🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old
Irish single malt line of the Bushmills brand, 21 years; bourbon and oloroso casks with a two-year Madeira cask finish; 40% ABV.
Bushmills 21 Year Old is the oldest of the brand's permanent single malt lines from Northern Ireland. According to Whisky Magazine, the whiskey is 21 years old and 40% ABV. Its distinguishing feature is a Madeira cask finish, which the name “Madeira Finish” also indicates.
According to The Spirits Educator, the whiskey first matures for at least 19 years in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, then spends another 2 years completing maturation in Madeira casks. It is a single malt from Irish barley, distilled three times in copper stills like the younger versions.
Why this matters to you. Compare it with Bushmills 16 Year Old: they have different finishes, port versus Madeira, and a five-year difference in age. Versions of this age are rare in the Bushmills range, so check the label carefully. 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, in copper stills (per The Spirits Educator) |
| Cask type | bourbon and oloroso; finish in former Madeira casks |
| Minimum maturation | 21 years: at least 19 years plus a 2-year finish |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Sherry, 🍷 Madeira, 🍷 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 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Bushmills Black Bush, 🥃 Bushmills Original
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all of Bushmills 21 matured in Madeira casks?
No. According to The Spirits Educator, 2 of the 21 years are spent in Madeira casks as a finish; the rest of the time is in bourbon and oloroso casks.
What is the strength of Bushmills 21?
40% ABV, according to The Spirits Educator and Whisky Magazine.
How long does the finish last?
Two years, 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.
- 🥃 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 16 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 Magazine: Bushmills Aged 21 Years, Madeira Finish (40 %, 21 years)
- 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)