Bushmills Original

Review #27 - Whisk(e)y #18 Color - Amber-Deep Gold, with rather short legs in the glass. Nose - Light, grainy, spicy, with honey and vanilla, an underlying sweetness, and some alcohol. It has a slightly oily taste, perhaps with a light herbal note and light fresh fruit, and an effervescence on the tip of the tongue. After airing, it becomes more approachable and less spicy, which is quite pleasant. Taste - Very spicy, with a sharp spice. It's oily on the front end, then suddenly feels slightly more watery, with honey, vanilla, and oaky woodiness. The aftertaste has more woodiness and a very subtle bitterness that can easily be missed. It tastes like a young whiskey. It doesn't handle a few drops of water well, as the mouthfeel becomes very watery, the sweetness diminishes, and the sharp spice comes forward, while the woody dryness on the finish also decreases. Finish - Rather short, dry, and oaky woody, perhaps with some fresh fruit. Overall, from what I recall, compared to Jameson and Tullamore DEW, it is less sweet, perhaps a bit drier, and has more sharp spice. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

Nose: Smells of orchard fruit, black licorice, and a strong alcohol note. Also has notes of cereal grain and green herbs. The aroma isn't very complex, it's brief and pleasant. Palate: Tastes of sweet caramel and generic fruity kid's cereal. Vanilla is present with a mild smoky hint that suggests barrel char. The finish has a noticeable burn from young grain alcohol, but it's not too intense. There's also a touch of mint and just the faintest traces of the orchard fruit from the nose. Black licorice becomes more prominent throughout the finish. As an inexpensive Irish blend, this is adequate. It's less smooth for sipping than a spirit like Tulamore DEW, but it might be more accessible and intriguing than a Proper Twelve. The influence of bourbon barrels is more evident here than in most Irish spirits I've sampled, which some might appreciate. I still believe most people would favor Jameson over this, and especially certain finished versions of Jameson (like the Black Barrel, which is vastly superior).

A 375ml bottle cost me $14.99 at Total Wine in Albuquerque. It's 80 proof and has been aged for three years. It appears corn-colored in the glass. NOSE: Floral notes, honey, a slightly tart sensation, alcohol, pears. After a couple of sips, I detected an additional note - something sharp that I believe might be the malt, as I have encountered this sensation before in Balcones Texas Lineage Single Malt Whisky. MOUTHFEEL: Watery. TASTE: Honey and pears, with very faint oak. FINISH: Medium - oak, honey, and an alcohol bite. This isn't a bad whisky, but I suspect it's at best in the middle tier of Irish whiskies. I'm just starting to explore Irish whiskey, and this is only my second one, but I already have a ranking - Jameson is superior. This is simply less complex than I prefer. However, I might purchase it again, and I will certainly try other Bushmills expressions.

🇮🇪 04/05/2022 Ankara Nose: Initially, a light alcohol scent is detected. After the glass airs out, notes of caramel, vanilla, banana, and floral scents emerge. Palate: Flavors of citrus, tropical fruit, banana, caramel, spice, and floral notes are present. Young alcohol is noticeable with every sip, adding a tartness. Finish: Medium to long. Lingering notes of vanilla, spice, and young alcohol remain on the palate. Overall: Bushmills Original is a tasty expression offering a smooth drink. Despite the noticeable alcohol in every sip, the expression is flavorful, leaving a coating sensation of alcohol on the palate at the finish. Bushmills is a light Irish whiskey. 76/100

Visual: Honey-gold; thin legs. Nosing: Abundant sweet canned/jarred pear. Fresh oak shavings and honey biscuits. Young, fruity, and floral. Tasting: Certainly young with noticeable warming alcohol. Medium body; brief finish. Slightly spicy with significant oak. Reasonably sweet. Nosing after dilution: Cereal and more fruitiness become apparent. Tasting after dilution: With water added, much more honey and sweetness emerge. Freshly cracked pale malt is also detectable. For a generally inexpensive blend, this dram is quite enjoyable; nothing extraordinary, but definitely something that tastes good and can be appreciated casually!

Nose: woody notes, vanilla, chocolate, grain, pears, and smoothness. Not very strong, but quite pleasant and delicate. Palate: smooth, round, chocolate, vanilla with a hint of barrel, gentle, a touch of alcohol. Finish: medium length, vanilla with a bit of cocoa. Overall: An accessible yet flavorfully intriguing dram. Very smooth and full of flavors I enjoy. Great as a daily sipper. Needs to breathe; a freshly opened bottle can be a little too alcoholic.