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Based in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Bushmills is one of the best known and most successful Irish whiskeys. Dating back over 400 years ago to 1608, it's reputed to be the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, although the Bushmills Old Distillery Company itself was founded later in 1784. Bushmills triple distils 100% malted barley in copper pot stills in small batches to make a range of single malt whiskeys, renowned for their signature smooth taste.
Bushmills has recently revamped the packaging for its single malts with contemporary, prism shaped bottles and vibrantly coloured labels. This sleek new design is a departure from Bushmills' use of its iconic heritage bottle. Created by New York agency Stranger & Stranger, the glass bottles now have a broader, more angular shape influenced by the hexagonal columns of the nearby, awe-inspiring Giant's Causeway, which has long been the source of inspiration for Bushmills. The updated, bold labelling champions a more vibrant colour palette of aqua green for the 10-Year Old, a maroon shade of red for the 16-Year Old and mushroom grey for the rare 21-Year Old.
The side panels of each bottle also feature an embossed homage to Bushmills' 1608 heritage and a pot still. Further quality touches are provided by parchment labels and varnished cork closures for the 10- and 16-Year Old whiskeys, while a distinctive matt black Zamac Cap offsets the gunmetal label and gold detailing of the 21-Year Old.
The start of 2022 has also seen Alex Thomas become Master Blender, taking responsibility for selecting and managing the casks, nurturing the Bushmills Irish whiskey portfolio of premium blends and new product development.
Alex is one of the world's few female whiskey master blenders and succeeds Helen Mulholland who began her long career at the Old Bushmills Distillery almost 30 years ago. Born in Ballymoney, just 15 minutes from the Old Bushmills Distillery, Alex joined the team in 2004. Since then, she has spent over 17 years honing her craft, fascinated, in particular, by the maturation phase of the whiskey making process. This interest and her initial experiences led to experimentation with different taste profiles and, ultimately, her development of The Sexton Single Malt, where she was appointed as Master Blender in 2017.
Alex's appointment signals a new chapter in the history of the brand with a bright future ahead. "It is a privilege to be appointed as Master Blender for Bushmills Irish Whiskey", she says. "The Old Bushmills Distillery is a very special place and I'm excited to explore my passion for developing new whiskeys and experimenting with different casks and flavours, while still maintaining the iconic Bushmills taste and quality. The craftmanship and passion that goes into Bushmills is something that has truly captured my imagination. Whiskey fans know Bushmills Irish Whiskey for the brand's 400 years of quality and taste, so part of my job will be ensuring that we continue to meet that high standard. It is a really exciting time for Bushmills and I look forward to seeing what the future brings both here at the distillery and in the industry as a whole. I am very honoured to be a part of the amazing history and heritage and I look forward to using the wisdom and experience I have inherited from those who have gone before me."
For those new to Irish whiskey, Bushmills 10-Year Old (40% ABV) is a great starting point. It's a marriage of single malts, triple-distilled from 100% malted barley and matured for at least 10 years in hand-selected bourbon barrels and sherry butts. Alex insists the single malts spend as long as they need in oak, which she calls "unrushed perfection". This respect for tradition and uncompromising attitude to quality results in the purest expression of Bushmills' distinctive floral and fruity signature style that's been unchanged for centuries.
It takes generations of expert craftsmen to make this single malt, with the majority traditionally coming from local communities and the Bushmills village. "Without the whiskey, there would be no village and without the village, there would be no whiskey" is how James Dysart (Bottling Manager) explains the age-old relationship.
Appearance: Bright, clear gold.
Nose: Fresh and fruity with notes of vanilla custard, apple, butterscotch chocolate, honey and caramelised banana.Palate: Vanilla, crème caramel, touches of milk chocolate and toasted wood plus tropical fruit notes that develop mid-palate, leading to a slightly savoury, leathery, refreshingly dry finish with a tingle of black pepper spice and nutmeg.
Serve: A very approachable whiskey which you can enjoy neat (a drop or two of water will soften out the sharper edges), on the rocks or in a range of classic and modern cocktails.
For a delicious cocktail, try this recipe for an Espresso Bush-Tini from bartender Kayleigh Martin.
Ingredients
Method
Click to watch @kayleighlmartin video
You can find Bushmills 10-Year Old at selected multiples and whiskey specialist retailers, including Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's, The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Shop. RRP is £35.
🥃 So, if you want to celebrate St Patrick's Day ☘️ with a true taste of Ireland, then Bushmills 10-Year Old will do you proud. Sláinte! 🥃
