Whiskey Dreams – Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey

I honestly didn’t find Bushmills without an age statement to be a very sippable dram. It scored a 62/100, putting it in the “Mixers or On Ice” category, so I was curious what 10 years in a barrel would do for it.

The good news is that the extra time aging smoothed out the rough edges. Some of those edges left a displeasing aftertaste. What surprised me about this Bushmills 10 Year is that while it is much smoother, that strange tannin driven aftertaste is still there. Whatever char they use in the barrel must be the driver. At least the 10 Year smooths it out and lets you appreciate the sweet butter cookies that hides just beneath that layer of woodiness.

I found that a little bit of water really opens up this Bushmills 10 Year and lets you appreciate the sweet fruitiness and butter cookies that gets overpowered by the tannins when you sip it right out of the bottle.

Oddly enough, I just bought another bottle because I didn’t realize Bushmills rolled out a new bottle design in 2021. My very visual brain thought I was picking up something I hadn’t tried before. You can tell I’ve been enjoying the 2nd bottle since I picked it up.

Bushmills 10 Year Bottle Changes

I do think the new bottle design is way more distinctive. Plus, the new cork is much nicer.

Bushmills 10 Year Cork

Overall, the Bushmills 10 Year is a huge improvement over the original Bushmills, which is why it is scoring 10 points higher. That gives Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey a 72/100, making it Sip Worthy.

It was good, and I will drink it whenever I can pick up a bottle on sale, but unfortunately for Bushmills did not make it into my Whiskey Safe. That means I don’t on keeping a few bottles on hand for if the power goes out permanently.

Color

Copper and amber.

Proof

40.0% ABV

Pros

  • Easy to find.
  • Soft sweet nose with hints of butter cookies.
  • Smoother edges when compared to the original Bushmills.

Cons

  • The things I love about Irish Whiskey are subtle. There are butter cookies, but they are under the malt and oak.
  • At this price point, around $50 I would go with Tyrconnell or Knappogue Castle.
BottleScorePrice
Redbreast Cask Strength97$100 / 750ml
High N’ Wicked The Wild Rover Single Malt Irish Whiskey97$160 / 750ml
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon96$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 12 Years96$70 / 750ml
Jameson The Distiller’s Safe95$70 / 750ml
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon94$45 / 750ml
Redbreast Lustau Edition92$65 / 750ml
Redbreast 1591$115 / 750ml
The Dubliner 10 Year89$70 / 750ml
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Year81$65 / 700ml
Jameson IPA Edition80$30 / 750ml
Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition Irish Whiskey80$125 / 750ml
Don Julio 194280$190 / 750ml
Basil Hayden’s75$35 / 750ml
Jameson Irish Whiskey75$25 / 750ml
John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey72$25 / 750ml
Tullamore Dew Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Irish Whiskey72$30 / 750ml
Bushmills 10 Year Irish Whiskey72$50 / 750ml
Clyde May’s Original Alabama Style Whiskey71$35 / 750ml
Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey70$40 / 750ml
Paddy’s Old Irish Whiskey70$20 / 750ml
Kirkland Irish Whiskey65$18 / 1500ml
Wellsley Farms Irish Whiskey65$28 / 1500ml
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey62$65 / 750ml
Stillhouse Black Bourbon61$20 / 750ml
Jameson Orange55$30 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey51$30 / 750ml
Knob Creek Small Batch49$35 / 750ml
Blade And Bow48$50 / 750ml
Proclamation Irish Whiskey44$30 / 750ml
The Temple Bar Irish Whiskey40$60 / 750ml
Redemption Bourbon 40$30 / 750ml
Natterjack Irish Whiskey35$35 / 750ml
Baha Founders Reserve30$65 / 700ml
Woodford Reserve29$35 / 750ml
Breaker29$65 / 750ml
Pure Kentucky28$35 / 750ml
Stranahan's27$60 / 750ml
Egan’s Fortitude Irish Whiskey26$45 / 750ml
Winchester Extra Smooth Bourbon Whiskey15$30 / 750ml
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy Bourbon9$20 / 750ml
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey5$25 / 750ml
The Busker Irish Whiskey4$35 / 750ml
Kavanagh Irish Whiskey3$25 / 750ml
The Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask1$100 / 750ml
American XXX Born Bourbon Whiskey1$25 / 750ml
Pops McCann0$40 / 750ml
Silkie Irish Whiskey0$30 / 750ml

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