Bushmills 21 Year Single Malt

The aroma suggests a common scotch. Upon tasting, oak dominates initially, but just as it becomes tiresome, citrus fruit and floral notes emerge, accompanied by brine and smoke. The sweetness intensifies towards a perfect finish. It's reminiscent of Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or blended with Highland Park 18, concluding with notes of mild gummy bears and rosewater. I'd need to re-evaluate to confirm its exceptional quality, but my current assessment places it slightly above Highland Park 18. Upon a second tasting, it falls between Highland Park 18 and Oban 14, perhaps with a hint of caramel similar to Don Julio 1942. Rich banana and mango notes are prominent without being cloying or introducing off-flavors. Apple notes appear briefly, harmonizing with pear. A subtle saltiness and sea spray are also detectable. While one could critique it on technicalities, its flavor is outstanding, making it a frequent choice for a dram. Following an Islay, it's a sweet delight. Regardless of the context, this is a profound and, frankly, a triumph. How can this be so similar to Bushmill's 16, yet demonstrably superior? While Highland Park 18 makes a strong initial impression and maintains its intensity, Bushmill's 21 starts subtly but delivers a powerful conclusion. This tastes like a less oaky, more vibrant and floral version of Tullibardine 25. It's good – excellent, even – but it clearly tastes younger. I strongly wish it were bottled at a higher ABV and wasn't chill-filtered. The alcohol strength is excessive here. The abundance of delicious flavors is unfortunately counteracted by detrimental ones. It lacks the complexity and balance of Redbreast 21, yet its sweet nectar essence is incredibly pleasing. However, bitter undertones are also present. Slightly superior to Highland Park 18. This is the closest I've come to perfection thus far. A few steps from ideal, but still a distinct and enjoyable spirit. The nose doesn't suggest significant age, but the palate is rich and well-balanced. The initial taste is somewhat bitter and bland, but then apricot and orange with mild spices emerge, blossoming into a rich, sweet flavor with a fruity, floral finish. The alcohol is noticeable only at the start, and while minerals are present throughout, they aren't overpowering. The exquisite finish elevates this whiskey significantly; otherwise, it's not particularly captivating. The richness is commendable, and the balanced finish is immaculate, but it requires greater complexity and impact, with reduced alcohol and minerality. A higher ABV bottling would also be beneficial. Nevertheless, the smoothness is outstanding. The flavor begins sweet with delightful notes of orange blossom, apricot, honey, orange peel, and caramel, but aggressively bitter oak intrudes. The bitter oak takes over, resulting in an unpleasant finish. There's some smoke, but it's sharp and out of place. What a divine initial flavor, sadly not fully realized.

Rating: 20/23 After a couple of sips for St. Patrick's Day, I was genuinely impressed. I recalled liking it but feeling slightly let down, especially considering the hype and the price. At $180, it remains quite expensive, particularly for a 40% ABV spirit, but I'm actually quite taken with it. It boasts a rich apricot flavor and remarkable depth. This is a truly sophisticated dram. It possesses a subtlety comparable to A De Fussigny XO (18/23), but with less burn and improved balance. Comparing them directly, I'd place this no lower than a 19, likely a 20. El Dorado 21 (21/23) is another spirit that comes to mind. All three are decadent and complex despite being only 40% ABV. While El Dorado has a distinctly different profile, they are in the same league regarding complexity and richness. I initially thought this would rank below El Dorado, but its depth unfolds beautifully, especially towards the finish. I now consider them nearly equal. I'd happily own both due to their distinct profiles, but this one is hard to advocate for given its nearly double price compared to El Dorado. Yellow Spot (17/23) is funkier, rougher, and bolder. It's less refined than this one, but still excellent. I'd choose this over it, but not by a wide margin. This might push me back towards a 20 for this bottling. This is very close to the ideal Irish whiskey, but its low 40% ABV seems to be its primary limitation. While 40% ABV might suit some spirits, this one feels somewhat constrained. I suspect the somewhat indistinct character I'm experiencing stems from the low alcohol content. I doubt a cask strength version would be ideal, but something in the 43-45% range would likely be superior. I can even envision a bolder 48% iteration. I'm settling on a 20. Interestingly, I expected a lower rating based on vague memories of disappointment, but I actually gave it a 19 previously, which is quite close to my current assessment. Lovely.

Nose: First, oak cask – old oak cask, and that aroma saturates the rest of the nose. It's a rich, almost funky scent of dark fruits, stone fruits, nuts, berries, toffee, wine, dark honey, and old leather trousers (!), but everything is aged nearly to ruin. I don't think it could have stayed in the casks a month longer without disintegrating. There's a unique mustiness to the nose that's polarizing, and after a while, the scent settles into a brown-sugar amalgam. Palate: Old Irish whiskey has a quality that sweeps you away on a tide of silvery, satiny, glistening cereal notes, and this has it in abundance. Peaches and apricots, mangoes, guava, and soursop arrive, served on a day-old barley-meal trencher with caramel sauce. The texture is silken, velvety, and gripping from the oak's influence. It becomes slightly drying and oaky as it develops, very elegant and even drier toward the end with an autumn-leaf/tobacco character. Finish: Medium. Dry, almost astringent, dark chocolate, and oak. The lingering taste is all dark chocolate and funky mustiness. An intriguing and slightly peculiar nose paired with one of the most decadent palates I've experienced. This whisky is not subtle at all – it's Mae West dancing to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer, as covered by Madonna. Yummy and one-of-a-kind stuff. I mentioned in my review of Bushmills 16 that it was the first Bushmills I'd truly enjoyed, and this is certainly the second, but honestly, it's firmly in second place behind the 16. There's something that tries too hard about this whisky. I greatly enjoyed tasting it, but while I would purchase a bottle of the 16 for $120, I wouldn't hunt for a bottle of this at its $240 asking price. It's wonderful, almost essential to try, but not something to own, especially considering the stingy proof. I'm rating it similarly to the 16-year-old expression, but for entirely different reasons, and in my view, the official score here is amusingly naive and inflated. Tasted from a 30ml sampler. "Very Good": 85/100 (4 stars)

