Old Bushmills Distillery facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | 1608 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| Products | Irish whiskey |
| Parent | Casa Cuervo |
The Old Bushmills Distillery is a famous place in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It's where they make Irish whiskey. A company from Mexico, called Casa Cuervo, owns it now. The distillery uses special water from a stream called Saint Columbs Rill. Lots of people visit Bushmills Distillery every year, about 120,000!
Even though the company that built the distillery started in 1784, the date 1608 is on their labels. This date is when a king gave permission to someone in the area to make whiskey. The distillery has been working non-stop since it was rebuilt after a big fire in 1885.
History of Bushmills Distillery
People have been making spirits in this area for a very long time. One story says that in 1276, a knight named Sir Robert Savage gave his soldiers "a mighty drop of acqua vitae" before a battle. This was an early form of whiskey.
In 1608, King James I gave a special permission, called a royal licence, to Sir Thomas Phillips. This licence allowed him to make and sell spirits like whiskey in the area.
The Bushmills Old Distillery Company itself was started much later, in 1784, by Hugh Anderson. The distillery faced tough times and even closed down sometimes. In 1885, the original buildings were destroyed by a big fire. But the distillery was quickly rebuilt.
In 1890, the distillery even had its own steamship, called SS Bushmills. This ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to deliver Bushmills whiskey to America. It visited cities like Philadelphia and New York City. Then it traveled even further to places like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
In the early 1900s, America was a very important customer for Bushmills. But then, in 1920, America started a period called Prohibition. This meant it was illegal to make or sell alcohol. This was a big problem for whiskey makers. However, Bushmills managed to survive. The director at the time, Wilson Boyd, believed Prohibition would end. So, he made sure the distillery had lots of whiskey ready to sell when it became legal again.
After the Second World War, the distillery changed owners a few times. In 2005, a company called Diageo bought it. They planned to advertise Bushmills a lot to help it become even more popular.
In 2008, the Bank of Ireland even put a picture of the Old Bushmills Distillery on some of its banknotes in Northern Ireland.
In 2014, the distillery was traded to Jose Cuervo, a company famous for making tequila.
Types of Bushmills Whiskey
Bushmills makes different kinds of whiskey. They are all made from malted barley and aged in wooden barrels. The type of barrel and how long the whiskey stays in it gives each one a different taste.
- Bushmills Original – This is a mix of different whiskeys. The grain whiskey in it is aged in American oak barrels.
- Black Bush – This blend has more malt whiskey than the Original. The malt whiskey is aged in barrels that used to hold Spanish Oloroso sherry. This gives it a rich flavor.
- Red Bush – This is also a blend with more malt whiskey. But its malt whiskey is aged in barrels that used to hold bourbon, which is a type of American whiskey.
- Bushmills 10 year single malt – This whiskey is made only from malted barley and aged for at least 10 years. It uses both American bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry barrels.
- Bushmills Distillery Reserve 12 year single malt – You can only buy this special 12-year-old whiskey at the Old Bushmills Distillery. It has a rich and complex taste.
- Bushmills 16 year single malt – This whiskey is aged for at least 16 years in bourbon or sherry barrels. Then, it spends a few more months in barrels that used to hold Port wine.
- Bushmills 21 year single malt – Only a small number of these special 21-year-old bottles are made each year. After many years in bourbon and sherry barrels, the whiskeys are mixed. Then they spend two more years in barrels that used to hold Madeira wine.
- Bushmills 1608 – This whiskey was first made for the distillery's 400th anniversary. Now, you can find it at the distillery's shop.
Awards and Recognition
Some Bushmills whiskeys have won important awards in international competitions. For example, its Black Bush Finest Blended Whiskey won top awards in 2007 and 2010. It also received very high scores from experts in 2008 and 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Old Bushmills Distillery para niños
