Bushmills Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 19 hours ago
Old Bushmills Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was established in 1784, takes its water from Saint Columb's Rill, a tributary of the River Bush, and draws around 120,000 visitors a year.
In this guide
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Bushmills at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery | Bushmills |
Country / region | County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
Owner / producer | Proximo Spirits |
History | One story says that in 1276 an early settler, Sir Robert Savage of Ards, fortified his troops with a mighty drop of acqua vitae before battle. |
Whisky identity | Irish blends and triple distilled malt |
Visiting | Check the current official visiting arrangements before travelling. |
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At a glance
Location: Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Owner: Proximo Spirits
Established: 1784, although 1608 is printed on the label
Water: Saint Columb's Rill, a tributary of the River Bush
Second site: the Causeway Distillery, opened in April 2023
Visitors: around 120,000 a year
History in chapters
Before 1784
One story says that in 1276 an early settler, Sir Robert Savage of Ards, fortified his troops with a mighty drop of acqua vitae before battle. In 1608 King James I granted Sir Thomas Phillips a licence to distil in the County of Coleraine for seven years. That licence is the origin of the 1608 on the label, but the company itself was not formed until 1784.
1784 to 1885
The Bushmills Old Distillery Company was established in 1784 by Hugh Anderson. The distillery had many lean years, and official records show no operation in 1802 or 1822. In 1860 Belfast spirit merchant James McColgan and Patrick Corrigan bought it, and in 1880 they formed a limited company. The original buildings were destroyed by fire in 1885 and were swiftly rebuilt. The distillery has operated approximately continuously since.
1890 to 1972
In 1890 the distillery's own steamship SS Bushmills made its maiden voyage across the Atlantic, calling at Philadelphia and New York, then Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama. The US was a key market, and American Prohibition in 1920 was a blow, but Bushmills survived: director Wilson Boyd predicted its end and held large stores ready to export. After the Second World War the distillery was bought by Isaac Wolfson, and in 1972 it was taken over by Irish Distillers.
1988 to today
Pernod Ricard bought Irish Distillers in June 1988. Diageo bought the distillery in June 2005 for 200 million pounds. In May 2008 Bank of Ireland issued new sterling notes in Northern Ireland showing the distillery. In November 2014 Diageo traded the Bushmills brand to Proximo Spirits in exchange for the 50% of Don Julio tequila it did not already own. The Causeway Distillery opened in April 2023.
Range
Bushmills Original: a blend, with grain whiskey matured in American oak casks
Black Bush: a blend with a greater proportion of malt, including malt aged in Oloroso sherry casks
Red Bush: a blend with a higher proportion of malt, matured in ex bourbon casks
10 year single malt: aged at least 10 years in sherry and bourbon casks
12 year single malt: aged at least 12 years in Oloroso sherry and bourbon, then finished 6 to 9 months in Marsala casks
Distillery Reserve 12 year: available only at the distillery
16 year single malt: aged at least 16 years in bourbon barrels or Oloroso sherry butts, finished about 9 months in Port pipes
21 year single malt: 19 years in Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks, then two years in Madeira casks, in limited numbers each year
Bushmills 1608: released for the 400th anniversary, and since 2009 sold only at the distillery shop and duty free
Strengths for Black Bush, 10 Year and 21 Year are confirmed from the official Bushmills site in the section below. Strengths for Original, 12 Year and 16 Year were not checked.
Awards
Black Bush won double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2007 and 2010, and scored 93 from the Beverage Testing Institute in 2008 and 2011.
A note on conflicting claims
The label date of 1608 refers to the royal licence granted to a local landowner, while the company was formed in 1784. We give both dates.
Visiting
The official site gives the address as 2 Distillery Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim BT57 8XH and sends visitors to the regional site, bushmills.eu, for tours and booking. Check there for current times and prices.
Range and strengths on the official site
The official US site lists Original, Black Bush, 10 Year, 12 Year, 16 Year, 21 Year, 25 Year, 26 Year Crystal Malt, 30 Year and 46 Year, plus Private Reserve cask finishes and The Rare Casks series. Some of these were sold out when the page was read on 20 October 2026.
Strengths shown on the product pages: Black Bush 40% ABV (80 proof), 10 Year 40% ABV (80 proof) and 21 Year 40% ABV (80 proof). The other bottlings were not checked.
