Northern Ireland Sights

Shopping Nightlife Performing Arts

1. Bushmills

Reputedly the oldest licensed distillery in the world, Bushmills was first granted a charter by King James I in 1608, though historical records refer to a distillery here as early as 1276. Bushmills produces the most famous of Irish whiskeys—its namesake—and a rarer black-label version, Black Bush, widely regarded as the best of the best. On the guided tour, discover the secrets of the special water from St. Columb's Rill, the story behind malted Irish barley, and learn about triple distillation in copper stills and aging (which happens for long years in oak casks). You begin in the mashing and fermentation room, proceed to the maturing and bottling warehouse, and conclude, yes, with the much anticipated, complimentary shot of uisce beatha, the "water of life." Try to join a less crowded early-morning tour. A one-hour tasting costs £30, and with a tour it is £37, which includes tasting six Bushmills whiskeys and two others for comparison (75 minutes). In 2017, the company launched its first new domestic whiskey for five years. Bushmills Red Bush was matured in first-fill, medium-char bourbon casks, which soften the spirit, producing a blend of single-malt and grain whiskey said to deliver a sweet and smooth taste, a steal at £24 a bottle. The following year saw the debut of Bushmills Distillery Exclusive, a single malt aged in acacia casks and priced at £74, which, according to connoisseurs, delivers "sweet vanilla and accentuated dried fruit flavors." The company has also launched its Steamship Collection, a range which includes sherry cask reserve, bourbon reserve, and rum cask variant. These were inspired by the SS Bushmills, a vessel which set out on a maiden voyage to deliver bottles of Bushmills to America in 1890. The bourbon reserve is the result of a long-standing relationship with master coopers from Louisville, Kentucky. Not content to rest on its success, the Bushmills site is currently undergoing a £60 million expansion. This work involves the building of a new distillery, cooling equipment, and a barrel store, as well as 29 additional maturation warehouses. The expansion is due for completion in 2023, but the work will not affect visits to the main distillery, which continue as normal. You can also have a light lunch in the Distillery Kitchen Restaurant or buy souvenirs in the distillery gift shop. During July coppersmiths and distillers carry out annual maintenance work and, while tours are still held, you may not be able to access all the production areas.