Bushmills Black Bush

Does your favorite Irish blend have more to do with which one you were first introduced to rather than any objective measure of quality? Quick litmus test: which is yours? Is it Jameson or Tullamore? Or is it Bushmills? If you're American, it's likely one of these three. I've never met anyone who's intro to the genre was Powers here. Those who are introduced to it now have more choices that my generation did: Teeling, Busker, Writer's Tears. But back in the day, there was a trinity: Bushmills, Jameson, and Tully. For me, the intro was Jameson. I ordered it all the time. On the rocks. And I thought I was the shit because most of my friends were drinking Yeungling. But I hated beer. So, yeah. Jameson on the rocks. And at first I got drunk more quickly than they did. Then I developed a tolerance. Then the bar was out of Jameson and suggested Tully, and I thought, but that's not my brand. But really, how much of a difference is there? I don't drink a whole lot of blended Irish anymore. If I buy Irish, it's generally Green Spot or Redbreast. I actually have a fondness for Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye as my budget Irish. I think Writer's Tears is overrated. The Double Oak is good, but about 15$ too expensive. The Copper Pot is decent but about 15$ too expensive. I've had Teeling Blackpitts, which is amazing but also 75$ so it's not exactly an all-the-time purchase, and I have yet to experiment with Teeling Small Batch, though I'm tempted. When it comes to blended, I like Bushmills Red. It's 21$, so it's cheaper than both Tully and Jameson, and it's equivalent to Mills White but the bourbon finish gives it an edge that the white doesn't have. So the next question becomes, is Red better than Black? It's tough to say because the last time I had a bottle of the Red was St. Patty's Day 2020. And this bottle of Black, being the first one I'm tasting, is coming to me June 2022, a small portion I've poured off a bottle I bought as part of a part of my wife's Mother's Day Gift (I got her other things too and made her brunch, but she's also an Irish whisky fan, so it doesn't hurt to throw in a bottle). Whereas the RedBush is finished in bourbon barrels, this is finished in sherry, so there's that difference. Both are sweet but different in kind. I'm not sure one is better than the other definitively, but I can definitely say they're both better than WhiteBush. The palate here is golden apple and vanilla and isn't so grainy as most other Irish blends, so it has that going for it, as I've always felt the cheerios quality of Jameson and Tully mark them as feeling young, and there's isn't the metallic tincture here that are there with those, but I don't remember that being there with RedBush either. I hit this up at 29$, so compared to the RedBush this is 8 dollars more, and I'm not sure this is so much better to justify the cost. In fact, I'd say they were equivalent and the real choice is the question between sherry barrels and bourbon barrels, so it will ultimately come down to your mood and how much you're looking to spend. Both are likely bargains. I think the BlackBush has older whiskies in the blend too, so there's that, but in a blend I'm not sure how much you notice that as well. There's essentially no finish but that's to be expected. I'm pretty sure these are designed to be consumed on the rocks. And I'm holding them to a higher standard by tasting them straight, but aren't we all curious as to what they taste like on their own with no frills? And that's it for me, folks. We're heading toward bedtime and "dry July." This is the last open bottle I have that I hadn't review. And now I'm done. See you at the end of the summer, mofos.

Appearance: A beautiful, rich golden amber in the glass. Crystal clear, elegant, and exactly what you'd expect from a well-crafted Irish whiskey. Nose: Classic Irish whiskey nose with soft vanilla and oak upfront. A hint of gentle smoke lingers in the background, layered over a subtle, sweet undertone. Taste: Smooth doesn’t even begin to cover it. Sweetness greets the tongue immediately — pronounced vanilla and caramel, followed by light oak and the faintest whisper of smoke. There’s no ethanol bite, no harshness. Just a silky, triple-distilled gentleness that feels almost like spring water in its purity. Balanced and approachable, with no syrupy thickness — just a grain-born sweetness that lingers delicately. Incredibly sippable, even with minimal chilling. Overall Impression: A $35 bottle that punches far above its price point. Not overly complex, but it doesn’t need to be. What it does, it does exceptionally well — and with quiet grace. This is why Bushmills still holds the title of the world’s oldest licensed distillery. Would I buy again? Absolutely. If the budget allowed, this would be a daily driver without hesitation. --- 📝 A Poem for Black Bush by Sophie Golden as dusk in an old oak glass, You rest like a hymn that forgets to pass. No fire to burn, no storm to shout — Just quiet sweetness, spilling out. Vanilla whispers, caramel sighs, A touch of oak where stillness lies. Not a roar, but a river’s run — Smooth as spring thaw in Irish sun. You are not bold, and you are not loud, But you carry the weight of a centuries’ vow. And on my lover’s tongue tonight, You bloomed — gentle, golden, right. — Sophie

