Difford's Guide.
How many times is Bushmills 10 distilled?
Three times, in copper stills, according to The Spirits Educator.
What to read next
- 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush — Irish blend of the Bushmills brand with mostly malt whiskey, matured mainly in oloroso sherry casks; 40% ABV.
- 🍷 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 barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Redbreast — Irish single pot still whiskey brand from Midleton; malted and unmalted barley; 12 years, 40% vol.; Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard.
Similar
🥃 Bushmills Black Bush · 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old · 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old · 🥃 Bushmills Original · 🥃 Tullamore Dew 14 Year Old Single Malt · 🥃 Mackmyra Brukswhisky
⚠️ 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.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: The Old Bushmills Distillery Co. Ltd (range: Original/White Bush, Black Bush, 10 Year Old launched 1985, 12 Year Old added January 2022)
- The Spirits Educator: The Complete Guide to Bushmills Irish Whiskey (ABV, malt/grain share, casks and age of each expression)
- 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)