How the official site describes production
The distillery page says it has made whiskey since 1608 and calls itself the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery. It says the distillery triple distils 100% of its malted barley in copper pot stills, and names the River Bush and the County Antrim coast as part of its story.
The 10 Year is described as triple distilled from 100% malted barley and matured for a minimum of 10 years in former sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks. Black Bush is described as a blend with a high share of malt whiskey married with lighter grain whiskey, matured in former Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks. The 21 Year is described as aged for a minimum of 19 years in Oloroso sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks, then finished for 2 more years in Madeira casks.
Awards named by the brand
Black Bush is shown with USA Spirits Ratings Blended Malt Irish Whiskey of the Year 2024 and Gold 2024. The 10 Year is shown with a Gold from the International Spirits Challenge 2024, an International Wine and Spirits Competition Whiskey Highball Gold 2024 and 85.36 points from the International Whisky Competition 2024. The 21 Year is shown with Gold from USA Spirits Ratings 2024 and Masters from The Spirits Business Irish Whiskey Masters 2024. The site also quotes the World Whiskies Awards 2007 for the 10 Year as Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey in the World. These are the brand's own claims.
Bushmills FAQ
Who owns Bushmills?
Proximo Spirits, since the 2014 trade with Diageo.
Why does the label say 1608?
It refers to the licence King James I granted in 1608. The company was established in 1784.
Where does the water come from?
Saint Columb's Rill, a tributary of the River Bush.
Has the distillery ever burned down?
Yes. The original buildings burned in 1885 and were quickly rebuilt.
Is there a second distillery?
Yes, the Causeway Distillery opened in April 2023.
How many people visit?
Around 120,000 a year.
Who bought it in 2005?
Diageo, for 200 million pounds.
Sources
Facts come from the Wikipedia article on Old Bushmills Distillery, read on 19 October 2026. They have not yet been checked against the official distillery website, and no auction records were found. Whisky Clan does not publish tasting notes in its distillery profiles.
Further sources checked on 20 October 2026: bushmills.com/pages/distillery, bushmills.com/collections/whiskeys, and the product pages for Black Bush, 10 Year and 21 Year.
Gaps for Filip: ABVs for Original, 12 Year and 16 Year, current owner statement on the official site, tour times and prices on bushmills.eu, and trade sources (Whisky Advocate, Whiskybase) were not checked. The official site wording says triple distilling of malted barley, while Original and Black Bush are blends, so the production claim applies to the malt side.
October 2026 updated bottles and limited releases
Bushmills' official distillery shop lists the 10, 16 and 21 Year Old single malts at £36, £86 and £160 respectively, alongside 25 Year Old at £790 and 30 Year Old at £1,900, based on its October 2026 shop listings (prices can change). The 30 Year Old spends 14 years in bourbon barrels and sherry butts followed by 16 years in first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks. A much rarer 46 Year Old, Secrets of the River Bush, is described by the brand as its oldest single malt to date and is advertised on its US site at US$12,999.99, subject to location and availability. Other unusual releases include the 26 Year Old Crystal Malt, matured entirely in first-fill bourbon casks. These are official retail listings rather than international stock guarantees.
What makes Bushmills distinctive?
Irish blends and triple distilled malt.
Bushmills whisky bottles and releases
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Bushmills Original | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Irish blends and triple distilled malt |
Bushmills Black Bush | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Irish blends and triple distilled malt |
Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt | 10 years | Check bottle | Irish blends and triple distilled malt |
Bushmills whisky bottle photograph
Bushmills 10 Year Old single malt bottle and presentation box
The table records named expressions, not live stock. Bottle strength and cask treatment can vary by market and release. Always consult the producer.
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Frequently asked questions about Bushmills
Where is Bushmills based?
County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Who owns Bushmills?
Proximo Spirits.
What is notable about Bushmills?
Irish blends and triple distilled malt.
Which bottles does Bushmills have?
Bushmills Original, Bushmills Black Bush, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt. Releases and availability change.
Can you visit Bushmills?
Check the distillery's official visitor or tour information before making travel plans.
Sources and editorial checks
The original history, references and research remain in this guide. Whisky range and visitor information may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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