Bushmills 16-year-old Rare Irish Whiskey

Had a dram during "Irish whisky" degustation : Would be great, if it would be at least 43%. Good entry-level whisky.

Delicious, but overall too watered down. 77 points.

Unlike the Bushmills 14, the 16 is characterized by darker, more woody notes. The port finish and longer maturation in the cask give it more depth and a more robust character. In my opinion, both are fantastic whiskies that, despite their relatively low 40% ABV, deliver a great deal of character and flavor. The Bushmills 14 is very fruity, sweet, and easy to drink. The Bushmills 16 is darker, more mature, and more woody.

Nose let it down, very spirity. Redbreast 12 is the better whiskey.

Really good on the nose, good mouthfeel - quite drinkable

21 20+ 20+ 20+ 82+ not the same whiskey as it used to be, in the past design, a sad story...

21+21+21+21

A treat for the palate, unfortunately not as good as it used to be, but still a fine drop. Great summer whiskey, not too complex and still round and tasty.

As Mr Glenfarclas said, pleasant whisky that could do so much more if it hadn't been diluted so much.

Delicious. It should be 46 degrees...

This exceptional single malt has matured in three different casks, giving it its unparalleled flavour. The malt has matured for about 16 years in bourbon casks and oloroso sherry casks from Spain. While maturing in the bourbon and sherry casks, the aromas of toasted wood, vanilla and sweet notes develop in the whiskey. The whiskey is then transferred to large barrels in which port has matured. This final maturation of a few months gives the beautiful finishing touch of the sweet character of the port to the whiskey in combination with the already present ripe elements and sweet aromas of years of maturation. The color is amber

A very well-matured whisky that shows its age.

Cool whisky! Not nearly as good as the previous body, and perhaps even better! In short, this is almost the good old Bushmills 16, for which I congratulate the master blender of the distillery, Alex Thomas! Gone are tropical fruits, malt and raw tobacco. 21 22 22 21

The first "new" from the Bushmills Standard Range. I'm curious, especially because I remember the old 16 as an extremely great standard whiskey. Conclusion: Compared to the old 16 it has lost some momentum (possibly the sherry/port casks are no longer as intense). But overall still a great dram. It will certainly gain some momentum when it can breathe a little more.

Opinions can be divided about the new bottle design (I like the old design better), about the content - likewise. Because taste is always a matter of taste. I'm pleased that after a few years of scarcity, which has meanwhile led to prices of over 100 per bottle, the 16yo is apparently once again an integral part of the Bushmills range. If only it could keep up with the truly grandiose nose in the finish, in which the basic maturation in Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks, as well as the finish in port pipes, comes into its own. I could well imagine this being the case if it were bottled at 46% instead of 40%.

Update 06/24/2023: Quite neat on the nose, somewhat spicy and floral with a sherry influence. Unfortunately on the palate not what the aroma in the nose promises - flat and watery. The finish is way too short. My price, which it would be worth to me, is around 40 € maximum. Update 07/03/2023: I think it's getting better in the finish now, I get real port aromas of dark fruits and a lot of marzipan at the end. I like this. Therefore, I am increasing my rating for the exit from 79 to 83 points. Unfortunately not anymore, because the finish is just too short. It's a shame that this Bushmills isn't bottled at 46% or at least 43%. The basics for a good triple distilled Irish are there.

If you can't say nothing nice, say nothing at all...

Nice soft dram with pleasant fruit notes.

Freshly opened bottle. Easy drinking. Nothing burns or bites. Pleasant wood-driven bitter notes. Nice and sweet and fruity. Delicate peppery glow on the finish and delicately bitter woody aromas that fade away. Let's see how it looks in the open one bottle developed. Unfortunately, I like the new bottle design not. The old one was better. But it's with me most design changes like this. Eg Bowmore etc. Why just why?

Nose : musty, some sherry, oak Flavor :nutmeg, cinnamon, oak Departure : medium long, full-bodied, spicy

Lots of spices, cinnamon, marinade, boiled carrots. The taste is soft, sweet, smooth, with notes of dried fruit. Neat, sleek, thoroughbred whisky with wine influence, score 82.

The smell is classic, something that everyone who smells it knows immediately: whisky. It is pleasantly mild. No note is dominant. For some it may seem too light, not intense enough. The taste is pleasant, sufficiently expressive without great depth. The finish is classic and pleasant. A whisky that shows very clearly what it is: a grain spirit. I like it a lot, but the €80 asking price is, in my opinion, €30 too much for what it offers.

The 40% alcohol content is handled very smoothly, resulting in a smooth and easy-to-drink beverage that is both sweet and refreshing. It's perfect for a stress-free drink or a casual getaway at a party.

A mild, drinkable Bushmills with a fruity nose. The port influence only becomes clear in the finish, where it develops a flowery, rosé note as it fades away or passes by. There is no repurchase reflex when the bottle is emptied - 04/30/2022

without comparing it side by side with the bottling in the older design I can't find any difference. Seams to me really just the packaging has changed and the Whisky is still the same which is very good by the way. It's nose it still the best part and very complex and rich in fruits while it weakens over the palate to the finish. Nice one to sip. Still like it.

