Bushmills Irish Whiskey has released two rare, small batch 16yo and 21yo single malts as part of its 2016 limited edition offer.
Both whiskies are matured and finished in three different cask types to create rich flavour profiles.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey Master Distiller Colum Egan said: “To craft malts of this age and quality calls for all our expertise and knowledge. By carefully nurturing a small number of casks in our warehouses so that they age in the optimal conditions, we can draw layers of exquisite flavours from the wood, ensuring they are balanced with the distillery character of the Bushmills spirit made from 100% malted Irish barley.”
The fruity Bushmills 16yo single malt has been aged for at least 16 years in a combination of Bourbon casks and Oloroso Sherry butts, before being vatted and married for nine months in large old Port pipes. The whiskey offers flavours of honeyed nutty maltiness, toasted wood and sweet Port wine.
Bushmills 21yo single malt is matured in American oak Bourbon and old Oloroso Sherry casks for at least 19 years before marrying in Madeira wine casks for two further years. The whiskey has notes of wood, raisin, toffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, mint and leather.
Bushmills 21yo was named Best Irish Single Malt in Jim Murray’s 2017 Whisky Bible.
Both Bushmills 21yo and 16yo are available now at Belfast, Heathrow and Frankfurt airports.
Egan added: “With a heritage of more than 400 years of whiskey making in Bushmills, we know that only a combination of patience and great dedication to our craft makes such great whiskey possible.
“There is strong demand for Irish single malts, so we’re delighted to release these rare expressions for the ultra-premium end of the Irish whiskey category. Bottled at 40% ABV, they are both limited editions and will be available only from specialist independent retailers and on-trade outlets.”
