islay_emissary
Bushmills Distillery Reserve 12 Year
Single Malt — Ireland
Reviewed
April 4, 2019 (edited February 12, 2023)
[Reader Beware! Lots of golf stuff.]
Back in September of 2016, we had a magical golf trip to the north coast of Ireland. Betwixt and between, we took time to visit the Giant’s Causeway (geological wonder) and Old Bushmills Distillery for a tour and tasting of this “distillery only” single malt whiskey. For the benefit of golfers contemplating a trip to Great Britain or Ireland, this itinerary rates high on the list of “best golf destinations.” It’s impossible to describe the inherent beauty of these links courses all situated along the rugged and sandy north coast. We flew into Dublin and drove northwest to Letterkenny passing one picture-postcard farmhouse after another. The pristine landscape was spectacular and almost surreal in the perfect placement of things. We played 5 rounds in the Republic of Ireland starting at Narin & Portnoo, and moved clockwise to play two courses at Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris & Sandy Hills), and both at Ballyliffin (Old & Glashedy, 2018 Irish Open). We then traveled across the invisible border to Northern Ireland (UK) to play Portstewart (2017 Irish Open), Castlerock, two rounds at Royal Portrush (2019 British Open), and, lastly, Ardglass, as a consolation for not getting on the world’s top rated golf course of Royal County Down, next door and just south of Belfast. Had we stayed a 3rd week we could have played, but Ardglass mollified our disappointment with its picturesque, canon fortified clubhouse dating back to 1405 and majestic, ocean views layout. Diageo acquired Bushmills back in 2005, then traded it in 2014 to Jose Cuervo in exchange for the remaining share of Don Julio Tequila it did not already own. At the time of the tour, they quoted production output of 11 million liters; however, most of this coming from bottling services provided other distilleries, primarily Jameson. Bushmills’ own production has been static in recent years at roughly 4.5 million liters, but still significant. The bottling operation was the antithesis of Springbank’s where each bottle is labeled and inspected by hand. Here, production is fully mechanized and cases drop onto pallets six at a time. Our taste of the Distillery Reserve was memorable. Aged in both Oloroso Sherry and bourbon for 12 years, it is bottled at 40% ABV and sits in the glass looking medium amber and rich. The nose makes a great first impression and the palate was both dry and smooth with a near perfect blend of fruits, nuts and spices. The friendly ABV and soothing finish made it enjoyable by all. Would I make the long trek back to the distillery for another glass? Unequivocally.....yes! This year’s golf trip covers the southwest coast of Ireland my wife and I toured back in 2002. I’m really looking forward to it……as you can tell. :)
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@1901 - there ya go. You’re getting the hang of it. :)
@Rick_M does this get me off the hook? 🤗 [Lecteur Attention! Beaucoup de trucs de golf.] En septembre 2016, nous avons eu un voyage de golf magique sur la côte nord de l'Irlande. Entre deux villes, nous avons pris le temps de visiter le Giant’s Causeway (merveille géologique) et Old Bushmills Distillery pour une visite guidée et une dégustation de ce whisky single malt «réservé à la distillerie». Pour le bénéfice des golfeurs qui envisagent un voyage en Grande-Bretagne ou en Irlande, cet itinéraire figure en bonne place sur la liste des «meilleures destinations golf». Il est impossible de décrire la beauté inhérente de ces parcours de golf situés le long de la côte nord, accidentée et sablonneuse. Nous avons pris l'avion pour Dublin et avons conduit vers le nord-ouest jusqu'à Letterkenny, en passant les fermes aux cartes postales les unes après les autres. Le paysage vierge était spectaculaire et presque surréaliste dans le placement parfait des choses. Nous avons joué 5 tours en République d'Irlande, en commençant par Narin & Portnoo, puis dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre pour jouer deux parcours à Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris & Sandy Hills) et les deux à Ballyliffin (Old & Glashedy, 2018 Irish Open). Nous avons ensuite traversé la frontière invisible jusqu'en Irlande du Nord (Royaume-Uni) pour jouer à