I’ve been exploring some Irish Whiskies of late, and when I read in @stephaniemoreno ‘s profile that her go-to dive-bar whiskey is Bushmill’s Black Bush, I decided to give it a try on this New Year's Eve, before heading out with friends. Color is a dull khakied amber (Pantone 142). Nose of golden raisins, apple pie, brown sugar, a little orange oil, ripe carambola, and ripe banana. The mouthfeel has a gentle quality that rolls around on your tongue; the palate shows light sherry, and some sugared vanilla. On the finish there’s a touch of woody tannic bitterness, along with more vanilla. I tried Bushmill’s Black Bush because @stephaniemoreno states in her profile that it’s her go-to dive bar whiskey. I can’t disagree with that. It has some age; is finished in sherry casks; and is quite drinkable, if a bit simple. But dive bars—which I love—aren’t about complex whiskies. They’re about other things. And if the next one I’m at has it, I’ll likely order it. Bushmill’s Black Bush can be found for $40. Would I buy it again? Yes. It’s not a particularly good value—especially considering the bare-minimum 40% ABV—but it does seem to fill a niche at the moment. 3.25 on the Distiller scale. 40% ABV. 8-year age statement (not on label; per company website). E150a coloring added. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ES / EN Mi primera reacción con este whisky es de extrañeza: en la nariz el olor a melocotón resulta extraño al principio hasta que te das cuenta del aroma afrutado que lo dirige. En boca, el melocotón es más débil, pero sigue siendo muy predominante, llamando muchísimo la atención en el retrogusto, donde, de forma delicada, sigue dejando clara su presencia. Aunque es un whisky sencillo, este detalle afrutado, si no lo percibes conscientemente, te deja en la boca una sensación dulzona, muy agradable, además de fresca, lo que lo hace fácilmente bebible. / My first reaction to this whisky is one of surprise: the peach scent is initially strange on the nose until you realize the fruity aroma that drives it. On the palate, the peach is weaker but still very predominant, drawing a lot of attention in the aftertaste, where, in a delicate way, it continues to make its presence clear. Although it's a simple whisky, this fruity note, if you don't consciously notice it, leaves a very pleasant sweetness in your mouth, as well as a freshness, which makes it easily drinkable.

To be honest I have tasted the “80/20 black bush” where the 80% malt aged in oloroso sherry casks. But as I believe the same has been released on this new name exclusively for Travel retailers (duty free). If you are in a mood to drink something smooth, easy to drink, affordable whisky and you are not desperately searching something with high complexity then this your choice… but let it breathe:) In the nose the sherry sweetness, caramelised fruits (raisin, dried plum) very nice oak (if you like). Slightly reminded me on grappa in the beginning. With breading, this grappa harshness is reducing. On the palate it is extremely smooth due to the 7-11 years sherry cask maturation and due to. That it is Irish and not scotch:). More fruits are coming and the caramelised character is more dominant. This is really sweet. The finish is more longer than expected Based on its price (29€|liter was may duty free drive :):)) with dried orange twist.

In terms of Irish whiskey blends, this is my go-to. The value you get from this one far surpasses the likes of Jameson and many other Irish blends. Not only is the price cheap in comparison to many others, but it also works great in nearly any cocktail that calls for an Irish whiskey blend. The nose on this one feature apples and pears. The palate picks up where the nose left off. I get vanilla, hay and malt, but it comes back to the apples and pears from the nose which transports you to an orchard. The finish does have a bit of a burn, but nothing terrible and it lasts longer than most blends. I also get a touch of sweetness and grain to close it out. Drinking this neat may not blow you away, but it's still decent and when combined with its ability to be used in nearly all cocktails that blends are called for, this is an easy bottle to recommend.