Origin: Antrim (Northern Ireland)
Type: Irish Single Malt Whiskey
Strength: 40%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Rum
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: Casa Cuervo
Average price: € 30.00
Official website: bushmills.com
Vote: 84/100
Launched last 15 of April, here is the first bottling of the new Cask Finish series from the historic Irish distillery, which picks up on a theme already used for a previous edition, the 12-year Caribbean Select Casks that you will soon see on these pages.
The Rum casks (obviously “carefully selected”) come from companies located in the Dominican Republic, and have contained Rum for at least seven years before being transferred to Ireland to receive Bushmills’ whiskey for ageing.
The single malt aged in ex-Rum casks was then blended with grain whiskey to create this new bottling, on which the distillery is betting heavily as part of the renewal of its core portfolio.
Thanks to Three Drams and their set from last March, I was able to try an early sample.
Tasting notes
Clear presence of Rum on the nose, with plenty of brown sugar, red apple, pineapple, coconut, honey, lemon drop, aniseed. Veined with a fresh herbaceous note, over time it softens with a touch of custard.
Inevitably light but quite creamy, it brings to the palate a note of aniseed on caramelised sugar, pineapple, peach skin, grapefruit. The herbaceous aspect lingers in the background, with some mentholated impressions, along with sugar icing. Very drinkable.
Medium-long, dry finish of brown sugar, pineapple, hazelnut.
I admit that I started out with low expectations, especially considering the 12 years in Rum which had disappointed me quite a bit, but I must say that the end result is very pleasant and very drinkable, the contribution of the Rum is harmonious and gives a very pleasant freshness, resulting in a quality whiskey at a really bargain price.