Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask
Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Flaviar’s Bushmills “Rare Cask Series” Tasting Box
Sample ‘A’
53% ABV
We would like to thank Flaviar and Bushmills for the opportunity to try these rare whiskies!
NOTE: The samples were provided as part of a lottery through my personal Flaviar membership, and not provided directly for purposes of a review.
Wait – What is This?
In the summer/fall of 2020, Flaviar offered an opportunity to members to enter a lottery, the winners of which would have the opportunity to sample some rare Bushmills and vote on what would be the next ‘Rare Cask’. I was fortunate enough to be picked to participate, and received a 5 sample kit from Flaviar which included:
- Bushmills 10 yr Single Malt
- Bushmills 16 yr Single Malt
- Sample A (Bushmills 28 Year Old PX Sherry Cask, 1992)
- Sample B (Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask, 1995)
- Sample C (Bushmills 23 Year Old Crystal Malt, 1997)
Flaviar stated that they would announce the winner with Bushmills. If that happened, I missed it (and as of Feburary 2022, Bushmill’s website only lists the initial Rare Cask release – although I saw some stores that had labels for ‘Rare Case 02’, so not sure if they released it quietly, or if they planned to but then changed course, or what happened). Regardless, I was waiting for such an announcement before posting these reviews – but as that may never happen – here they are!
The details below were compiled from what was provided by Flaviar with the samples, and the NightCap Live streaming event they hosted – which included the Bushmills brand ambassador Jack Ferris who provided additional details about the whiskies.
PX Cask, 28 years old, filled in 1992. This isn’t a PX Cask ‘finish’ – it spent all 28 years in a PX Sherry cask and has toffee notes, dried fruit. Noted that the sherry casks are toasted compared to bourbon casks which are charred.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, dark fruit with cherries and raisins, musky oak, vanilla, hint of barbecue, bitter orange, clove, pipe tobacco, honey, a bit of molasses.
Palate: Thick and rich mouthfeel, heavy sweetness, fruitcake soaked in fine Irish whiskey, vanilla, toffee, cloves, nutmeg, dark chocolate.
Finish: Long with lingering clove, cocoa and coffee notes.
Comments: This is a really delicious dram, and was tough to not select in the voting. Just an exceptional, well aged single malt that is rich, thick and luscious. This takes water well, bringing more honey, fruit and chocolate notes. I love that this sample was at a high ABV, and it was non-chill filtered. While this didn’t get my vote, I would hardly be disappointed if this won as it is a truly delightful pour.