Bushmills Releases Series of Intriguing Single Malt Whiskeys Finished in Alsatian Plum Brandy Casks, Tequila Barrels and More

Bushmills released its latest Private Reserve Series (Photo: Bushmills)

On Tuesday, Bushmills, the world’s oldest licensed distillery, unveiled a collection of four Irish single malts aged in a variety of distinctive finishes. The collection is called Bushmills Private Reserve Series and consists of three 10-year-old whiskeys and one 12-year-old whiskey. Bushmills claims other hand-selected releases will continue to drop in limited quantities in the future.

The series was helmed by Master Blender Alex Thomas, who chose to work with 100% unpeated, malted barley in the mashbill. The whiskeys were triple distilled in small batches using Bushmills traditional copper pot stills.

Thomas then aged the 10-year-old whiskeys for six years in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks before finishing them in a cornucopia of eclectic casks for four years. The six-year-old whiskey spent equal time maturing and finishing in its respective cask.

2023 was a big year for Bushmills. In April, the brand celebrated its 415th Anniversary by opening a $46 million distillery on the northern coast of Ireland. The facility uses thermal technology in its production process to lower energy usage by 30%. The distillery was built to help meet the growing demand for the brand’s Irish single malts, such as the offerings from its Private Reserve Series. Those interested in purchasing a bottle can visit ReserveBar.

A Closer Look at Bushmills Private Reserve Series

Bushmills Private Reserve: Bordeaux Casks

Bushmills’ Bordeaux cask-aged expression was aged for six years in a mixture of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, then finished for four years in first-fill Bordeaux wine barrels from the Pomerol region. It clocks in at 93 proof and hosts a suggested retail price of $60. The brand claims the bourbon possesses notes tree and citrus fruit with vanilla, nutmeg and ginger. The finish is pleasantly spicy.

Bushmills Private Reserve: Plum Brandy Casks

This 10-year-old expression from Bushmills spent six years maturing in the combination of bourbon and sherry casks before spending an additional four years finishing in Alsatian Plum Brandy pipes. Alsace is a wine region in France that borders Germany and specializes in white wines and brandies. The 92-proof whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $60 and Bushmills claims it hosts a blend of balanced sweetness with layered complexity and aromas ripe plum, cherry and milk chocolate.

Bushmills Private Reserve: Burgundy Casks

The third 10-year-old whiskey in the collection spent six years maturing in the mixture of sherry and bourbon casks, like the others, before spending four years finishing in Grand Cru Burgundy wine barrels from the prized Côte d’Or region. Clocking in at 94 proof, the whiskey has a suggested retail price of $60. The brand claims the finishing cask imparts a “robustness” and an opulent quality to the single malt. Bushmills Private Reserve Burgundy Casks hosts flavors of black cherry, vanilla truffles and almond.

Bushmills Private Reserve: Tequila Casks

Bushmills tequila cask-finished expression is the oldest in the series at 12 years old. The whiskey was initially matured in bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks for six years. It was then transferred to tequila casks from Jalisco, Mexico, for the same period of time. The brand claims this whiskey hosts creamy butterscotch aromas, with some savory black olive qualities. Bushmills also claims its signature malty quality is evident on the palate of this whiskey, with tree fruit aromas. It finishes long with warming vanilla and cinnamon.

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