Bushmills unveils highest-aged whiskey in its Causeway Collection

Irish whiskey distillery Bushmills has announced the release of a new travel retail exclusive: the 30 Years Old New American Oak Cask single malt.

The highest-aged expression so far in the distillery's Causeway Collection, only 100 bottles will be available in 2020 with a further 332 to follow in 2021, exclusively available from The Irish Whiskey Collection at Dublin and Cork airports.

Inspired by the Giant's Causeway, one of Ireland's most recognisable landmarks, the Causeway Collection is a series of rare and unique cask-finished single malt whiskeys that has been crafted by Bushmills' master blender Helen Mulholland.

The 30 Years Old New American Oak Cask, one of the last of the 10 releases in the collection, was first matured for 14 years in oloroso sherry butts and Bourbon barrels before a 16-year finishing in new American oak casks. It is non-chill filtered and was bottled at a cask strength of 48.4% ABV in September 2020. Several of the casks were laid down by Helen during her internship at the distillery in the early 1990s.

Helen, who was the first woman inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame, said: "It's a privilege to work with such rare whiskeys in The Causeway Collection. This 30 Years Old New American Oak Cask, our oldest single malt to date, is a truly special Irish single malt.

"Maturing it for 16 years in the new American oak casks has allowed the sweetness to gradually soften, making it creamier and velvety smooth in texture. I love its tropical fruit notes and hints of spiced coconut alongside the warm and reassuring wood notes.

"I'm immensely proud of how we've been able to create such sensational waves of flavour in a 30-year-old whiskey. Like the whole Causeway Collection, it's a celebration of our passion for single malts, our rare and unique casks and our 400 years of whiskey-making heritage."

Roy Summers, head of global travel retail at PROXIMO, added: "Releasing this special single malt into global travel retail is a testament to our commitment to the market and an example of how we are always looking to give travelers something special they can't find elsewhere."

The Bushmills 30 Years Old American Oak Cask will be on sale from Thursday 17 December exclusively from The Irish Whiskey Collection at Dublin and Cork airports, RRP €700 (£639) for 700ml. 

11 December 2020 - Bethany Whymark