Amber color. Light oily.

Bushmills 16yo, the new version is definitely lagging behind the older version... In the aroma, something like tomato puree, or something similar sweet and sour... The taste is sharper, spicier than the old version, but at the same time much sweeter... They ask for it 3 times the price of the 10yo version, but would it be only half as good?! I highly doubt it...

Weak for a 16 year old, although given the strength everything is understandable

Amber color. Oiliness.

I have only had a few Irish whiskies and so far this is a runaway winner. Smooth oily mouth feel which I love. Loads of tropical fruit and an earthy nutty taste. Long finish with a little cocoa at the end. Lovely. Great value too!

Red Years ago, Greenore (no longer exists) and Bushmills were the first Irish whiskeys I came into contact with. I tasted this 16 Year Old from Bushmills a few times before, but it was a long time ago (the last time in 2013). The recipe is still the same: maturation on bourbon and oloroso sherry casks with a finish on port pipes. But this bottling is presented in new livery. The nose is bursting with red fruit, both berries and cherries. But also apricots and peach and even a lost mango are noticeable. Then follow a handful of almonds and something from Café Latte. The whole is silky soft and nicely balanced. The body is nice and full and the first thing you notice is the spiciness of this malt. Cloves and a touch of nutmeg. But also tarragon and chervil can be noticed here, which surprises me. The fruit then slowly but surely returns, but is less red than on the nose, if you know what I mean. It flirts with tropical notes such as mango, peach and now even some passion fruit. I think it's all fine. If I were to have a point of criticism of this release, it would be the finish that, in my opinion, is too short and offers too little. It shows a little too many woody notes and gives the fruit no chance. It is in all honesty better than I can remember. This was a nice reunion. Thx, Benny!

Blind tasting Nose: Very gentle, classic nose. This smells like a very classic, calm standard. It also sounds familiar. Bright fruit. With juicy, ripe pears. Nice, malty spice. Slightly sweet cream candies. Smells very smooth. It almost has a lowland gentleness. Seems very round and ripe. Mouth: The bitter wood notes tend to dominate in the mouth. Oak is pushing hard. Holly cow. It didn't come across that way on the nose. Orange peel. Bitter almond. Some chocolate. Unfortunately, on the second sip it seems a bit watery. It offers such a variety of flavors, it's really a shame. That it's a bit underpowered. Finish: The finish lasts really long. Here too the oak is very dominant. Becomes very dry. It still shows nice caramel notes. There were certainly also refill sherry casks in the vatting. Conclusion: A very well-matured whisky that shows its age, especially on the tongue. Something for connoisseurs who don't want to deal with cask strengths and sherry bombs every day. I liked that very much. Even if it would be too tedious for every day.

A pity. With a few more turns...

Nice nose, the palate is ok at first but everything is weakening too soon leaving me on a short easy finish. Overall it’s a soft and easy Irish whiskey, with nice flavors, don’t understand the 40%.. would have been really good at 43 or 46..

A good option to drink. A little extra bone bitterness for me and seems less saturated or a little liquid compared to 16yo in the previous design. Perceptible vanilla notes indicate the dominance of bourbon barrels in the batch. 21.5-21.5-21.5-21.5

delicious elegant sweet whiskey,

S 6.5 The nose was the most impressive, unfortunately, it only goes downhill thereafter. It lacks the strength and body to hold the consistency. At 40%, it does deliver a good amount of spices on the palate, although I imagine this would’ve been so much richer if it’s bottled at 46%. Quaffable as a sample but not a bottle. 81-85 - Another dram welcomed

Tasting: 01.2024 I don't like port maturations or any finishes in them. Unfortunately that drags the whisky down for me. I don't really like Irish because of the double or triple distillation. And the 40 vol% does the rest... Was an experience on the whisky journey.

Review on www.longpouramour.com on 30 June 2025. This is my conclusion: "A handsome composition, this triple wood Bushmills. The low abv hurts it a little but in general this is a tremendous expression. Gives us a 43 or dare we dream 46 % version!"

Aroma: Fruity, with dried fruits, red orange, honeyed dessert notes, caramel, plums in chocolate, raisins, and grapes Taste: Pronounced dried-fruit notes, plum, chocolate-covered plum, honeyed sweetness, raisins, with a pleasant, lingering finish marked by dried fruits and a lightly spicy accent Overall Impression: A well-balanced and sufficiently complex whisky to let you enjoy the moment

Can't find a huge difference to the older bottlings. Still a grand, complex nose, while the regrettably thin palate is still saved by a good deal of oak spice and lush fruits. Perhaps this latest version has a bit less sherry influence, but I'm not sure.

Average

Pleasant and approachable, this is a reliable choice for a casual pour when you want something decent but not demanding.

It's much paler than in 2021. There's also a sense of unfamiliar, green grass.

Distillates aged for 16 years in bourbon and sherry casks and transferred to port casks for 9 months

Pretty mild and light. Looks almost a little thin and youthful. Unfortunately, it falls completely short compared to the old tried batch from 2013. Much similarity to Knappogue Castle 14.

40% is very poor