🥃 Bushmills Black Bush
Irish blend of the Bushmills brand with mostly malt whiskey, matured mainly in oloroso sherry casks; 40% ABV.
Bushmills Black Bush is a blend from the Bushmills brand in which single malt whiskey predominates, and grain whiskey makes up only about a fifth. It was once called Bushmills Liqueur Whiskey. The strength is 40% ABV, and according to The Spirits Educator, the components are about 8 years old.
The whiskey itself is an Irish blend: 80% malt and 20% grain. The author of that source writes that 80% of the casks are former oloroso sherry casks, and the rest are former bourbon casks. The Pot Still Whiskey Blog notes that the malt component matures for 8 to 10 years, so the exact age depends on the source. This blend twice won the title of best Irish blend at the World Whisky Awards (in 2007 and 2010).
Why this matters to you. Black Bush is the sherry-driven, fruity variant, and it is worth comparing with Original, which has less malt whiskey. There is no age statement on the label, so go by the name and the strength. 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 and grain barley; 80% malt, 20% grain whiskey |
| Cask type | about 80% oloroso, 20% bourbon (per The Spirits Educator) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in wooden casks under PGI rules; the whiskey is about 8 years old (sources say 8–10); no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Bushmills Black Bush → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Sherry, 🍷 Oak barrel, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Irish Grain Whiskey, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Bushmills, 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Blended Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Bushmills Original, 🥃 Redbreast
Frequently asked questions
Is Black Bush a single malt whiskey?
No. It is a blend of about 80% malt and 20% grain whiskey, so it is not called a single malt.
Which casks is Black Bush matured in?
According to The Spirits Educator, about 80% of the casks are former oloroso sherry casks and 20% are former bourbon casks.
What was the historical name of Black Bush?
Bushmills Liqueur Whiskey. That is the name the line used, according to Difford's Guide.
What to read next
- 🥃 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.
- 🍷 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.
- 🥃 Irish Grain Whiskey — Irish whiskey from column stills: no more than 30% malt, the rest maize, wheat or barley; lighter in taste, the backbone of blends.
Similar
🥃 Bushmills Original · 🥃 Bushmills 10 Year Old · 🥃 Bushmills 16 Year Old · 🥃 Bushmills 21 Year Old · 🥃 Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve · 🥃 Tullamore Dew Original
⚠️ 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: What's the difference between Bushmills Original and Bushmills Black? (45/55 and 80/20 malt to grain, casks, age)
- The Pot Still Whiskey Blog: Bushmills Black Bush (malt and grain blend, oloroso casks, World Whisky Awards 2007 and 2010)
- 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)