(Photo: Bushmills)
On Thursday, Bushmills unveiled just 300 bottles of what is says is the oldest single malt Irish whiskey ever released — a 46-year age bottling dubbed the "Secrets Of The River Bush." The expression is the latest in a streak of ultra-aged releases from the brand, itself the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
Maturation of the spirit began in 1978 using Oloroso sherry butts sourced from the Antonio Paez Lobato Cooperage in Jerez, Spain. Nearly half a century later, the mahogany liquid bears more resemblance to coffee than your average whiskey. The brand says to expect aromas of dark fruits, sweet apricot and caramel, followed by flavors of black cherries, baked plums and raisins and an oaky finish.
If you're hoping to grab a taste, it might be best to start saving up now or perhaps even take out a loan. The 46.5%-ABV whiskey clocks in at a suggested retail price of $12,500 per bottle, a number that'll almost certainly increase once it hits the resale market.
“For me this isn’t just a smooth, rare single malt whiskey, it is real history in the making," Bushmills Master Blender Alex Thomas said in a news release. "For 46 years, we’ve patiently watched over this remarkable liquid and witnessed it transform into this rich, dark beauty, deeply authentic and full of flavor, this is Bushmills at its best. Without the river there would be no Bushmills Irish Whiskey. The two are inextricably linked.”
The Old Bushmills Distillery was established in 1784, with the first official printing of the brand dating back even further to 1608. Based in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Bushmills is today owned by Proximo Spirits, the international giant behind such names as Jose Cuervo, 1800 Tequila, Boodles British Gin and Stanahan's Colorado Whiskey.
The legacy brand has released hundreds of iterations on its recipe over the past four centuries and counting. Tasting our way through its catalog, we've found that its older age statements tend to reflect the distiller at its best. Our favorite of the bunch has to be its Rare Casks No. 4, which debuted last year. Aged 31 years in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, the $2,800-bottling was rich with gorgeous flavors of pear, buttercream and ginergsnaps that gave way to a dessert-laden finish. The expression currently holds an impressive Raided Score® of 94 based on reviews from three critics.
For more information on its latest release, check out the Bushmills website here.
Bushmills 46 Year Old Tasting Notes, Per the Brand
Color: Deep Mahogany
Nose: A unique harmony of delectable ripe dark fruits, sweet apricot, caramel and gentle waves of warm aging oak.
Taste: Intensely rich and spicy medley of cinnamon, crushed clove and nutmeg aromatic spice developing into delightfully sweet ripe black cherries, sun-dried raisins, baked plums and apricots before giving way to waves of roasted coffee, warm toffee and gently toasted oak.
Finish: Smooth yet robust, luscious and lingering spiced fruit and gentle oak, this 46-year-old liquid is an exquisite example of aging well – delightful.
