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Liquor Review: Bushmills Original

Published on February 26th, 2009 in Liquors of the Month, Whiskey by Hunter

Many of you have pointed out in your emails to us that we really haven’t reviewed any Irish whiskey. Bushmills is a good place to start because it’s likely one of the first brands to come to mind when asked to name an Irish whiskey. Although none of the crew was too experienced in Irish whiskey, we were all anxious to give it a try. The Irish are known for hot chicks, cloudy days, little dudes guarding pots of gold, and their drinking. As awesome as all the other things sound, drinking is really our job here, so let’s get to business.

Bushmills is actually the name of a very small town of about 1,300 inhabitants on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is home to the Old Bushmills Distillery. Founded in 1608, it is the oldest liscenced distillery in the world, and hosts about 110,000 visitors each year. Bushmills Original (I’ll just call it Bushmills for short) is the cornerstone of its whiskey range. It’s a blend of triple distilled malt whiskey with a lighter Irish grain whiskey. It is a common misconception that this triple distillation is what separates Scotch whiskey from Irish whisky, but that is not so. Most Irish whiskeys are produced from a mash of malted and unmalted grain. Scotch is either distilled exclusively from malted grain or from unmalted grain and then mixed with malt whiskey to create “blended whisky.” Irish whiskey also differs in that peat is almost never used in the malting process, so most Irish whiskey lacks the earthy or smokey taste that is associated with some (particularly Islay) Scotch whiskey. Bushmills is one of the few exceptions in the industry in that they do not use a pot-still whiskey in their blend. The result is a spirit with a warming taste of fruit and hints of vanilla.

Sipping Bushmills on the rocks brings a pleasant introduction into the world of Irish whiskey. The aroma is very light for a whiskey, with hints of spice and vanilla. When taking the first slurp, the whiskey coats your mouth slowly and thoroughly. The texture is somewhat thick and almost honey-like. It gently warms the palate with a touch of sweet fruitiness and finishes with a crisp spiciness. The finish is not dry but rather warmning. Bushmills is a very smooth whiskey to sip on ice. I was very impressed. Some more experienced whiskey drinkers may find it a little on the bland side because it lacks exciting complexity, but the smoothness and sweetness of the spirit makes up for any lack of complexity in my book. The bottle claims a “smooth & mellow” taste, and I would have to agree. Bushmills is truly a pleasure to ingest over ice or with a splash of cold water and really comes at a good price point of around $25.

Although consuming this spirit on ice was pleasantly rewarding, Bushmills stumbles a bit when mixed with Coke. It’s far from bad…in fact, some might find it rather enjoyable. We just felt that Coke took away some of the good qualities of the drink. It wasn’t much of a compliment to the liquor. The really interesting texture and warming sensation are both all but erased, but the beverage still goes down smoothly. The Coke gives Bushmills a sour taste and a bitter finish that lingers a bit too long. Some people may enjoy it, but I was not that impressed. I would rather consume Bushmills on the rocks anyday.

Guzzling Bushmills in quantity rocked! After a couple shots worth, I felt a little light-headed and groggy, yet energized. It’s like I was smacked in the face by a drunken leprechaun. I wasn’t punch-drunk or anything, but I was shaken and alert. After a few drinks of Bushmills, any bite you may notice in its taste vanishes, but some flavor is lost as well. The only thing I could really notice after a few of these was the warming sensation and the sharp, spicy finish. That’s dangerous for an alcoholic. This stuff could be consumed in mass quantities rather easily. I’m beginning to understand why the Irish have such a reputation as booze-hounds. The buzz with Bushmills is a good “I don’t give a damn” buzz. I think I could even be convinced to sing one of those stupid Irish drinking songs after a number of these. Hell, I might even be ready to kick some leprechaun ass! There is a long, glorious period of buzz before the drunk hits. The buzz is wonderful and carefree, but the little leprechaun packs a pretty hefty punch in the end. After being smacked enough times, I bet even Tyson would go down without even having time to take a nibble on those deliciously-pointy ears. Leprechauns have pointy ears, right? I think so. Either way, it was still a good time.

After a night of fun fighting that creepy little leprechaun, I was expecting the worst from the hangover fairy. After waking somewhat late, I was confronted with some dehydration and a SERIOUS headache. Strangely enough, the headache and the dehydration both vanished mysteriously while in the shower. I take fast showers too, so color me impressed. With ample sleep after drinking Bushmills, the hangover shouldn’t be too painful.

All in all, I would give Bushmills kudos for treating us to a delightful irish delight. I have recently begun to order straight shots of it at the bar (try it chilled if you are too sissy for it straight), and it really gives me that little kick I need early in the evening. Although it lacks the complexity of many good American and Scotch whiskeys, the smooth drinkability and respectable price make Bushmills a must-try for any drinker.

Sipability – 7.5

February 09 Mixability – 6.0