Bushmills 16 Year
Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Matured in Three Woods
40% ABV
$80-$85
Website
What the Distiller Says:
“Well‚ it takes a special dedication to create the Bushmills 16 year-old‚ that and lots of patience. Two whiskies are matured for 16 years‚ one in a bourbon barrel and the other in sherry‚ and then they are married together in a sweet port infused cask. It’s a marriage made in heaven!”
– Master Distiller Colum Egan
NOSE: Aromatic nose with hints of almonds and a nutty sweetness
TASTE: A warm port sweetness on the back of the throat that drifts up to form an almond‚ marzipan fusion with hints of Honey beehoney and praline
FINISH: Deep‚ jammy and dark chocolate.
Recommended Serving:
45mls Bushmills 16 Year-Old. (1.5 oz)
1 Whiskey Glass
A drop of water
What Richard Says:
Nose: It starts out abrupt and a little meaty. From there it is grainy with a heavy focus toward cereal grains. The wood interplay is interesting. It get a heave sherry background that is trying to fight through the port. I’m undecided if it works or not.
Palate: The flavor is clean, mellow, and inoffensive. Rolling it around I get crisp apples, toasted pine nuts, an a cereal back. The flavors aren’t particularly bold but this is ridiculously drinkable.
Finish: It comes on delicate and slow but rather elegant. There is almost no finish at first but the port wood slowly creeps in and guides you out.
Comments: Nose….meh. Everything else….great! This would be a “drinker’s dram” in my book. By that I mean that it is not for those that want to spend the evening with their noses in their glasses waxing poetic. Rather, it is a great dram if yo uwna tto sit with some friends and just enjoy some good whiskey. I also feel compelled to own up to something. This is a dram I had to spend a lot of time with. It is really a mood dram for me. If I’m in the mood I love it and review accordingly. If I force then I don’t respond as well. What you see above is the combination of those two experiences.
Rating: Stands Out
What Gary Says
Nose: Soft, fruity and floral with with subtle dark fruits, honey, and hint of the port pipe.
Palate: Sweet, with soft fruit notes, honey, raisins, almonds, praline, bit of chocolate and a slight pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long, slightly drying with honeyed fruit and milk chocolate.
Comments: This is a significant step up from the 10 year. I agree with Richard that this is ridiculously drinkable – although I’ll bet this would be a LOT better at a higher ABV. Still pretty solid in terms of flavor density. When Richard reviewed this in 2014, it was $80 – $85. In 2020 here in Atlanta, this is over $120. It is still a solid single malt – but overpriced in my book.