Bushmills ageing

[JohnM]

What's the longest aged Bushmills that was ever available? Is it the 1975? Why don't they release a 30 yr old? I'd love to try something like that. Maybe they think it doesn't age well beyond 21.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Hi John, not many old Bushmills out there that I have come across that are older than 16 years.

Cadenhead Old Bushmills 1977 16YO (Bottled 1994)
Bushmills Millenium Single Malt 17YO (Cask Strength various casks)
Bushmills Single Cask Rum Barrell 17YO (Cask # 16039)
Knappogue Castle 1958 17YO (Single Cask # 39 Private Bottling 1975)
Bushmills Single Cask Rum Barrell 18YO (Cask # 16267)
Bushmills Millenium Single Malt 24YO (Bottled 1999) also cask sterngth version exclusive to the Bushmills Inn (Cask 146)
Bushmills Millenium Single Malt 25YO World of Whiskies (Bottled 2000) (365 Casks)

Historic bottles:

'Black Bush' 15 Year Old (1920s)
Old Bushmills Pure Malt Whiskey (from old stocks > 20 years) (1930s)

As you can see they are few are far between....

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I think the general concensus .... and of course there will be exceptions ... but Irish Whiskey is usually at it's best between the 12-18 year old make. Take Old Comber or even the Tullamore Knappogues ... the whiskey holds up but just about.

On the other hand Scotch seems to take a bit longer to mature to it's optimum eventhough their 10-12yo whisky is top notch too but not as complex as older versions. Then go the opposite way not many bourbons are matured past 12years with 7-8 years being fairly average and even quicker still Amurut from India with 4-6year olds coming across as much older whiskey than it's years. It probably is just down to climate and how quick or slow a spirit matures. Will be interesting how the Swedish stuff matures in the long run.