What is famous for Bushmills famous Irish whiskey? First of all, the fact that this drink is produced at one of the oldest distilleries in the world. It is worth noting that this is far from the only indicator that distinguishes whiskey among similar drinks. Bushmills is an elite strong alcoholic drink that is especially appreciated among true gourmets.
Distillery history
The world-famous Irish distillery appeared about four hundred years ago - in 1608 - in the northern part of Ireland. It was at this time that the landowner Thomas Phillips received the official right from the king to distill an alcoholic beverage in the village of Bursmils (this is where the name of the exclusive drink came from). However, this fact does not mean at all that licensed whiskey began to be produced precisely in 1608 and exclusively at this distillery.
It is worth noting that the famous Bushmills whiskey label “1608” first appeared only in the 80s of the last century. But the very first mention of the oldest distillery appeared in 1743. Of course, like many legendary companies, the Old Bushmills brand has experienced ups and downs throughout its existence. The heyday came exactly in the second half of the XIX century. This is due to the fact that Scottish scotch as a commodity did not have such export opportunities as an Irish drink.
The modern history of the Irish distillery
An interesting feature of the legendary distillery - in the entire history of its existence, the company did not stop production. And this despite the prohibition, the Second World War, as well as the introduction of an embargo on the supply of alcoholic beverages from Ireland.
Since 2005, rights to the Bushmills trademark have been transferred to Diageo, a British company, which is the world's largest producer of adhesive tape in the exclusive segment. Of course, Bushmills whiskey is far from the only drink that this company produces. The product range includes a huge number of items that have already become a household name of their kind - Baileys liquor, Smirnoff vodka, well-known brands of whiskey J&B, White Horse, Guinness beer and much more.
It is worth noting that the activities of the new owner are characterized by activity and productivity. Over the past few years, a considerable amount of investment has been made in the company. For example, recently, Diageo has invested more than 10 million pounds in the production of elite alcohol. Of course, such investments are quite justified - the products of the Irish company are purchased in all corners of the globe.
Distinctive features of the Bushmills Irish whiskey
Traditional whiskey of Irish origin is significantly different from Scottish. For example, Bushmills whiskey does not have such a bright smack aftertaste and has a softer flavor. This is due to the fact that the drink undergoes a distillation procedure three times, as well as the absence of a specific stage of drying the wort over burning peat.
A distinctive feature of Irish whiskey are the oldest traditions of production, which are rooted in the distant past. The elite drink consists mainly of barley and water that flows through a peat stream - these are the ingredients that make Bushmills Irish whiskey taste so exquisite and unique.
Irish Whiskey Production
It is worth noting that for some time the famous Irish distillery produced whiskey in the same way as Scotch. However, subsequently Bushmills began to use exclusively its own recipe, which allowed to obtain an exquisite drink with a characteristic taste.
Like many years ago, the same water is used for the production of the famous Irish whiskey - from the Bush River, which flows near the distillery. For a long enough time to make Bushmills Irish whiskey, we used the Scottish method of preparing malt, that is, roasting it with peat. But at present, the malt for elite whiskey is only dried, without the use of peat smoke.
Company secrets
All Old Bushmills distilleries use only barley malt. And for the subsequent creation of unique blends, grain whiskey is used. First, barley malt is crushed and insisted in hot water from peat bogs. After 60 hours of fermentation and fermentation, 10% of the mash is obtained, which is subsequently distilled three times. And here it is time to discover the main secret of making Bushmills Irish Whiskey whiskey - a special elongated moonshine is used for its distillation. It is this feature that gives whiskey such a special taste and aroma that distinguishes it from similar brands of this drink.
Varieties of Irish Bushmills
An Irish distillery produces several varieties of Bushmills whiskey, each of which has a distinctive taste, aging time and other qualities.
- Original - blended whiskey, which is made according to one of the oldest recipes. For preparation, single malt whiskey is used after triple distillation, which, in turn, is aged in sherry barrels for about 10 years, as well as grain whiskey aged in bourbon barrels for at least five years. The unusual taste of this drink deserves special attention - to feel its whole gamut under the power of true gourmets.
- Bushmills 10 Years Old Whiskey is a 10-year-old single malt. For its preparation, bourbon barrels are used. Bushmills 10 Years Old whiskey, reviews of which eloquently speak of its unsurpassed quality and exquisite taste, is made from selected barley, the golden color of which indicates the saturation of the drink itself. Fruit and spicy, chocolate and honey - these are just the initial notes of taste, which are subsequently complemented by a harmonious aftertaste - fresh and grainy.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey - Varieties
- Bushmills Black Bush is a blended variety of Irish whiskey, which is made from single malt and grain, aged, in turn, in barrels of bourbon and sherry. A rich amber-colored drink has a sweeter taste than all other Bushmills varieties, its price ranges from 1300 rubles for 0.7 liters. Spicy fruity aroma, filled with peach, apricot and banana shades, harmoniously outplayed with a long and sweet finish.
- Bushmills Irish Honey is a relatively new variety in the exclusive collection of Irish whiskey. The drink has a pronounced honey taste, although the presence of this component is minimal. This variety is not sugary; rather, on the contrary, the rich taste of ripe autumn apples with light honey notes allows you to get real pleasure from drinking this drink.
Bushmills 1608
This blended variety of Irish whiskey deserves special attention. A logical question arises - why? The fact is that this brand was released in limited quantities on the four hundredth anniversary of the Irish distillery. As already mentioned, the company was founded in 1608, and its official registration was in 1784.
How much does a blended Bushmills cost? The price of this pleasure, of course, is due to the limited number of copies issued. The cost of a bottle is about three times higher than the rest of the varieties. So, for example, one bottle of Bushmills 1608 will cost about 3,300 Russian rubles. Nevertheless, this feature is absolutely not important for real gourmets who can appreciate the taste of Irish whiskey.
By the way, this whiskey is made from a special variety of crystal malt, with the addition of ordinary grain and malt whiskey. The taste of this drink is full of fruity, honey and spicy notes that vividly convey the shade of chocolate, honey, vanilla and nuts.