Bushmills Whiskey

Marking the third month of Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016, we salute one of the region’s most iconic brands, Bushmills Whiskey - a product that seems to sit happily in almost any month of the celebratory calendar, being equally at home with February’s ‘Love Local’ theme, the ‘Heritage and Traditions’ focus for March - or of course ‘Brewing & Distilling’ which follows in April.

Located on the beautiful Causeway Coast, in the little town of Bushmills on the River Bush, the aptly named Old Bushmills Distillery lays claim to being the oldest licensed distillery in the world. With a history dating back to 1608, when the original grant to distill was signed in by King James 1st, it is unarguable old, and - although there have been numerous changes of ownership - there has been distillation on the site ever since, always using their own water from Saint Columb's Rill (a tributary of the Bush), and Irish barley.

In recent decades The Old Bushmills Distillery (http://www.bushmills.com) has been owned by drinks giants: Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard, Diageo and, currently, Jose Cuervo, the world’s biggest tequila manufacturer - which, despite its size, is a family business and regarded as a safe pair of hands for this historic gem.

Bushmills claims to be the only distillery in Ireland making triple-distilled single malt whiskey, a proud tradition that creates its ‘unique combination of smoothness and richness’. There are currently five whiskeys in the portfolio: Bushmills Original (aka ‘White Bush), Black Bush, Bushmills 10 Year Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Single Malt and Bushmills 21 Year Single Malt.

In addition, exclusively for visitors to Bushmills, Distillery Reserve is a 12 Year Single Malt available to taste and buy only from the Distillery (where the label can be personalised). Otherwise the range of whiskeys is widely available, and can also be bought online (UK and Ireland) at mail.order.bushmills@bushmills.com.

Tours of the working distillery (not just a visitor centre) are offered, with time to admire the copper pot stills, hear all about passion and dedication that producing fine whiskey inspires, the production process and casks, ‘the angel’s share’ (the alcohol which evaporates from the casks during maturation) and the differences between the various whiskeys produced - and, saving the best bit until last, the tour ends with a whiskey (or a soft drink) in the 1608 Bar. Tutored whiskey tastings are available too, and there’s a specialist whiskey shop, a gift shop and a restaurant serving lunches.