Bushmills 25 Year Old Marsala Cask
Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Flaviar’s Bushmills “Rare Cask Series” Tasting Box
Sample ‘B’
50% 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.
Includes whiskey first matured in bourbon casks for 10 years and Oloroso sherry casks for 10 years, combined and finished in Marsala casks for 14-15 years. Has notes of dried fruits, bit of anise, and more viscous sweetness.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, Marsala wine, honey, figs, dates, roasted walnuts, oak, tapioca, nutmeg, subtle cinnamon.
Palate: Thick and rich mouthfeel, honey with spices, nutty, slight pepper bite, brown sugar, bit of tobacco, orange, apricots.
Finish: Long with honeyed ginger and tobacco.
Comments: An amazing dram (if you like Marsala, which I do – in fact this is only the 2nd whisk(e)y I’ve had with a Marsala cask maturation)! Compared to Sample A (28 yr PX Sherry Cask), this was more spicy, which I like. Love the high ABV and non-chill filtering, which is evident in the mouthfeel. This is the sample I voted for the next Bushmills Rare Cask offering, as I think we need more Marsala maturation offerings, and it is really delicious.
They released the 1995 Marsala in Ireland and a 29 year old PX in the US. The Marsala I wonderful and I’m chasing the 29 y.o
I saw some images of the 29 yr old (which I assume is the same whiskey from the sample with another year in the barrel), and expect that COVID messed up the original plan. I’m thankful for the 50 mL samples of all three, and hope you’re able to find the 29 yr old PX!