Bushmills Unveils Whiskey Aged in Rare Type of Cask That ‘Oozes Sunshine and Sweetness’
(Photo: Bushmills)
Bushmills announced on April 9 that the Irish whiskey brand was unveiling a 14-year-old single malt finished in what the brand referred to as “rare” Malaga casks. The Irish whiskey is now a permanent offering within the brand’s single malt collection and hosts a suggested retail price of $70 a bottle.
Before finishing the whiskey in Malaga casks for up to a year, Bushmills aged it in first- and second-fill bourbon barrels for a minimum of 14 years. Malaga is a wine region in Spain that typically produces sweeter, fortified wines according to Decanter.
“I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and create a really exciting taste experience for every palate,” Bushmills Master Blender Alex Thomas said in a statement. “It is unlike any other whiskey in our core range. Marrying the bourbon cask with the Malaga wine adds layers of ripe fruits all working together with honey, cinnamon and milk chocolate. It oozes sunshine and sweetness.”
Thomas additionally claimed to be familiar with Muscat of Alexandria, a highly aromatic grape often used for Malaga wine. The brand claims it is one of the oldest grapes in the world, and the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, was allegedly a fan of the varietal.
Bushmills’ offers a range of 10-, 16-, 21-, 25- and 30-year-old Irish whiskeys. In December, the brand released an eclectic range of Irish single malts finished in Alsatian plum brandy casks, tequila barrels, bordeaux and burgundy casks.
Bushmills 14 Year Old Tasting Notes, Via the Brand
Nose: Honeyed mandarin oranges interlaced with warm spices.
Taste: Gingered cinnamon milk with a cornucopia of tropical fruits like pineapple, apricot and mango.
Finish: Apricots and mandarin oranges segueing into a warm, spicy, vanilla-laden finish.
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