Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary Edition — Whiskery Turnip

Mar 6

Mar 6 Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary Edition

Whisky: Bushmills 1608 400th Anniversary Edition

Country/Region: Ireland/Northern Ireland

ABV: 46%

Cask: Bourbon, Sherry

Nose: Dry baking spices, rich oak with hints of sharper wood polish, apricot pits and dried persimmon, hints of toasted coconut and hazelnut, salted caramel.

Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, dry baking spice coconut, oak, molasses, brown sugar, hazelnut, salted caramel, hints of stone fruits.

Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying with oak, brown sugar, and stone fruit pits.

Score: 6-

Mental Image: Pits and Pies

Narrative & Notes: The aroma spoke to baking preparations in grandmother’s kitchen; a wooden spice chest unpacked with cinnamon, nutmeg, and whole cloves spilling across a well-seasoned cutting board. Hints of wood polish interjected between woody apricot pits and slightly astringent dried persimmons. A bag of ground pecans and toasted coconut paired with hazelnuts and salted caramel. Medium-bodied with a lovely oily quality, the flavor profile presented dry baking spices, macerated coconut, and plenty of oak. Molasses and brown sugar collided with hazelnut to produce decadent sticky desserts on the palate. Salted caramel lingered at the end with hints of ripe plums and apricot. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with oak, brown sugar, and stone fruit pits.

I have reviewed very few Bushmills over the years, so I do not have a strong point of comparison for this whisky; this reminded me a lot of the more mature Midleton I have tried. I got some of the expected fruit, but not in the quantity or intensity I hoped to find. Oak seemed to dominate proceedings, and the mildly malty spirit appeared submissive against an overriding oaky flavor profile.

Overall, not a bad whisky, but not one that stood out and screamed, “400th Anniversary!” According to internet sources, the bottle retailed initially for about 100 USD which seems reasonable. However, it looks like prices have increased significantly since 2008 and that multiple editions were released.

Image Credit: Whisky.com