How to Drink Bushmills Irish Whiskey

Last Updated on: 25th April 2024, 05:45 pm

Discover the best way of drinking Bushmills Irish Whiskey: Ideas for tasting, pairing, and enjoying this whiskey.

Written by: J Highland

Key Takeaways

• Mixing Bushmills with ginger ale or in simple cocktails is recommended, according to whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
• It’s a budget-friendly whiskey with a sweet, smooth profile and slightly spicy, bitter finish.
• Adding water doesn’t significantly enhance the experience.
• Large ice cubes are suggested to avoid excessive dilution.
• The whiskey’s aroma includes apple and grape notes, while the taste features apple juice, toasted cereal, sugar, vanilla, and oak.
• Suitable for cocktails like Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, and Ginger Highball.
• Pairs well with casual Irish food like fish and chips, Irish beef stew, shepherd’s pie, Irish soda bread with cheese, and boxty.
• Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Best Way to Drink Bushmills

“The best way to drink Bushmills is by mixing it with ginger ale or adding it to simple homemade cocktails. “, mentions Irish Whiskey expert, Neil Coleman.

Bushmills doesn’t offer much in terms of complexity; it’s a budget-friendly whiskey that lacks distinctive flavor notes but is also not offensive in taste.

This whiskey can’t impress either your friends or your palate.

Its primary flavor profile is sweet and smooth, with a slightly spicy and bitter finish.

While it may not be the ideal choice for sipping neat, it does improve with the addition of ice and is particularly enjoyable when mixed with ginger ale.

For an unchallenging and affordable nightcap, it does the job well.

Related: Best Cheap Irish Whiskey Picks

Adding water

Usually, whiskey benefits from a splash of water, but this doesn’t significantly enhance the Bushmills experience.

I would advise caution when adding water, as it already feels somewhat watery and thin due to its modest 80-proof (40% ABV) bottling.

Adding more water tends to dilute its flavor, making it rather unremarkable.

Adding Ice

Bushmills Whiskey improves slightly with the addition of ice, as the bitterness in the finish becomes less pronounced.

Nonetheless, I recommend using large ice cubes to avoid excessive dilution and preserve the whiskey’s character.

Selecting the Right Glassware

Bushmills is an affordable whiskey, so there’s no need for fancy glassware to enjoy it.

Instead, go for a classic whiskey rocks glass, and you can add a large ice ball to enhance your drinking experience.

Tasting Notes

The nose has a noticeable apple scent, accompanied by subtle grape notes and a mild alcohol presence that isn’t overpowering.

As you taste it, the Bushmills whiskey feels rather thin, lacking in body.

The initial sip reveals flavors reminiscent of apple juice, with delicate undertones of toasted cereal, sugar, vanilla, and oak.

The finish, while relatively short-lived, features oak spice bitterness but is balanced by a pleasant charred caramel note that adds a redeeming touch.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey in Cocktails

Here are three cocktail recipes featuring Bushmills Irish Whiskey:

Old Fashioned
Ingredients: Irish Whiskey, sugar cube, Angostura bitters, orange peel, maraschino cherry.
Instructions: Muddle the sugar cube and bitters in an old-fashioned glass, fill with ice, add Whiskey, and garnish with orange peel and a maraschino cherry.

Whiskey Sour
Ingredients: Bushmills Irish Whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, lemon wheel.
Instructions: Shake the Whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice, then strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Ginger Highball
Ingredients: Irish Whiskey, ginger ale, lime wedge.
Instructions: Fill a highball glass with ice, pour in Whiskey, top with ginger ale, stir gently, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Food Pairings

Here are five casual Irish food pairings that go well with Bushmills Irish Whiskey:

1. Fish and Chips:
   Enjoy a classic serving of fish and chips with a side of malt vinegar. The crispy, battered fish and salty fries complement the smooth character of Bushmills.
2. Irish Beef Stew:
   A hearty bowl of Irish beef stew, with tender beef chunks, root vegetables, and a rich gravy, is a perfect match for the warm and slightly sweet notes of Bushmills.
3. Shepherd’s Pie:
   The combination of seasoned ground lamb or beef, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes in shepherd’s pie pairs wonderfully with the subtle flavors of Bushmills.
4. Irish Soda Bread and Cheese:
   Enjoy a slice of traditional Irish soda bread with a selection of Irish cheeses, such as cheddar or Dubliner. The bread’s rustic texture and the cheese’s creamy richness complement the whiskey’s profile.
5. Boxty:
   Boxty, a traditional Irish potato pancake, can be filled with various ingredients like bacon, cheese, or vegetables. Its savory flavors and hearty texture make it a delightful companion to a glass of Bushmills.

These Irish food pairings add a casual and authentic touch to your Bushmills whiskey experience.

Storing the Whiskey

• Store in a cool, dark place.
• Ensure the seal is tightly closed to avoid oxidation.
• Consume promptly once the quantity reaches 25% to prevent any unexpected changes in flavor.

About Bushmills Irish Whiskey

• Bushmills is a blend of triple-distilled malted barley and grain whiskey, both of which have been matured in ex-bourbon barrels.
• Produced at the Bushmills Distillery, property of Jose Cuervo, 60 miles north of Belfast, Northern Ireland.