The World’s Oldest Whiskey Distillery - Bushmills - Northern Ireland
May 12 2023 | Tagged: United Kingdom
I visited the Giant's Causeway and The World's Oldest Whiskey Distillery in Bushmills, Northern Ireland.
Bushmills is the worlds oldest licensed whiskey distillery and has been producing whiskey under license for more than 400 years, since 1608 to be precise, with the knowledge being passed down from generation to generation.
Bushmills is more than just a whiskey. It's a village where its residents work alongside each other at the distillery and they say "Without the village, there would be no whiskey and without the whiskey, there would be no village".
Fun fact: Bushmills was previously owned by Pernod Ricard, and Diageo but since 2014 it has been owned by Jose Cuervo, who produces Tequila in Mexico.
In the mid-19th century, there were 88 licensed distilleries in Ireland. By the mid-1980s, there were just 2 and in 2013, there were 4.
Since then, there has been a big comeback and by 2014 there were 8 operating distilleries.
It is said that there are now 40 distilleries producing whiskey but not all are available yet as Whiskey takes time.
Of the 40, besides Bushmills, I have heard of only Jameson and Tullamore.
Bushmills is more than just a whiskey. It's a village where its residents work alongside each other at the distillery and they say "Without the village, there would be no whiskey and without the whiskey, there would be no village".
Fun fact: Bushmills was previously owned by Pernod Ricard, and Diageo but since 2014 it has been owned by Jose Cuervo, who produces Tequila in Mexico.
In the mid-19th century, there were 88 licensed distilleries in Ireland. By the mid-1980s, there were just 2 and in 2013, there were 4.
Since then, there has been a big comeback and by 2014 there were 8 operating distilleries.
It is said that there are now 40 distilleries producing whiskey but not all are available yet as Whiskey takes time.
Of the 40, besides Bushmills, I have heard of only Jameson and Tullamore.
The Bushmills Distillery Tour
It's an easy walk from the Bushmills YHA hostel to The Old Bushmills Distillery.
They run guided tours which you have to sign up for. You can't just go wandering around on your own.
Book your Bushmills Distillery Tour before you go to avoid being turned away as each tour has a limited number of people allowed.
Note: Photography is not allowed!
Where is the Old Bushmills Distillery:
Learn about the different stages involved in producing Bushmills Whiskey. Learn about the differences between Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whisky and the meaning of 'Blended' and 'Single Malt'.
You get a free drink at the end of the tour in the Bushmills Bar.
You get a free drink at the end of the tour in the Bushmills Bar.
Enjoying a glass of Bushmills Distillery Reserve 12 which is only served at the bar here:
