Bushmills has unveiled the World Wood series of rare single malt Irish whiskeys. The new range will be exclusive to global travel retail and will be first available in duty free stores throughout Asia Pacific and Dublin Airport, launching with 15-year-old and 21-year-old whiskeys.
The 15-year-old single malt features liquid aged in ex-Bourbon first- and second-fill American oak casks. First-fill barrels offer bold, bourbon flavors alongside layers of soft vanilla and sweeter notes, while the second-fill adds more of the distinct Bushmills character. Bottled at 46% ABV, the result is an amber gold whiskey featuring aromas of toasted oak, warm caramel, vanilla, and hints of hazelnut. The palate features a marriage of clove, toffee apple, honeyed vanilla, and sweet apricot, with a smooth and warming finish.
The 21-year-old single malt was aged in Bourbon barrels and oloroso Sherry butts for 18 years before being finished in first-fill Marsala wine casks from Sicily for three years. The casks were seasoned with Marsala Fine Ambra Semisecco DOC and then lightly toasted to deliver lighter, fruitier notes. Also bottled at 46% ABV, the nose offers aromas of caramelized brown sugar and gentle toasted oak, which interweave with candied orange and vanilla. The spirit’s long wait in three types of wood gives a decadent flavor, with notes of warming ginger and stone fruits mingling with hazelnut, chocolate, and mellow oak, culminating in a sweet, lingering finish that fades slowly.
“We search the four corners of the world to find exactly the right cask to bring back to our corner to Northern Ireland – Jerez in Spain, Kentucky in USA and Marsala in Sicily,” said Master Blender Alex Thomas who spearheaded the project.
The Bushmills World Wood 15 Year Old single malt is priced at $90 for 700ml, while the Bushmills World Wood 21 Year Old single malt is priced at $265 for 700ml. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
In August 2022, Bushmills unveiled the 2022 iteration the Causeway Collection, which includes the oldest whiskey ever released by the Northern Irish brand. This is the third collection of whiskeys in the series.