Q: Why triple distill?

A: Over the years, triple distillation has become the traditional Irish way of distilling whiskey. It's during this process that we find the heart of the spirit which carries the most delicate alcohols. Triple distillation therefore produces a light style of whiskey. But light does not necessarily mean bland: At Bushmills, it means subtle and smooth, yet full of flavor, with spicy, fruity and floral notes.

Q: What is different about Irish whiskey?

A: The specificity of Irish whiskey stems from the following characteristics:  In most Irish whiskeys, there is an absence of the smoky flavor that is so synonymous with many other types of whiskies, because the corns of barley used for its production are not dried over a peat fire.  Most Irish whiskey is triple distilled to ensure exceptional smoothness.  Ireland's soft, temperate climate allows for a very slow and gentle maturation process, leading to very mellow and flavorsome whiskeys.

Q: What gives Bushmills its unique taste?

A: Bushmills makes whiskey in a way which is simply unique to their distillery. While other Irish distillers choose to malt only part of the barley for their whiskey, we malt all the barley used in the production of our malt whiskey.  Other producers choose to use huge pot stills to distill their whiskeys, whereas Bushmills stills are relatively small, making the process longer but the effect on the final whiskey is worth it.

Q: Is malt whiskey better than blended?

A: Choosing a whiskey is all about finding the best one to suit your taste.  The Bushmills range of whiskeys features blended as well as single malt Irish whiskeys, and they are all great whiskeys in their own right.  Bushmills produces both blends and malts because there should be a great tasting whiskey for every occasion - such as the complex 21-year-old malt to savor after a meal or Bushmills Original for a relaxed and flavorsome drink with friends at the pub.