Bushmills » Liquorature

Bushmills 10 y.o. Review

Aug 112012

Bushmills 10 y.o.

40% abv

Score: 84/100

Not my favorite Bushmills, but a solid addition to range nonetheless. This one takes the sweet caramel barley of the Original, but amps it up with bucketloads of wine-y fruits. Expect a little dust and oak over deep purple grape and mildest sherry. There is a bittering berry in there as well, but notes of butter-rich milk chocolate smooth it out and remind of Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut. The grains at this age are still singing like a plucked piano string, and ten years in oak doesn’t seem to have taken much of the edge off. Not a bad thing however, just a little sharper than I had expected.

The real beauty of Irish triple distillation is how much it strips the spirit down to purity and allows the barley to take center stage. This is the heart of a whisky…why shouldn’t it play the star? Hints of citrus zest round out the nose.

The palate delivers tart dark fruit skin (again…think purple grape) that morphs into apple skin towards the back end of development. Before we get there though, soft orange fruits and creamy caramel light up the taste buds.

As I hinted at, there are several better Bushmills expressions out there, but the unique character of this one makes it worthwhile if you like your Irish.

- Reviewed by: Curt

- Photo: Curt

Bushmills Original Review

Bushmills No Responses »

Aug 112012

Bushmills Original

40% abv

Score: 84.5/100

This revered old chap will always hold a special place in my heart and a place on my whisky shelf. This is where it began for me. The first whiskey I fell in love with. I’ve climbed mountains with it and drank it on my wedding day. I’ve been sick on it and been more than well on it. I truly cannot remember a time when there wasn’t at least a couple different Bushmills bottles in my cabinet.

So what makes it so special? Well…to be honest…nothing really. It is rather typical Irish fare. Light and clean, fruity and grainy.

It is also utterly delicious, and its simple drinkability is where so much of its charm is wrought.

The nose projects sweet caramel barley and smooth subtle nuances of rye or mild bourbon. The delivery is as smooth as a mature Canadian rye. The notes you’d expect based on this are front and center: Mild vanillins, soft and gentle spices and sweet orchard fruit. Primarily peaches. Chewy as hell and nifty to note that while certainly young and clean…it carries flavor notes of something a little older than its years.

Even at a slight 40% abv and chill-filtered, the finish is pleasantly sustained. As the whiskey limps to a slow death on the palate, the final throbbing notes are of a caramel fade and crunchy apple.

Charming, approachable and affordable. The great news is there are all sorts of places to go from here in the Bushmills range. Next? Most likely the Black Bush.

- Reviewed by: Curt

- Photo: Curt