Bushmills adds 14YO whiskey to core range

Proximo Spirits-owned Bushmills has debuted a 14-year-old single malt that is finished in rare Malaga wine casks.

The new whiskey permanently joins the 10-, 16- and 21-year-old expressions in the brand’s portfolio, as well as the 25- and 30-year-olds that were released last year. For its maturation, the whiskey was aged exclusively in first and second-fill Bourbon barrels for a minimum of 14 years, and then finished for up to 12 months in rare Malaga casks. Bushmills said the barrel switch gave the resulting liquid ‘exotic summer fruit notes’ and ‘warm mellow spices’. Three days after being emptied, the Malaga casks were sent to the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland’s north coast, with the short time frame ensuring ‘optimal freshness and fragrance’. On crafting the whiskey, Alex Thomas, Bushmills’ master blender, said: “I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and create a really exciting taste experience for every palate. It is unlike any other whiskey in our core range. “Marrying the Bourbon cask with the Malaga wine adds layers of ripe fruit all working together with honey, cinnamon, and milk chocolate. It oozes sunshine and sweetness.” Additional notes include sweet honey and mandarin on the nose, summer fruits and vanilla on the palate, and a ‘long, crisp’ finish that develops into warm spice. Bushmills 14 Year Old is available for £56 (US$70) and has an ABV of 40%. Last month, the brand released a 36-year-old whiskey that retails for £5,000 (US$6,330) – the oldest and rarest Bushmills whiskey launched in Europe. It also passed one million case sales for the first time in 2022.