Bushmills Irish Whiskey has announced the release of The Causeway Collection across selected global markets, a new series of extremely rare and unique cask finished single malt whiskeys from The Old Bushmills Distillery – the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Leading the highly anticipated lineup are two cask strength releases that will be exclusively available for the island of Ireland – the 2008 Muscatel Cask and the 1995 Malaga Cask.
Distilled, matured, finished and bottled at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Co Antrim's rugged coastline, the two exclusive Irish releases mark another innovation in Irish single malts from the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, and are the first cask strength Irish single malt whiskeys to be introduced by the Old Bushmills Distillery in over 15 years.
Found on Co Antrim's rugged coastline, the Old Bushmills Distillery is one of the few 'grain to glass' distilleries in Ireland, which means that the whiskey is crafted with care in small batches on one site, rather than in different locations. Each stage of the whiskey making process - from malt distilling and maturing, right through to blending and bottling - involves experience and craft that has been passed down over generations.
A stone's throw from the distillery, The Giant's Causeway has been a source of inspiration to Bushmills' master distillers for centuries. Its extraordinary hexagonal columns, each unique but perfectly locked together, form a series of steps, mirroring the successive steps of triple wood maturation used in this new Collection.
With a limited number of bottles available, The Causeway Collection showcases uncommon wine casks that imbue each whiskey with untold waves of flavour.
The 2008 Muscatel Cask (RRP €100, 56.4% ABV)
The 2008 Muscatel Cask, first aged for eight years in oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, is then matured in rare muscatel casks for a further four years. Permeated with wine made from the aromatic muscat grape, this oak imparts deep waves of flavour with luscious ripe fruit notes and a smooth sweetness. Giving way to deeper summer fruit notes, scents of citrus lead to a finish bursting with sweet raisin. It is a sensational whiskey that stands with the best of Irish single malt, a giant in its own right.
Only 1,454 bottles of the 2008 Muscatel Cask are available, bottled at 56.4% ABV, non chill-filtered.
The 1995 Malaga Cask (RRP €400, 53.5% ABV)
The 1995 Malaga Cask is a rare single malt, aged quietly for over 10 years in oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels before further maturation for an extraordinary 14 years in Malaga casks. After almost 25 years resting in oak, the triple wood maturation bestows notes of sweet spiced plum, toasted vanilla and pinches of coffee grounds on this golden spirit. Perfect for savouring neat or with just a small drop of still water, this rare whiskey will be the jewel in any whiskey lover’s collection.
Only 2,491 bottles of the 1995 Malaga Cask are available, bottled at 53.5% ABV, non chill-filtered.
The Causeway Collection has been expertly crafted by Bushmills' master blender, Helen Mulholland, who comments: "This launch represents a bold new step for Bushmills, one that not only honours the giants and generations before us but also the incomparable natural landscape in which it's forged. We are excited to reintroduce cask strength Bushmills single malt whiskeys to our loyal whiskey fans across the island of Ireland. With these two new exclusive releases, we celebrate our passion for single malt, showcase our rare and unique casks and honour our 400-year north coast provenance."
Forged in the footsteps of giants, discover these exclusive Causeway Collection releases. Available from the 22nd October 2020 via select online and in-store retailers. For more information and for a full list of retailers, visit bushmills.com/causeway-collection.
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