Portstewart (Open d'Irlande 2017), à Castlerock, à deux manches du Royal Portrush (2019 British Open) et, enfin, à Ardglass, en guise de consolation pour ne pas participer au tournoi. parcours de golf le mieux coté de Royal County Down, juste à côté et juste au sud de Belfast. Si nous étions restés une troisième semaine, nous aurions pu jouer, mais Ardglass a apaisé notre déception avec son pittoresque club-house fortifié de canon datant de 1405 et sa majestueuse vue sur l'océan. Diageo a racheté Bushmills en 2005, puis l’a cédé en 2014 à Jose Cuervo en échange de la part restante de Don Julio Tequila qu’elle ne possédait pas encore. Au moment de la tournée, ils avaient annoncé une production de 11 millions de litres; Cependant, la plupart de ces services provenaient des services de mise en bouteille fournis par d'autres distilleries, principalement Jameson. La production de Bushmills est restée stable au cours des dernières années avec environ 4,5 millions de litres, mais elle reste importante. L’opération d’embouteillage était l’antithèse de Springbank, où chaque bouteille était étiquetée et inspectée à la main. Ici, la production est entièrement mécanisée et les caisses tombent sur des palettes six à la fois. Notre goût de la réserve de distillerie était inoubliable. Élevé dans du Sherry et du Bourbon Oloroso pendant 12 ans, il est mis en bouteille à 40% ABV et reste dans le verre d'apparence moyennement ambrée et riche. Le nez fait une bonne première impression et la bouche était à la fois sèche et douce avec un mélange presque parfait de fruits, de noix et d'épices. L'ABV amical et la finition apaisante le rendaient agréable à tous. Est-ce que je ferais le long trajet vers la distillerie pour un autre verre? Sans équivoque ..... oui! Le voyage de golf de cette année couvre les côtes occidentale et méridionale de l’Irlande. Ma femme et moi-même avons fait une tournée en 2002. Je suis vraiment impatient de le voir …… comme vous pouvez le dire. :) "
@Rick_M @PBMichiganWolverine I thought after 600 reviews it was time I showed my face so to speak.... for a bit anyway :-). I have next to no photos of me though, all the photos are pretty much kids or random holiday pics, so this one was I cut down from a wedding I was best man at recently. took a professional black and white photo to make something vaguely recognizable.....haha
@Soba45 got rid of the sliced kiwi bird I see
@Soba45 - thank you! I never realized what was lurking under all those feathers. Congrats on knocking @mikael out of 1st place for the sites “most handsome” award! :)
Great review! I wish when I was there I'd done the tour. There were only 3 or 4 distilleries in ireland when I was there so wouldn't have been hard to do them all. Now there is 20+ and counting!
@Rick_M 🤣🤣
@LeeEvolved - yes, there will be great sadness in the room until the Dr. tells everyone you only have a cold. :)
@Generously_Paul I’d leave all my bottles to @LeeEvolved, but I have a feeling he’ll be out before me. Either that, or he’ll have me wiped, so he can get the Broras 😀
@LeeEvolved it’s as if you resent me for possibly outliving you and collecting on what should have already been notarized in your will. You should feel bad for me, having to drive 12 hours in a U-Haul van to load all those bottles up. And then I have to drink them! The things I do for you!
@1901 - no, but all donations greatly appreciated! :)
@Rick_M - ...and later, while on my death bed surrounded by family and friends, they’ll ask how come I never went to Scotland and I’ll say “see Rick’s comment about the 737 Max airplane...” There will be great sadness* * except for @Generously_Paul. Who will be in my apartment boxing up the 300+ bottles of rare scotch and heading back to Michigan.
Great review! Did the cheque arrive from Tourism Ireland? :-)
@PBMichiganWolverine - we’ll have to call ahead so they have time to stock up. :)
@LeeEvolved @Rick_M lee—for your 50th bday, you should do a 2 week distillery tour through Scotland.
@LeeEvolved - some day you’re going to wake up and say, “Screw this, I’m going to Islay.” Don’t worry, the 737 Max should be back in service by then. :)
@PBMichiganWolverine @Rick_M - and as soon as the rumored 2,723 mile Bridge To The Olde World is completed or they invent the actual Star Trek teleporter I’m there.
It’s all mapped out for him. :)
@LeeEvolved this golf trip seems right up your alley.