The village of Bushmills
County Antrim, Ireland
1500s
The village of Bushmills and whiskey's origins are inextricably linked. By the late 1500s, bootleggers were running an illicit distilling business in the area, drawn by its proximity to the pure waters of the River Bush and high-quality barley — two essential ingredients for crafting single malt whiskey. With the addition of the grain mills lining the River Bush, the village of Bushmills became the perfect setting for global whiskey renown.
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1608
LICENSE TO DISTILL
In 1608, bowing to pressure from the Crown, Bushmills and the surrounding area sought legal recognition. In response, James I granted Sir Thomas Phillipps a license to distill and sell spirits within the region. With this, the Irish bootleggers finally went legit.
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1740 - 1830
The Copper Still
Technological breakthroughs helped whiskey evolve from a small-time farm product to a global best-seller. The column still, patented in 1830, boosted efficiency but sacrificed flavor. Bushmills®, however, stayed true to its copper stills, preserving the rich character that made it world-famous.
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1845 - 1849
The Original Formula
During Ireland’s potato famine, barley taxes forced most whiskey producers to switch to untaxed corn. Even today, many use low-cost corn—but not Bushmills®. We stayed true to our malted barley formula, preserving whiskey’s origins in every bottle.
1885
Rebirth From Ash
In 1885, a disastrous fire destroyed nearly all The Old Bushmills® Distillery. On the doorstep of destruction, we did what the people of Bushmills always do. We got back to work. We defiantly rebuilt bigger and better than ever.
1985
GOLD AT THE PARIS EXPO
The 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle showcased the pinnacle of global innovation and culture. Attendees included luminaries like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Bushmills® was there too, earning international acclaim with a gold medal for its whiskey.
1900s
WEATHERING PROHIBITION
Almost overnight, Ireland’s biggest customer could no longer legally buy alcohol. Prohibition devastated hundreds of distilleries that Ireland once boasted during its golden age of distilling, ultimately leaving only two in production by 1970.
2021
No Compromise No CONFORMITY
Bushmills® continues to do what it has always done: make its unique single malt whiskey. No distillery in Ireland or worldwide has carried forward this single malt whiskey tradition from ancient times, from before whiskey was even called “single malt.” Only in Ireland, at Bushmills®, will you find triple-distilled “pure malt” whiskey passed down from generation to generation.
A NEW ERA OF IRISH SINGLE MALT
Pushing boundaries in innovation, we’ve spent the last few years hard at work honing a reserve of rare single malt whiskey and doubling our output, all while retaining the integrity of our whiskey. In 2023, we opened the Causeway Distillery, run entirely on electricity from green sources and added two single malt whiskeys to our core collection: a 25 Year Old and a 30 Year Old.
