Bushmills Steamship Collection Bourbon Cask Reserve

I participated in a Distiller W.O.W. (whiskies of the world) Zoom call having received 10 drams of different whiskies, actually 9 as they snuck one rum in with the mix. See my review on Diplomatico Reserva. I am so glad to have been introduced to a rum that put my love of bourbon to the test! This tasting event was a gift for my finance for his 50th so I got each of us a sample box and we joined in the Zoom call together one evening. It was a blast and I am glad we had two boxes as by the time we got to the last few drams my tasting notes got a little suspect as I had a pretty good buzz going! Plus, even with clearing my palette, and sniffing on coffee beans I am sure that my tasting was not as great as it was on those first few drams. We were smart to just share in the first box and save the second back for tasting over a period of a week just to be sure our notes were correct. I do enjoy Bushmills but had only at this time had the chance to try a few, Black Bush, Red Bush, and original. It was a pleasure to get to try this Steamship version. Appearance: Light straw blonde. Nose: Sea spray, vanilla, honey, melon. Mouthfeel, Creamy Flavor: Tingly, slight warm sensation, sea salt, lemon zest, having dessert by the ocean, mineral, biscuits. Finish: Mineral and tart. What an experience! The experience bounced between sweet and creamy to zesty and tart with mineral and sea flavors. In some ways it reminded me a bit of Seagrass from Barrell not so much the flavors but more so the way it made me feel and think about bourbon. I do want to grab a bottle of both and experience them over time side by side but I will say I do love this general flavor profile of sweet creaminess with fruitiness and sea spray.

Review #47 - Whisk(e)y #31 Bought just after we have finished the Bushmills Steamship Sherry Cask (which I have enjoyed surprisingly much), and similarly, bought at a great discount, paying 36 eur (including shipping) for the 1L bottle. It is relatively oily in glass with a golden-straw colour. Nose - sharp spice (grainy almost), oak, fresh fruit (red and yellow apples, pear), green, oily, honey. With oxidation the spice mellows out and the fresh fruit is brought forward, with sweetness and very prominent honey. Palate - creamy on the front end, spicy, some effervescence, oak, heavy vanilla and honey, prominent malt, and some sweetness, doughy, toasty. Finish - medium-long, slightly dry, woody, effervescent still, oak spice, bright actually, with a slightly bitter vegetal note on the after-taste...weird association but it tastes like celery root...this softens on subsequent sips, developing more into a grape note. Overall it is a decent whisky, not as rich, pleasant and complex as the Steamship Sherry Cask, which I got for the same price and I definitely prefer over this one. Unfortunately the rather strong vegetal finish takes away from the pleasant from the palate. However, this still shows great value given what I have paid for it, and the toasty malty note is really wonderful indeed. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

★★★★ A second steamship For the second steamship, we find the aged whiskey in bourbon casks. I still don't understand why we didn't start with this one. Softer, less spicy. More delicate, less full-bodied. Unless I didn't understand something...Still, it'a very good!

In the style of Glen Grant 10 only not as sharp and less interesting. Perhaps that’s why Whisky Bible gave it higher than average rating. Wouldn’t buy it again though.

Drank it in ouranoupoli with bro and cousins in September 2020. Ptolemaios loved it. Very good whiskey, easy to drink, with pleasant notes and a subtle finish

Nose is very subtle with hints of brine and fruit. Palette is oily, rich, and sightly bitter with a hint of fire. Finish is smooth with some lingering char.