Nose: A tantalising treat of all things tropical, in the
form of ripe bananas, mangoes and grilled pineapple rings. Followed by a dessert trolley brimming with vanilla rich crème brûlée, raspberry ripple ice cream, cherries
jubilee, sultana scones and accompanying cups of mocha. The nasal niceties then
conclude with a good sprinkling of mixed spice, something rather grain-esque, a
squeeze of poly cement (Airfix glue) and oodles of opulent oak.
Palate: I always love a dram that delivers and mirrors all
the promises it made on the nose by delivering them on the palate, and this
does so in epic proportions! Those tropical notes deliver in abundance, along
with the addition of freshly picked strawberries, raspberries, mint and bourbon
steeped sultanas. The dessert notes are further complemented with slices of
bread pudding, buttered malt loaf and pineapple upside-down cake. The palatable
pleasures continue even further with chocolate covered coffee beans, wood spice and a good pinch of cayenne pepper.
Finish: A long, lush, sweet, spiced and all things nice kind
of a finish, which becomes even more rewarding the longer you manage to sip and
savour it!
Summary: A magnificent lesson in liquid history from the
oldest name in Irish whiskey, delivering everything you’d hope and expect from a Bushmills of this age. It also proves if proof be needed, that the Irish
whiskey category (thanks to distilleries old and new) is still the most exciting!
