Old Bushmills Distillery

Great tour led by Tim. Interactive at times and ended at the bar. Drink included with your ticket which was a surprise as didn’t catch that at booking. Drink prices are incredible reasonable for drinks before if you arrive early or just want to have a drink in a nice atmosphere. Would definitely recommend a visit and a tour if you have time.

Great experience! The tour was informative, and the whiskey tasting was excellent. A must-visit for whiskey lovers.

Loved the tour. Tasting was excellent. We tasted six different whiskeys. I really liked the 16 year. Aged 15 years in bourbon barrels and sherry barrels and then 1 year in port. No photos as electronic devices not allowed in production areas. Bummer.

A must-visit for whiskey lovers! The Old Bushmills Distillery offers a fascinating tour filled with history, craftsmanship, and, of course, great whiskey. The guides are knowledgeable and friendly, and the tasting at the end is a real treat. Charming setting and well worth the visit!

Great tour with an interesting speech about history and the proccess of making whisky. You are not allowed to take photos mostly. At the end you can choose from 3 types to taste. I would recommend.

We did the premium tasting and tour. We really enjoyed seeing the working facility. Every stop on the tour was seeing people making whiskey. The educational component was excellent, and our guide Jerry knew everything at an expert level. We particularly enjoyed learning about the barrelling program and how product from different types of barrels create the unique versions of Bushmills (single malt, PX, etc.) The tasting at the end was well guided and we appreciated the size of the pours too-plenty to really do an in-depth sensory experience. Parking was easy and everyone was super friendly and helpful. This is a great stop when visiting N.I. and the north coast area. It's well worth a drive in from points further such as Belfast. If visiting the Causeway, definitely build this into your day. (Ask Jerry about the Penguin!)

I had an incredible experience at the Old Bushmills Distillery, one of the oldest licensed whiskey distilleries in the world. The moment you step onto the grounds, you can feel the rich history and heritage that dates back to 1608. The guided tour was informative (Tim) and engaging. Our tour guide was both knowledgeable and passionate, walking us through the entire whiskey-making process — from malting and mashing to fermentation, distillation, and aging. It was fascinating to see the traditional copper pot stills in action and learn about what makes Bushmills whiskey unique. The highlight for me was the tasting session at the end of the tour. We got to sample a range of their whiskeys, including the smooth and well-balanced Bushmills Original, the rich Black Bush, and the beautifully aged 10-Year-Old Single Malt. Even if you’re not a whiskey expert, the staff made it approachable and enjoyable. The gift shop is also worth a visit — it offers exclusive distillery-only editions that make for great souvenirs or gifts. The location itself is charming, nestled in the picturesque village of Bushmills and not far from the Giant’s Causeway, making it a perfect stop on a day trip.

Well worth a visit if you are travelling the coast road. There is a large ample free car park. The tour lasted about an hour or, and the tour guides, Andy was very knowledgeable with a good sense if humour. The tour finished off with a nice large shot of whisky, I went for the Black Bush which had a sweet Olorosso sherry flavour.

Five stars for the tour today hosted by David (who was training David). I had arrived late yesterday without a booking and they were sold out, so the tip here is to book ahead. I booked for a tour today and arrived just after the previous tour started, so a quick walk across the street to the Spar for a coffee and then back to sit on the sofa and wait. On the dot, the tour started. David reminded us that photographs are not permitted on the tour (a fear of batteries catching fire, which seems odd but okay) and that there would be stairs. Walking through the mashing room, the distilling room, the factory and the bottling plant, this is a live and very busy manufacturing facility. David provided lots of facts and the only one I remember is that there are 5000 barrels out there in the "barrel farm." An hour later, we're back at the tasting room. I went with the 12 year old whiskey and it was fabulous. A little sweet with honey notes and maybe some vanilla. After that, there's a bar where you can buy more pours or skip that and head over to the gift shop. Tshirts and other merchandise plus whiskies that run from £25 to £2200! I got a two-pack for £25 because Yelp doesn't pay me for £2200 bottles of booze. (Yelp doesn't pay me anything, but that's beside the point.) Bushmills is pretty far away from everything but there are tour buses that leave from Belfast. Or you can do what I did - rent a car at Dublin and drive around the island! [Review 1691 of 2024 - 835 in United Kingdom - 22714 overall]

All I can say is WOW. The oldest distillery in the WORLD. The views coming to this spot are amazing. Make sure to stop into the gift shop to grab some memorabilia because being at the oldest distillery in the world deserves that spotlight. They have a tasting & tour that you can do but being on a guided bus tour, I didn't get to do it. Maybe next time! The workers were friendly & still had a lot of information if you had any questions.

Stopped in For just a tasting as we didn't have time for a tour. The bartender was so welcoming and friendly. He explained the different tasting options. We opted for the original and the exclusive. The tasting room is warm and cozy all it's missing is a fireplace ( it was a cold day). I highly recommend a visit. We got there at the perfect time as tour busses were dropping off tons of people as we left.

Pleasant stop. Lots of history and unique bottles. Staff was friendly amd the grounds were clean and nice.

Gotta stop into the oldest distillery in the world, Bushmills Distillery, located in Northern Ireland. I'm a whiskey and bourbon lover so that makes sense. As the oldest licensed distillery in the world, its history dates back to 1608. We stopped in, walked around the picturesque setting and had to get gifts from the shop.

Great tour and new. Owned by Quervo as of now seemed a little odd. The tour was great and the tastings were delicious. For our group it was a consensus favorite of the larger distillery offerings. Staff was exceptionally friendly and so open to questions.

We think that one might enjoy a visit to Old Busmills I have enjoyed this Irish whiskey for years Guided tour is recommended The distilling process is explained and yes, there is a tasing Recommend the gift shop

This was our second distillery tour on the Island of Ireland. Our burst was in Dublin. This was in Bushmill, in Northern Ireland. The tour here was much more extensive than the other. We learned a great deal about how Irish Whiskey is made; how it differs from Scotch, and we watched the process from raw barley to bottling and shipping. It was truly fascinating. At the end of the tour you get one free tasting. There are many varieties of Bushmill and there were four we were able to choose from. For my ticket I chose the 17 year single malt. It was good and it was complex, but my palette could not distinguish the tastes. One person from our tour was not drinking and gave me her ticket. This time i tried the 10 year single malt. It was surprisingly good. In my opinion, it was smoother, had more taste, and less burn than the 17 year. If you want to do one whiskey distillery tour, I would recommend Bushmill. If you want two, from what we be heard, go to Jamison's.

What a great tour and a great family event [if you kids are all of drinking age like mine :) ]. We showed up for our tour and there was some confusion regarding the time of the tour but young lady that helped us [I promised I wouldn't forget her name but I did SAMPLE a lot of whiskey] was awesome and got us set up no time. The tour was very interesting and much better than the tour that we took south in Dublin. I think that was because they actually make whiskey here and so you get a real tour of the facility and how it is made. The sampling was one of our favorite parts; obviously! I did not know Old Bushmill very well prior to coming here but I left a huge fan of their 12 year old aged whiskey. Wife tried the Black but the 12 year old was the family favorite. After getting back I had to go purchase a bottle for myself!

Great tour of this historic distillery. We happened to stop in the day before their opening of the second distillery and 415th birthday celebration. Our guide was very friendly and did a great job answer the questions the group had during and after the tour. The tasting at the end of the tour made it all the better of a tour.

Oldest whiskey distillery in the world! Book your tickets well in advance of your visit because they fill up tour fast. The town is quaint and walkable before or after your visit. Enjoy and tasting and buy a souvenir and a bottle of your favorite in the gift shop.

Yelp 100 Challenge 2018 - 80/100 Disclaimer: I don't drink alcohol, so I can't give you the skinny on what tastes better between 5-year old whiskey or 12. Another rainy day in Northern Ireland and this tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery was such a warm welcome. Our Tour Guide Micheal was such a pleasure. From choosing the right grains, the right temperature, right alcohol content, to using the type of barrels to finally store the whiskey in for the aging process, I loved listening to the history of Bushmills and his Northern Irish brogue made it all the more authentic. At the end of the tour you get to sample their whiskey and with the tour ticket stub you can taste the special edition 12 year old which you can only be purchased at this distillery. The gift shop is a good place to purchase whiskey bottles and knickknacks for the aficionados.

Jerry our fabulous tour guide. Quite tasty. If only the walls could talk. Quite impressive how automated they are.

How can I begin to share my love for Bushmills???? We arrived at the Distillery very early in the morning, basically when they were first opening up, for a private tasting. Our driver escorted us directly to the tasting room where we sampled the most divine rare Bushmills that ever touched our lips. Our taste buds literally sang to the angels!! What an amazing way to start a holiday in Belfast. We took a moment before leaving our tasting to stop in the gift shop and purchase a bottle of 21 Year Old Single Malt and a 12 Year Old Distillery Reserve to bring home to the States. It was almost a religious experience.

Okay, so my review is based solely on the taste of the whiskey and the staff with whom I interacted, rather than a tour of the distillery. That being said, here we go: I came to Bushmills distillery around 10 am or so, which, as everyone knows, is prime time for whiskey drinking (kidding, but you know what I mean ). After a quick tour of the grounds, I ordered a whiskey tasting, which included 3 of their best selling whiskeys. Typically I would say that 10 am is a tad bit early to be drinking whiskey, but for Bushmills? Not the case. They make such smooth whiskey that you just can't help but love it at anytime of the day. No joke. It's actually that smooth. I could have drank any of their whiskey all day, if I didn't need to drive immediately after I left the distillery. Yes, I like it that much. The staff there, by the way, was fantastic. They were warm and very friendly. They poured heavily as well. You've got to come here!

The Old Bushmills Distillery is a grain to glass distillery. It is made in small batches on site. Bushmills claim to fame is that it was one of the first distilleries to make single malts and blended whiskeys. It is also the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. They were granted an official license by King James I to make whiskey since 1608...over 400 years. They offer a tour where you learn about the process of crafting Bushmills Irish Whiskey. It includes all of the critical stages of production. The tour went by quickly. The tour guide was extremely informative and consistently asked for questions. At the end the give you what I thought was a couple of large samples. The samples are given in a beautiful bar area where you are given an additional coupon to order a stiff drink at the bar. If you drink all that is given to you to sample it will knock you on your rear end. After enjoying the bar area you leave through the gift shop. I bypassed the whiskey sales because I would rather buy duty free but I did purchase some whiskey fudge and whiskey toffee to bring home.

We did the tour on our trip to Ireland and loved it! Joe from Wisconsin was our tour guide and he was great! Very personable and informative!

The fun had here was amazing. Whiskey was incredible. Ended up buying a 21 year old whiskey and a whiskey bottle for a friend that is only sold at the distillery. I loved this place and it's minutes from Giants Causeway, it behooves you to rent a car so you can get to the distillery

As touristy as you'd expect. All the people working were SUPER nice, but the food was underwhelming and it was super crowded. Be prepared for a pretty long walk to even get into the place!

I am not a big Whiskey drinker but considering I was staying only a few miles away I pretty much had to check it out. The parking lot was large so I would guess that even if they are pretty busy you could still find parking. Luckily for us a tour was starting about 15 minutes after we arrived. The tour was fun and informative and the guide was great at his job. The tour was very in-depth and I learned a lot. The length of time was just right, I didn't feel that it was too short of rushed but it also didn't drag or seem to take forever. It was neat to watch the bottling and packing. After the tour you were able to pick a sample to try in the bar. We also had lunch after. There were quite a few choices but I found the food to only be so-so. They also have a large gift store before you exit the building.

We only had 30 mins for a visit here - the tour takes 1.5hrs and needs to be booked in advance so ended up just getting a flight of 3 whiskies. My fave was the 12 year old distillery reserve which I ended mixing with coffee to make my own Irish coffee :-) Next favorite taste wise was the 10 year old which I actually mixed with ice to make more palatable for my taste. Finally last in preference was the Black Bush which I thought was okay, but honestly none of the Bushmills whiskies was to my taste and I much prefer Jamieson's. I was really wanting to taste the honey whisky which is what Camilla, Prince Charles wife had when she visited her but found out they'd stopped making it 3 months ago!! Talk about bad timing! Anyway ended up getting a chocolate cake to soak in the alcohol from the whisky but I can tell ya my feet did feel weak when I first stood up after drinking my flight. The free wifi isn't very strong unfortunately. Their shop was an interesting mix of clothing, liquor and food. I purchased some chocolates, fudge, toffee with the whiskey. The service was interesting - I saw one of the salespeople make a joke and eye-rolling gesture towards the person they were serving and while I get that tourists can be dumb, they are the ones paying your wages, so just be polite and a wee bit patient! Not sure if would come back here again. That salesperson left a bad taste in the mouth and overall the whisky wasn't to my taste either. Of course if they start manufacturing the honey whisky again, then l would absolutely have to return. Note: #224 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016

Note: all my recent vacation in Ireland Yelp reviews will have the same 1st paragraph preamble, for just the review itself skip to the 2nd paragraph. On a whirlwind 2 week vacation to Ireland, the girlfriend & I tried to see & experience absolutely as much of this incredible land as we could. We did not accomplish every last activity we wished we could have on our rather ambitious itinerary. Nonetheless, we did discover a land of numerous stunning & magical wonders. We did see a land of unending natural beauty. We did learn of a land with a monumentally long history of trials, tragedies & triumphs. We did get to meet many kind, humorous, warm & generous people. Our vacation to Ireland was just 2 weeks, but that was time enough to know this is a land easy to love & a land to be sorely missed. After getting a good bit of exercise & fresh air surveying Giant's Causeway from the cliffs above, climbing down those cliffs & then clamoring all over the funky hexagonal rock formations, it was time for the girlfriend & I to get a refreshing beverage. Fortune has definitely blessed this little area of the Antrim Coast as the Old Bushmills Distillery is very nearby. Being a lover of all things whiskey & with the world's oldest licensed distillery a mere 4 miles away, it was a moral imperative for us to go have a drink & a look around. The grounds are well-kept with a quaint traditional feel, not nearly as sprawling as I had imagined for a modern distillery with international distribution. We arrived just in time for the last tour of day. Our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable & traded a lot of casual banter with our tour group. The tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery wasn't so much a multimedia entertainment presentation like distillery/ brewery tours we went on in Dublin, but it was a tour of an actual, operational distillery. I really enjoyed & appreciated seeing the warehouse of port, sherry & bourbon barrels, the fermenters, the stills & the bottling facility. The tour ends with a tasting of Bushmills whiskey that is included in the ticket price. A generous number of Bushmills whiskeys are available to choose from. The girlfriend & I had the 12 Year, which is only available at the distillery, & the 1608, a 14 year commemorating Bushmills 400th year anniversary. Both were fantastic, each in their own distinct way. For any fan of the spirits, going to the Old Bushmills Distillery is a grand experience. Being the site of the oldest licensed distillery in the world but using very modern equipment, this place is a little bit of the old & a little bit of the new. Cap it all off with sipping some smooth whiskeys & everything is, indeed, grand.

We took the tour of the distillery and really enjoyed it. The tour was 40 minutes and it covered all steps in the whisky making process. At the end you get two samples of their whiskey. We are not whisky drinkers but we enjoyed the tour and the taste of their whisky.

Didn't really enjoy the distillery I'm sad to say. The staff seemed to be too preoccupied with trying to sell you their vastly overpriced items in the gift shop. Tasted the whisky and thought it was revolting. It was like paint stripper, so I gave mine to an Australian guy who was more than happy to get another lol! I could have been more interested by the place if they staff didn't act disinterested But all in all I felt like it was just a waste of time. Wouldn't be back

This review is for the restaurant and whiskey tasting, we did not do a tour of the distillery as we did not have enough time on our stop. I have to say; I was surprised by how good the food was! We ordered the lunch meals at 6.50£ each. I had the fish and chips with peas, my bf had the steak pie with 2 choices of sides (potatoes and peas). If you want something lighter they do have a few sandwiches to pick from. As for the whiskey tasting, everyone gets a free tasting if you ask at the bar. The tasting was their original. My bf also ordered the full tasting for 7.5£. This came with the original, black bush, and the 12 year(only available at the distillery). Service and atmosphere were great. Wish we had time for the tour.

The tour offered at Bushmills was excellent! The tickets were so cheap and they offered so much for the price. They took us through the entire working distillery and gave us in depth explanations of each step and the equipment. It was a lot of fun to see each stage of the process and to be able to look into the tanks or smell the whiskey at the different stages. They offered a tasting at the end of the tour in their cozy bar plus a voucher for one drink (there were a few to choose from- I got the hot toddy because it was so cold out). Overall the value and experience was 100x better than our visit to Jameson in Dublin. The staff are also super kind and friendly. We went for lunch after our tour at a restaurant down the road and when we came back to our car the battery had died. We went back into Bushmills' visitor center and asked the staff for advice and the woman just said "Leave it to me". A few minutes later she and another staff member followed us in one of their service trucks outside to where our car was parked on the side of the street to jump the battery. They were all smiles the whole time and didn't act at all inconvenienced or annoyed with "silly tourists". We were so grateful! Excellent service and experience all around. I highly recommend!

An interesting tour to take while in North Ireland. They have a gift shop & dinning area too, where you can have a proper Irish coffee.

Great tour of a working whiskey distillery. As a brewer myself, I found the entire process fascinating. If you go be sure to pick up a bottle of the 12 year old as it is not available anywhere else other than at the distillery. I carefully packed mine for the trip back to the States and will break it out for special occasions only.

This was by far the best distillery tour we had while on holiday. We drove up from belfast, a pretty easy drive and picked up tickets for a tour that started in 30 minutes. Unlike tullamore or Jameson, bushmills tour goes through a still working factory, so it's definitely worth seeing. There's no photos during much of the tour due to a fire risk (there's so much alcohol in the air in some locations). Some portly American tried to argue with the tour guide about this... American: Well have you ever ACTUALLY had a fire? Guide: Yes, in 1885, AND we hope not to have another one. *gigantic eye roll* The tasting room isn't too much to write home about, you only receive one taste for free, but the tour is well worth it. We took home a bottle of the distillery reserve.

Came here with a tour group to Giants Causeway and was shocked by the way the staff acted--kind of like 'oh, you were not on the tour of the distillery? i can't help you'. You can't get service from the bar if you were not on a tour I guess....but I was just told it was closed and then a tour group came and got service and a mini-lecture. The staff at the kitchen were not great either, as I asked for Bushmills and he just stared at me because I did not say which kind and then silently handed me the price sheet. I like Jameson more anyway...

Wow! What an interesting tour! Good price too! The boys in my family love a little dram of a finely refined whiskey and so they're particularly proud of good old Bushmills Distillery and the 'aqua vitae' they provide. I'm proud to say that in 2008 the distillery celebrated 400 years of their Northern Irish heritage, they even launched a whiskey to commemorate the occasion!! :) I learnt a lot, more so than I'll probably ever need to know about whiskey on this tour. For example, I bet you didn't know that... Bushmills sell five different blends of their liquid delight; original, black bush, 10, 16, and 21 year old malt. (The 16 year old is my personal favourite! Try it for its chocolatey, nutty, fruity tones ...mmm!) The process of making the whiskey is extremely complex. It's divided in to five stages; mashing, fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending and finally bottling. (Bushmills are one of the only grain to glass distilleries in the world!) In 1885 the distillery burnt to the ground! (Don't panic, it was rebuilt!) But I'll let you discover more for yourself, if you're a fan of the 'uisce beatha' - Gaelic for whiskey, then this place is 100% worth the visit. You can watch the whiskey making take place, and N.B. You still get free samples at the end of the tour. Don't miss out on this!

This is my Mecca! I love the sights, the smells, and the tastes of this place. From the old stone buildings that house my favorite libation to the mash house that smells like heaven, I can't think of a better place to be than the Old Bushmills Distillery. Their tasting room and cafe is simply amazing. Try a shot of the 21 Year Bushmills straight. That's nirvana, baby!

Eleven of us had the privilege of having a private tour and exclusive single malt tasting at Bushmills today. Our guide Niall and Jake showed us how "Bush" is made and the nuances of the different types of single malt. Great couple of hours spent.

The Old Bushmills Distillery was quite a nice stop on our Northern Ireland adventure. We stopped in after we'd seen the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge and the Giant's Causeway (both are must-sees) but unfortunately, we'd stayed out so long we missed the last tour by about 30 minutes. Not to worry, though... the whiskey bar was still open! lol The grounds were very nice and the staff was friendly. They also have a great lil gift shop inside that is more than willing to mail your gifts back to friends or to your home. I'd recommend the Old Bushmills Distillery for a stop if you're in Northern Ireland. It's only a bit more than an hour from Belfast! I'm bringing my parents back to Ireland next summer and we'll be sure to make it in time for the tour. Might see ya there!

Bushmills Distillery is a great place to visit when in North Ireland. As others mentioned, it is a working distillery and you will see bottling along with the usual stills from exhibition places. It has significant parking available, but I got lucky to visit during a less crowded weekday. Internal restaurant was decent, but average food for a touristy place. The town of Bushmills itself is a bit of a drive and one should be prepared for significant if coming from Belfast. Gift shop was good with a distillery exclusive whiskey for sale. Definitely worthwhile if in North Ireland and have reliable transportation to rural area...

I enjoyed exploring the distillery and ate a wonderful meal here, perhaps one of my best meals while in Northern Ireland/U.K. Sat with travelers from all over the world and enjoyed lively conversation. Took some great pictures and posted a few. My vegetarian meal consisted of lumpy, buttered mashed potatoes, carrots, peas, a great pasta dish that was creamy and had red peppers, peas, corn, broccoli and onions in it, a drink and brownie! The food was delicious! I wish I would have gotten a second helping, but I was quite full.

Ive been here 3 times now and every time I come I see something different. Place is so old and legendary it gives ya chills. I recommend to anyone come visit the 6 beautiful counties of Antrim and sip some of the best Ireland has to offer. They have swanked up the tour with a new layout and meeting room which is cool. Price isn't too bad but drop the extra few quid and get the tasting. Hopefully you will be with people who aren't big whiskey drinkers and get all of theirs as well. Tour guide we had this time was super young and brand new but she did awesome. At a few stages she looked like a deer in headlights but she carried on with no problem. The whole feel of the place is respectful of the craft and history...unlike a lot of the frat boy, lets get hammered kind of tours we have in the States...

Made a stop here on the tour to Giants Causeway. Great distillery and a great tour of the history of the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour there and the whiskey tasting. Grabbed a bottle of the 12 year old as that's the only place one can get it. Very nice area as well and it was a really nice and sunny (rare sight) day, we loitered around the place for some time afterwards.

Love these tours. You get a free drink at the end and you can also buy special brews.

Spending a few days on the North Coast being a total tourist so a Distillery tour seemed like an idea. £7.50 per head for a pretty comprehensive tour with a shot of whiskey at the end. The guide told us a little of the history of the site and the different types of whiskey distilled there. Interesting fact the 'grist' left over from the barley mash is sold to local farmers for animal feed so there is no waste. I liked that. I think that must be where the expression 'grist for the mill' comes from. Water from the Bush river is used in the process and barrels for the distillation are brought in from the USA, Portugal & Spain. When they've reached the end of use they are sold on to craft wood workers who make items of furniture out of them. I'm not a whiskey drinker so the significance of it was a bit lost on me but it was a worthwhile experience and one I'd certainly recommend. The exit was through the gift shop where as you'd imagine there's a range of whiskey themed gifts on sale as well as the actual Bushmills whiskey. You can get a special bottle personalised for a gift too. There is also a small café for coffee and light lunch. Plenty of parking outside.

Another high-light to my Ireland tour in May 2011. I had friends that had been here before and had highly suggested this tour so I dragged the whole family along. Personally, I really enjoyed the tour. It was educational and I felt as though I got a good look at the entire distillery. It was long enough to feel like I got my money's worth and of course I enjoyed the drink at the end. The distillery does have a little shop/cafe where you can get a bite to eat at the end of your tour as well. I did bring Steven C. back one of the specialty bottles that you can only buy at the distillery and he loved it.

Came in right after jumping around the Giant's Causeway (only a bus ride away!) to get a tour of the oldest legal whiskey distillery around. Our tour guide was great. No pictures allowed, which was a bummer, but we got to see fermentation tanks, wooden barrel casks, the works! We had the tour when the distillery was not in operation, so we watched a short video on it instead (totally not quite the same experience, I'm sure). Walking through some of the rooms, the smell of whiskey is strong and hits you right in the face. Thought I'd get drunk just off the smell, but got used to it after a few minutes. With our tour price (only £7.50 for me as a non-student adult) came a single complimentary sample of a few different types of whiskey to sip on. I got the 12-year-old reserve, and it went was good. One of the smoothest whiskeys I've ever had.

Considering its historic significance (claims oldest operational distillery in the world...1608), and what appears (by new owners - Jose Cuervo?) to be a commitment to keeping things going without change, this was a must visit for a whisky lover like myself. Having already experience the "full tourist" at the Guinness Factory in Dublin (another must, having been interested to Guinness by Caribbean friends in NYC long ago...AND recognizing the cultural significance to Ireland), we let the person at the front counter know this - and she gracefully suggested a "tasting" instead of a tour. This turned out to be a great idea. I was able to sample, leisurely (after being provided a brief but informative presentation on the three whiskys I was trying) in their nice tasting room, sitting next to their giant still (a copper work of art). It may have helped that we were there on a Monday morning, but the quiet environment to take things in added to things. The town of Bushmills is also a nice size that we could have spent a little more time...but between the great fish n chips we had there after the tasting, and the need (like so many others...) to get back to the amazing sights nearby (Giant's Causeway, etc.) our brief visit was much enjoyed.

This place, although in the middle of nowhere, is worth the trip if you are up in the area checking out the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. It is a functioning distillery, which is rare (at least compared to Guinness and Jameson). You see the whiskey made from start to finish, even get to see the bottling plant. Probably takes about an hour, but very interesting. Obviously at the end you get some Bushmills, but you get a variety of choices (Original, Irish Honey, Black Bush, 10 year, and 12 year)...definitely go with the 12 year. The tour is only £7 and is a good deal. The gift shop has all the different batches they make, and some they only sell at the distillery.

I visited the Old Bushmills Distillery on one of my tours in Northern Ireland. When we drove up, I thought that the grounds looked quite pretty. The buildings on the ground look quite old, which the name implies. The smell on the other hand is not quite so pretty. I had never been to a whiskey distillery before, so the sour vomit smell was a bit overwhelming. We did not have time to tour the distillery, but we did eat here for lunch. They have a nice little cafeteria set up where you can even have some whiskey. I ordered the Irish stew, which was not like any stew I had ever had before. I am used to the American version of stew that is thick, but has a little bit of liquid in it. This stew was so thick that I could stick my spoon straight up in it. It was tasty overall and the price was not too bad (the whiskey on the other hand is expensive!)

I debated visiting the distillery when I was visiting Belfast, but in retrospect, this was one of the highlights of my Northern Ireland trip. The distillery tour was relatively inexpensive (£6), and when it's finished they'll provide a dram or two (three if you're pleasant) of the different maturities Bushmills sells. If you have any whiskey lovers at home splurge and purchase a bottle or two of the 12yr. They ONLY sell it AT the distillery (you can't buy it at any bottle shops), and it's a nice contrast to the extremely peaty malts across the pond.

I won't get into lots of details other to say it was a lot of fun. The tour was very interesting and our guide was entertaining. I liked whiskey before I started the tour...I liked it even better afterwards because of all the behind-the-scenes information. Enjoy the whiskey tasting! We got the 12 & 16 year whiskeys and they were smooth as silk. Even my bf liked it and he's not a whiskey drinker at all. Then they let you loose in the gift shop which is awesome! It was difficult not to walk out with less than $50 worth of stuff. My bf bought a personalized 12-year bottle of Bushmills. He loves it.

The tour was nice, we really got to see the behind the scenes stuff that goes into whiskey making, the one guy in the room who controls it all and the black cat that is either fast asleep or dead. it was a bit confusing trying to get on the Bushmill's tour grounds, it was super cheap b/c we only got a "half tour" due to the shit weather, but quite honestly, I just came for the drinks. Overall HIGHLY rec the tour! And while you're there go check out the Fin McCool mural and might as well drive up to Giants Causeway.

When I think about it, my country men and women can produce some of the very best produce in the world. We certainly punch well above our weight in food and drink. This whiskey range is positive proof of this truth. So is our butter, our smoked salmon, our eels, our oysters, our beef, pork and lamb, our sea fish, our Maud's ice cream range and of course our truly great Tayto crisps. Now some may say I'm biased but this is not so and I've consumed enough black bush (and Tayto crisps) to claim a decent measure of authority. Our whiskey (yip, seems like I'm taking personal ownership here) is triple distilled, which makes it very smooth and far greater tasting than the inferior cheaper stuff made in Scotland that Scots loosely claim to be something they call whisky, bah humbug. We did the 3 sample of our world-beating eminently superior triple distilled luxurious whiskey tasting first, black bush followed by a 12 and a 16 year old single malt. We had the staffer filling us with facts and opinions as we, sniffed, quaffed and experimented with little splashes of our equally lovely water into the black bush only. Then we did the wonderful informative sights and smells tour, and we got yet another whiskey at tours end. Some places are harder to leave than others you know. Still, having purchased a few bottles of 12 year old to go I am not too disappointed.