Bushmills Expands Prestige Collection With 26-Year-Old Whiskey Made From an Unusual Malt

(Photo: Bushmills)

On Thursday, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery expanded its Prestige Collection with a 26-year-old whiskey made from crystal malt.

Often used in the production of English beers, crystal malt is a variety of malted barley that undergoes a unique curing stage. The process darkens and crystallizes malt sugars within the grain, typically resulting in stewed flavors of caramel, apricots, chocolate and raisins.

In 1997, Bushmills celebrated its 400th anniversary with what it claims to have been the first-ever whiskey distilled using crystal malt barley. The spirit was subsequently rested in first-fill bourbon barrels sourced from the Kelvin Cooperage in Lousiville, Kentucky. Over two decades later, the expression is now being made available to the public.

The 26-year-old Crystal Malt is said to boast aromas of sweet floral honeyed apples, mellow wood and caramel on the nose. The palate and finish give way to layered hints of creamy butterscotch, crème brûlée, roasted nuts, dark chocolate, spiced pear and warm vanilla. The expression is bottled at 46% ABV and is priced at £850 ($1,075) per 700-milliliter bottle.

“I am so honoured to manage and supervise the aging of all our single malts, but releasing this special expression – one I’ve cared for throughout my entire career here – is truly a dream come true,” Bushmills Master Blender Alex Thomas remarked. “Our 26 Year Old Crystal Malt epitomizes Bushmills’ commitment to restless progress and our dedication to crafting exceptional single malts for whiskey lovers worldwide.”

Previous releases in the Prestige Collection have included 25-, 30-, and 31-year-old single malts.

Suffice it to say that Bushmills has released many bottlings to market since its inception in 1784. Sorting through its catalog, we’ve found that its older age statements tend to reflect the distiller at its best. We recently had a chance to taste Bushmills 31 Year “The Rare Casks” No. 4 and were frankly blown away by the results. Loaded with autumnal flavors of peach, toffee, gingersnaps and nougat, the offering was easily the best we’d ever tried from the historic brand. The expression clocks in at an impressive Raided Score™ of 94 on our site.

The brand’s 26-year Crystal Malt is slated to roll out at the Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland before the end of the year. Availability will expand to other global markets in the first quarter of 2025.