Concluding my Irish whiskey exploration, a sample of Bushmills 21, generously shared by a friend, was aged independently in former bourbon and Oloroso sherry barrels for 19 years, then combined in Madeira casks for the final two years before bottling at 40%. The aroma presents a tropical fruit medley of guava, mango, papaya, and lychee, followed by a subtle sherry character with grape must and dark chocolate-covered raisins, plus some toasted nuts. It then reveals light powdered sugar-coated bubblegum and citrus notes of apples and oranges, accompanied by faint barrel spices, oak, and a touch of ethanol. The palate has a delicate texture, starting with a tropical fruit medley of guava, mango, and lychee. This is followed by a mild sherry influence with hints of sulfur, grape must, and dark chocolate-covered raisins. Light powdered sugar-coated bubblegum then emerges, transitioning to a gentle bitterness and spice that persists before revealing faint barrel spices, oak, and a hint of ethanol. The finish is moderately long, featuring guava, bubblegum, a slight bitterness and spice, subtle sulfur, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and faint oak. This is a very mature Irish whiskey, balancing tropical fruits, mild sherry, and citrus. However, the mid-palate develops a moderate bitterness and spice that carries through the finish. The 40% ABV also contributes to a lighter texture, making it harder to transfer the fruity aromas to the palate. Increasing the ABV to the 43-46% range might help the fruity notes from the nose translate more powerfully to the palate and provide a more complete mouthfeel. Nevertheless, as it stands, it's a delightful, smooth whiskey, and I'm very thankful for the kind sample from a friend.

Aroma: notes of orange blossom, newly cut flowers, honey, peach, almond, powdered sugar, apricot, cocoa, caramel apple, subtle vanilla, grass, cinnamon, nutmeg, mellow sweet oak, mint, lemon, and a mild to moderate ethanol sting. Palate: flavors of orange zest, grapefruit, grass, green apple, salted caramel, sweet floral notes, vanilla, peach, cinnamon, dark chocolate, clove, honey, apricot, somewhat bitter oak, spearmint, a noticeable alcohol intensity, finishing medium in length with citrus zest, mint, chocolate, and light baking spice tastes. The only Bushmills I've tried before was the Original, which was pretty average, as expected. Let's see if some aging makes a significant difference. In short, it does. The nose is wonderfully subtle, fruity, and floral, evoking a walk through an apple orchard. Crisp fruitiness is abundant, complemented by sweet honey, malty chocolate, and a hint of nuttiness. The palate is similar, but the citrus and creamy chocolate notes are more pronounced. Some tart grapefruit also comes through. Interestingly, there's a sharper bite than anticipated. I'm uncertain if it's oakiness or a bitter nutty element, but a spicy, tannic quality develops around the mid-palate. Overall, this is excellent. I find the aroma outstanding and the palate solid, though slightly less impressive. There's a pleasant contrast between the delicate scents and the more robust flavors. It's comparable to some of the finest Irish whiskies I've sampled. And at approximately $200, I believe this is appropriately priced for a delicious, well-aged spirit. Many thanks to a friend for the sample.

Years ago, during a trip across Ireland, we toured the Bushmills distillery. The visit was enjoyable, particularly observing the Wild Turkey barrels in storage. I joked that Bushmills' quality stemmed from its aging in WT barrels. The guide responded later, stating bourbon isn't great to drink, but those old barrels are excellent for aging Irish whiskey. We sampled several Irish whiskeys on that journey, with Redbreast 12 becoming my favorite. I searched unsuccessfully for Bushmills 21 for the remainder of the trip. A year later, I found a bottle at an ABC store in Florida. I opened the box today to share with family for Christmas. This is a 2016 bottle, and unbelievably, I purchased it for $109. The aroma is truly luxurious, led by tropical fruits and honey. Mango, guava, and citrus are all present, along with a subtle hint of coconut and a lemon-honey scent. It evolves beautifully, always offering something new. I anticipate finding WT spice notes, and I believe they might be present. The taste elements are accurate, with honey leading. It's delicate on the palate with no harshness. The body is disappointing, quite thin, making it hard to coat the tongue. A higher proof, 90-100, would have significantly improved the experience. Nosing a spirit is my preferred part, and this one excels there. The palate is quite good, but the body and finish are a bit lacking for me. Last night, I tasted Redbreast 12, which had a much better mouthfeel and finish. However, Bushmills 21 certainly has a superior nose.