Bushmills Single Cask is the way Bushmills should be experienced; non-chill filtered and bottled above 80 proof. Now I’m not saying that every single Bushmills needs to be bottled at cask strength, but seriously… how amazing would the Bushmills 21, Bushmills 16 and Bushmills 10 be if they were delivered at over 46% and non-chill filtered? I can’t help but think that all three of those would go up a grade or two if given the respect they deserve and weren’t neutered before bottling. Hell, I think even the Bushmills Black would benefit from that kind of a boost.
My sincerest hope is that someday Bushmills catches up with the modern trend of a more natural presentation of their whiskey, but sadly that hope is fairly small. I’m sure they’re doomed to having an array of good whiskeys that could be great and excellent whiskies because they want to stretch each barrel as far as they possible can. Which makes sense from a business perspective, but as a consumer and fan of the brand I want more out of the whiskey. I want to see more things showing up on the market that resemble the Bushmills Single Cask at least in spirit if not in full execution.
Bushmills Single Cask Info
Region: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Distiller: Bushmills
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: Sherry Hogshead
Age: NAS
ABV: 53.7%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: ~$100
Bushmills Single Cask Review
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
Sherry, malt, orchard fruit, copper, dark fruit and a light earthy sulfury quality make for a nice aroma.
PALATE
Yum. Tropical fruit, malt, sherry sweetness, dried dark fruit, nutty, ashy and a light bit of sulfury earth and smarties. This is a nice tasting whiskey and proves my point about Bushmills being even better than it already is when bottled at a higher proof and non-chill filtered.
FINISH
Long oily fade of sherry, malt, fruit, copper and dried dark fruit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced, round full body and a slick oily feel.
OVERALL
This particular Bushmills Single Cask was quite nice. A nice aroma followed by a thick full palate and oily finish make for a great drinking experience. Water didn’t do much to enhance the whiskey, but it was so expressive at full cask strength that it didn’t really need much help and would have scored an A- if the nose had been richer and more expressive. Still, it’s a good whiskey and one I’d happily sip on anytime of the year.
SCORE: 87-89/100 (B+, not consumed at home)
