Bushmills whiskey began in 1608 when King James granted a local man, Sir Thomas Phillips, permission to distill whiskey. The world’s oldest distillery is located in Northern Ireland, by a small lake in the village of Bushmills. The Bushmills journey was not easy—it faced challenges such as taxes on malted barley and, for example, a fire in 1885 that completely destroyed the distillery. However, the building was restored the same year, and five years later the company was financially strong enough to purchase its own steamship to export whiskey primarily to America, but also to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Yokohama.

At the beginning of the 20th century, America was the largest export market for Bushmills. The Prohibition period greatly affected Bushmills, but Belfast’s trusted merchant Samuel Wilson saved the company from bankruptcy by purchasing the distillery and setting up a whiskey stock warehouse. Naturally, after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, he made a fortune by saving the Bushmills distillery.

During World War II, whiskey production was completely halted to accommodate American troops in the distillery. At the same time, Belfast was bombed, and the Bushmills headquarters, along with all documentation, was completely destroyed. However, after the war, Bushmills sales increased again—largely thanks to the transatlantic market.

Bushmills is a source of Irish pride. In 2008, to celebrate its 400th anniversary, new banknotes were issued in Ireland with support from the Bushmills distillery. The whiskey house has now become a popular tourist destination, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. Bushmills maintains connections with music and film—it counts actress Elija Wood, the band Best Coast, and the indie folk group Bon Iver as friends. Every year, the famous Bushmills Live music event takes place in Northern Ireland, right at the distillery.

Bushmills Whiskey Range

• Bushmills Original

A blend of Irish malt whiskey and Irish grain whiskey. Made from the best Irish barley and crystal-clear water, distilled three times in traditional stills. Matured in oak barrels.

• Bushmills Black Bush

Black Bush is a true whiskey legend. Its unique taste is achieved through centuries of perfected craftsmanship. The secret to Black Bush’s distinctive flavor lies in the carefully selected Oloroso casks, where malt whiskey is blended with flavorful grain whiskey in an 80:20 ratio.

• Bushmills Caribbean Rum Cask Finish

This is a blend of Bushmills Original Irish whiskey with single malt whiskey matured in fine Caribbean rum oak barrels, complemented by smooth, triple-distilled Irish grain whiskey. Golden with amber highlights, its taste carries tropical fruit and spice notes.

• Bushmills American Oak Bourbon Cask Finish

This is a blend of Bushmills Original Irish whiskey with single malt whiskey matured in charred American oak barrels and complemented by smooth, triple-distilled Irish grain whiskey. The flavor is dominated by fresh wood and vanilla tones.

• Bushmills 10 Years Old Single Malt

This whiskey uses Bushmills distillation traditions dating back to 1608. For special harmony, it is distilled three times and aged at least 10 years in oak barrels flavored with Oloroso sherry and American bourbon. The result is a rich whiskey with vanilla, honey, and sherry aromas. In 2005, Bushmills 10 Years Old won a silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards as one of the world’s best whiskeys.

• Bushmills 14 Years Old Single Malt

The whiskey is aged at least 14 years, including up to 12 months maturing in Malaga wine barrels, giving it a golden chestnut color and exotic fruit notes. This whiskey offers rich aromas of honey, vanilla, and warm spices, with flavors of mango, pineapple, and apricot enhanced by ginger and cinnamon nuances. The finish is long and clear with vanilla and mandarin notes that fade into warm spices.

• Bushmills 16 Years Old Single Malt

To achieve exceptional harmony, the whiskey undergoes triple distillation. After distillation, it is aged at least 16 years in Oloroso sherry and American bourbon oak barrels, then placed for several months in port wine barrels. After maturing in three types of oak barrels, the result is a rich and honey-like flavor with vanilla aroma, which together create the malt whiskey’s character and fruity notes.

• Bushmills 21 Years Old Single Malt

For exceptional harmony, triple distillation is performed, and the whiskey is aged at least 19 years, transferred to oak barrels flavored with both Oloroso sherry and American bourbon whiskey. The result is an exceptionally complex whiskey. It was awarded the title of the world’s best Irish malt whiskey and won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in the same year.