Bushmills 1996/2022 - 25 yo - Madeira Cask - The Causeway Collection

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 50.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

An extended secondary maturation in first-fill Madeira casks sets this release in The Causeway Collection apart. The triple-distilled single malt initially matured in Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks before spending a further 19 years in casks that had previously held Madeira wine. Madeira cask maturation therefore accounts for most of its total 25 years of ageing.

The whiskey was distilled on 23 October 1996 and transferred to Madeira casks on 4 December 2002. Bushmills released it in 2022 as a limited edition for the German market. It is bottled at cask strength at 50.3%, without chill filtration or added colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle comes in gift packaging.

The Causeway Collection takes its inspiration from the nearby Giant's Causeway and its hexagonal basalt columns. The series focuses on rare cask finishes. In this Madeira release, sweet and nutty impressions mingle with baked peach, brown sugar, honey and fruitcake.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals apricot and pronounced hazelnut notes, accompanied by sweet honey.
• Palate: Baked peaches, toasted almonds and toffee emerge first on the palate. Gentle, warm spice meets honey and caramelised brown sugar before notes of raisin confectionery unfold. Fruitcake adds to the flavour.
• Finish: The long finish carries warm spice notes. Subtle hints of toasted oak accompany the lingering aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

The Old Bushmills Distillery lies in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, a few kilometres from the north coast. Its historical connection to 1608 stems from the distilling licence granted to the region that year. Bushmills uses only malted barley for its single malts and distils them three times in copper pot stills. Distillation, maturation and bottling all take place on site.

As Master Blender, Alex Thomas has been responsible for selecting and blending Bushmills whiskeys since 2021. She joined the distillery in 2005 after working in the timber trade and qualified as a distiller in 2012. Her signature also appears on this release in The Causeway Collection.

Facts: