Bushmills

Bushmills

Northern IrelandUnited Kingdom
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Bushmills Irish Whiskey stands as the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, with roots tracing back to 1490 and receiving its official license from King James I in 1608. Nestled in the village of Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, this iconic brand represents the pinnacle of Irish whiskey craftsmanship. Favored by governments as a diplomatic gift for foreign dignitaries, Bushmills embodies centuries of distilling excellence. The whiskey is crafted from 100% malted barley, pure Irish water, and proprietary yeast strains. Following malting, the barley is dried in closed kilns, milled into grist, and mashed to create a sweet wort. After fermentation, the wash undergoes Bushmills' signature triple distillation in traditional copper pot stills—a distinctive practice that sets Irish whiskey apart from its Scottish counterparts, which typically employ double distillation. This third distillation creates an exceptionally smooth, refined spirit with remarkable purity and approachable character, making it the cornerstone of Northern Ireland's whiskey heritage.

Founder:
Hugh Anderson

Timeline

1784

Hugh Anderson founded the Bushmills Distillery Company

1860

Belfast spirit merchants Jame McColgan and Patrick Corrigan purchased the distillery

1880

Bushmills Distillery was incorporated as a limited company

1885

The original Bushmills building was destroyed by fire, but the distillery was quickly rebuilt

1890

Bushmills' owned and operated steamship made its first Atlantic voyage, and products were first sold in bulk to the United States and other regions

1972

Bushmills Distillery was acquired by Irish Distillers Group

1988

Irish Distillers Group was acquired by French spirits group Pernod Ricard, and Bushmills changed hands again

2005

Diageo acquired Bushmills Distillery for £200 million

2014

Diageo announced the exchange of the Bushmills brand with Jose Cuervo for control of Don Julio