The Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Hugh Anderson officially registered Old Bushmills as a distillery in 1784, but earlier history traces it back to an operation “in the hands of smugglers” in 1743, and ultimately to a license to distill granted in 1608 to landowner Thomas Phillips by King James I.
Throughout its 400+ years Bushmills has endured closures and production interruptions due to fires, wars, US Prohibition, bootlegger competition, and changes brought by a succession of new owners. Purchased in 2005 by Diageo, production is now being significantly increased.
Bushmills is the only “grain to glass” distillery in Ireland and one of the few in the world. Each step of the process takes place on the distillery site:
- Malted barley dried with hot air is ground to coarse flour and mixed with hot water.
- Yeast is added to trigger fermentation to about 8% alcohol.
- The “wash” is boiled and triple-distilled in copper pot stills with tall slender necks.
- Aging ensues in used American oak barrels, Spanish sherry casks, and even port or Madeira barrels.
- Different casks of whiskey are blended to achieve each product’s expected taste.
- Bottles are filled and labeled for distribution throughout the world.
Traditional products are Bushmills Original, Black Bush, and Bushmills 10-, 16-, and 21-year single malts. Bushmills 1608 was created for the 400th anniversary and made only in 2008. A 12-year single malt is available only at the distillery and Bushmills Irish Honey, which tastes like Bushmills Original with a note of honey, has recently been added.
The distillery is located in the small town of Bushmills in County Antrim on the northern coast of Ireland. The area has many tourist attractions and facilities for visitors of all motivations.
Those who come to sightsee will find ancient castle ruins to tour, a selection of windswept golf courses, and continuously spectacular views along the entire Antrim
coast. The Giant’s Causeway is an area of hexagonal black basalt columns formed 60 million years ago from the slow cooling of volcanic lava. Legend tells that Irish giant Finn McCool ripped away cliff faces and hurled them into the ocean to make stepping-stones across the North Channel to Scotland. The town of Bushmills itself has ample inns, hotels, and restaurants staffed with friendly local people to make your stay pleasant and memorable.
The distillery is a short walk from town. There are tours each day mid-morning to mid-afternoon and you are welcome to take them hour after hour and day after day until servers in the tasting room know your name and have your drink ready, served with their compliments in an official Old Bushmills Distillery tasting glass. If such is the purpose of your visit, it is best to keep a taxi on retainer.