Bushmills 21 Year Old rare Aged Madeira finish

[Alec]

Has anyone tasted this whiskey? JM rates the 2004 bottling very highly. Has anyone tried this, or the new 2006 bottling?

Hello btw! First post, hopefully of many!

[Virginia Gentleman]

I haven't tried it but welcome to the forum Alec.

[Lawrence]

Hi Alec, I've not tried it, but welcome to the forum,

Lawrence

[Aidan]

I have tasted the older version of Bushmills 21, but I am not sure how it differs from the new batch. Jim Murray says it's different, but...

I will try it over the weekend and get back to you.

[Alec]

Thanks guys! I have a bottle of the 2006 on order, so will also let you know what it's like. I'm going to Royal Mile Whiskies in central London this afternoon to replenish some stocks. Thinking of getting the Clynelish 14 Year old, Strathisla 12 Year old, and an Aberlour 10 Year old. Will round off the day away from work with a visit to SMWS. Thought the spring list was quite good, particularly liked The Dalmore, and the Cragganmore.

[Frodo]

I believe MGilespie has had one. Had nice things to say about it to me...

[Alec]

Cool Frodo, hope to hear more. Had a very nice Glen Elgin from SMWS this afternoon, no. 85.17. Just a dram mind. Also bought a Glen Ord and an Aberlour 10 Year old. Looking forward to them! Next month must catch up with Clynelish 14 and a Glen Garioch 15!!

[MGillespie]

Yes, Frodo...I have some, and it's excellent! They aged the whiskey separately in bourbon and sherry casks for 21 years, then two years together in a madeira cask. It's very smooth and well balanced.

Mark

[Alec]

Thanks for all the comments, and it's a relief to know that Bushmills will continue to grow from strength to strength! I think the 10 and 12 year olds have really developed over the last couple of years, and it would be a shame to have this interrupted in anyway. I love the Bushmills flavour and am lucky to have a Northern Irish girlfriend so get to go on holiday near the Causeway each year. Connemara is also a 'great wee' distillery. Now all we need is a revival of the pure pot still! Things do seem to be on the up again for Irish whiskey in general.

[Aidan]

Alec

I think the pot still revival is imminent, if it hasn't arelady started. Unfortunately, all the new releases, apart from the Redbreast 15, have been at the higher end of the price scale.

It would be great to see them release another mid-price range pure pot still.

Bushmills have been rattling out single casks recently - I wonder will this trend stop now that Diageo has taken over...

[Alec]

I hope Diageo don't cut back on the single casks, do you think this is likely? I was hoping for the opposite, as with more promotion, they might be thinking of expanding this aspect. At least on the pot still question, Redbreast show what can be done. I love pot still, it's very enlivening!

[MGillespie]

Alec:

I think you're safe on that point. I mentioned in another thread that I met with Bushmills' master distiller on Thursday. He told me (and the full interview is in the current episode of WhiskyCast) that they plan to focus on the current 5 brands (Bushmills, Black Bush, 10YO, 16YO, and 21YO) for the time being..but he's working on a few new things that may eventually come to market.

Mark

[Alec]

wicked, cheers Mark, that was very good to read!!

[MGillespie]

Glad to help!

[Aidan]

I had a drink with Colm Egan a year or so ago and he was a very nice guy. He has a genuine love for the product.

What I mean about Diageo is that they might not sell their casks as readily, but sure I don't know that. I wonder will it affect the deal with Knappogue, for example. Probably not.

[MGillespie]

Yes...nice to see guys with a real passion for whisky advance in the corporate world!

Sorry I can't help with the other speculation, though...

Mark