🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old
Irish single malt line of the Bushmills brand, 16 years; bourbon and oloroso sherry casks with a port pipe finish; 40% ABV.
Bushmills 16 Year Old, also known as Three Wood, is an Irish single malt from the Bushmills brand in Northern Ireland. It is distilled three times and has an age of 16 years; the strength is 40% ABV. The name “three woods” points to the three types of casks in which the whiskey matures.
According to Whisky Rant, the whiskey matures in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, then completes its maturation in pipe-type casks that once held port. The Spirits Educator specifies that this finish lasts 6 to 9 months. The malt is Irish, and the distillation is triple, as with the younger Bushmills 10.
Why this matters to you. Compare this line with Bushmills 10 Year Old: the difference lies not only in age but also in the port finish, which adds sweet berry notes. 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
| Legal basis | PGI “Irish Whiskey” (Technical File; Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
|---|---|
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | Irish malted barley |
| Distillation method | three times (per Whisky Rant) |
| Cask type | bourbon and oloroso; finish in pipe casks that once held port |
| Minimum maturation | 16 years plus a 6–9 month port finish (per The Spirits Educator) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Sherry, 🍷 Port, 🍷 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 10 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Bushmills 16 matured only in port casks?
No. The whiskey first matures in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, and the port casks provide only the final finish, according to Whisky Rant.
How long does the port finish last?
6 to 9 months, according to The Spirits Educator.
What is the strength of Bushmills 16?
40% ABV according to both sources.
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.
- 🥃 Bushmills Original — Base line of the Bushmills brand: an Irish blend of malt and grain whiskey; 40% ABV; no age statement; bourbon and oloroso sherry casks.
Similar
🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old · 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old · 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush · 🥃 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
- The Spirits Educator: The Complete Guide to Bushmills Irish Whiskey (ABV, malt/grain share, casks and age of each expression)
- Whisky Rant: Bushmills 16 year old Three Wood (40 %, ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso casks, Port pipes, distilled three times)
- 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)