Bushmills 12 Year Single Malt

A few weeks ago, I organized a whiskey tasting. To introduce some friends who usually stick to bourbon to something new, I decided to offer Irish whiskey, something besides the usual green bottle, with St. Patrick's Day approaching. Since this was ranked #16 on Whiskey Advocate’s Top 20 whiskeys of the year, I bought a bottle as it was reasonably priced. Alongside Jameson Black, Redbreast, Green Spot, Teeling Single Grain, and Glendalough 13, I presented affordable, high-quality Irish whiskeys. My hope was that the next time they visited a liquor store, they would reach for an Irish spirit they previously overlooked. A triple wood Irish whisky. Aged in Oloroso and Bourbon casks, with a finish in Marsala casks. When first smelled, it resembles an airy bourbon. Hints of vanilla and honey. A subtle walnut nuttiness. With time, the aroma develops, revealing wax and butterscotch notes. Thin, delicately spicy, and mildly sweet. Like Bartlett pears drizzled with honey and pickled ginger. Black tea and figs add a bittersweet quality. Curiously, white grapes with white pepper emerge near the end, tingling the tongue before it's consumed. A slightly drying finish of wood, grapes, milk chocolate, and lemon zest that is short and clean. Bushmills I've had previously were typically sweet and smooth. This one deviates from that pattern as it's spicy and thin. This isn't necessarily negative. It's just different. If it were part of a bourbon tasting, I suspect most would be surprised it's an Irish whiskey. It tastes younger, similar to a 5 or 8-year-old. More vibrant and zesty than mellow. A pleasant sipper. However, when compared to Redbreast or Green Spot, I'd likely choose one of those over the Bushmills 12. I'd prefer to see this priced about $10 less. [$55][85/100][Tasted: 4/7/23]

What really got me excited about this whiskey was the cost. Finding a 12-year-old Irish whiskey for 40 EUR (in Bulgaria) makes it a prime selection. Sure, it's 6% ABV lower than Redbreast, but since Jameson 12yo isn't available here, Bushmills 12yo is definitely worth trying. As a big admirer of the new bottle designs in the Bushmills core range, I treated myself to a bottle for my birthday. Upon nosing, it immediately presents as vanilla cake. There's baked brown sugar, the sweetest kind, with a hint of lemon and caramel within. It has a spiciness, but it's not aggressive like virgin oak; rather, it's more like wine-derived spices from the Marsala finish. Dark cherry becomes more prominent as the spirit interacts with the air. To summarize the nose, the Marsala and Bourbon elements overshadow the Cherry. A delicate blend of red and white peppercorns delights all my senses on the palate. It's a harmonious balance of caramel, vanilla cake, and walnuts, reminiscent of a triple-distilled bourbon. Following that is the highlight – dark cherry and dark tea softened with a touch of milk. The finish offers woody notes with the taste of red grape seeds (similar to classic Marsala wine), accompanied by milk chocolate and sweet lemon juice. Despite being chill-filtered, caramel-colored, and bottled at the minimum 40% ABV (typical for Bushmills distillery's core range), it remains a well-rounded and fairly priced whiskey. It merges bourbon and sherry characteristics (a classic pairing), but the Marsala finish truly elevates its structure. It's significantly better than the 10yo, though it would be even more impressive at 46% ABV.

This bottling is quite different from the standard 10-year Bushmills. I'm a bit puzzled because this 12-year single malt is listed in the app as being made from "100% unmalted barley." This must be an error, as single malt whiskey is exclusively produced from 100% malted barley, not unmalted. We are not discussing Single Pot Still whiskey here. Furthermore, this bottling deviates significantly from a typical Irish whiskey. The Marsala finish imparts an unusual profile that just doesn't work. It no longer resembles or tastes like Irish whiskey. I can't detect any Oloroso sherry influence either, as the Marsala wine casks have completely masked the Oloroso notes. Bushmills, improve your product! This bottling is unpleasant and, in my view, almost undrinkable. I absolutely would not suggest this 12-year bottling when numerous superior Irish whiskey options exist in a similar price bracket from other distilleries, some even costing less. Do not waste your time or money on this one! The barely legal 40% ABV also leaves much to be desired.

Nose: Welcoming dried fruit, candied apple, and warm spice greet you, with a floral hint hinting at the marmalade sweetness ahead. The influence of the Marsala wine cask is noticeable but not overwhelming, adding richness to the malt's elegance. Palate: Creamy and balanced, with a pleasant mix of honey, caramel, and nutty malt. The Marsala finish is evident here, offering a mild sweetness like Seville orange marmalade and toasted almonds. The texture is smooth, and the 40% ABV makes it accessible yet flavorful. Finish: Long and satisfying, with lasting notes of warm ginger, pear, and a touch of oak. The wine cask's impact remains just enough for a memorable, dessert-like impression without being sickly sweet. Verdict: An excellent Irish single malt, Bushmills 12 Year blends tradition and innovation. The Marsala casks elevate it, providing a subtle sweetness that complements the whiskey's fundamental character. Ideal for savoring neat or as a refined after-dinner drink. Score: 5/5

NOSE Dried apples, peaches, pears, strawberry taffy, malt, wax, and a hint of vanilla beans. I find this aroma delightful; it's elegant, balanced, and simply pleasing overall. PALATE Honey, pears, dried apples, candied nuts, Honey Nut Cheerios, strawberry taffy, and waxy vanilla. Similar to the aroma, this is elegant; I could sip this anytime and be content. FINISH Medium -> Fruit, taffy, malty sweetness fades into Honey Nut Cheerios.

Initial pour. Nose has apple, pear, vanilla, shortbread cookies and a hint of toffee. Flavor has the same plus a really nice spiced wine note; however, there is also a nail polish remover note and the characteristic Bushmills bog water taste that I dislike. Finish is medium in length and pleasant at first, but becomes somewhat bitter.