[Review] Bushmills - 21 years old 40%



Christmas is fast approaching and, together with Bushmills UK, I bring you the perfect dram to share with those you love: Bushmills 21 Year Old single malt.


Having spent at least 19 years in hand-selected Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, this award-winning single malt is then finished for two years in Madeira casks. The result makes for an incredibly fruity and engaging whiskey which will appeal to any whisky enthusiast!


I guess it’s time to remove the cork and share my thoughts…


My tasting notes:

Nose: Super fragrant, fruity, oaky, citrusy. It’s full of apple, lemon, orange blossom like a spring orchard! There’s also some milk chocolate, almond, honey and vanilla notes, hints of dill and mint in the background, as well as oak spice, dried apricots and banana. What a start!


Palate: Juicy and fruity, a lot of peach notes, apple, ripe mango, orange, pears, apricots, cherries - an absolute fruit salad! All the fresh fruit is accompanied by some toffee, oak spice, dark chocolate, walnut, cinnamon, raisins and prunes. There are malty elements too and a slight pinch of salt. Delicious!


Finish: Dark fruit, blackberry jam, a little ginger bitterness, some creamy macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, raisins, liquorice hints and an oak spice dryness.


With water: More oak spice and citrus on the nose, with some lime appearing. The palate gets thinner, sweeter and loses in fruitiness, with more toasted oak, vanilla and nearly a hint of smoke. The finish is nuttier and again less fruity. Personally, I think this whiskey is so delicious, it’s better tasted neat!


What a story it is to share this Bushmills 21 Year Old; so many flavours and such an experience! A fantastic Christmas dram to try with family and friends.


Slàinte all!


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