A visit to Northern Ireland would not be complete without sampling some of the Irish whisky produced in the country. Old Bushmills Distillery takes you back through time and lets you see first-hand how this well-known whisky is hand-crafted and produced in small batches.
The Bushmills Distillery began life more than 400 years ago and the company still uses its original trademark today. Its malt whiskey grew in popularity over the years and won many international awards in the Victorian era. The whiskey certainly made an impression on some, receiving a mention in James Joyce’s Ulysses, and it has continued to grow in popularity, particularly in the US, winning awards and being beloved by many a celebrity.
The Bushmills tour starts in the mixing room where the malted barley gets mixed with water from the River Bush, then it is onto the fermentation hall where yeast is added to produce alcohol. In the distillery you can see the unique copper stills, which give Bushmills its distinctive taste and character and then onto the cask room piled high with maturing whiskey. You then visit the blending lounge where a highly experienced team create the different Bushmills’ recipes and then, finally, the bottling plant.
There is a chance to taste the whiskies and learn about the different blends and if you like it that much you can buy a bottle of Distillery Reserve 12-Year-Old Single Malt Whiskey from the mill’s gift shop.
