🥃 Bushmills

Bushmills is an Irish whiskey brand from the town of Bushmills in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is linked to a royal licence of 1608, while current production dates from 1784. The whiskey is triple distilled, and since 2014 the brand has belonged to Proximo Spirits, a company known for Jose Cuervo tequila.

History. A licence to distil was granted in 1608 to Sir Thomas Phillips in County Antrim; the label mentions it, but the present company was founded in 1784. That is why the slogan about the "oldest distillery" should be read carefully (see the questions below). According to the Irish Times, in 2014 Proximo received Bushmills from Diageo in exchange for a 50% stake in Don Julio. Difford's Guide also mentions that Diageo bought the brand in 2005, so ownership went through several stages.

How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, Original and the 10-year-old are triple distilled. The water comes from Saint Columb's Rill, a tributary of the River Bush. The casks are oak; which ones are used for each version is shown on the label and on the producer's website.

Range. It includes Original, Black Bush (a blend), the 10- and 12-year-old versions and Irish Honey, a whiskey with a honey aroma.

Why this matters to you. Northern Ireland falls within the "Irish Whiskey" GI, so Bushmills is Irish whiskey even though it is located in the United Kingdom. The minimum ageing is 3 years and the strength is 40% ABV or more. Irish Honey is a separate product with a flavour emphasis, so do not compare it directly with classic whiskey. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.