Updated April 2026.
Bushmills Original and Jameson Original are the same ethanol on typical US necks: 40% ABV / 80 proof. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA standard drink either way. Both are blended Irish whiskey (malt plus grain), triple-distilled on the pot-still / malt side, aged ≥3 years in Ireland. The split is the plant and the owner, not extra proof.
Bushmills is Old Bushmills Distillery, County Antrim (Becle / Proximo since 2014). Jameson is Midleton, County Cork (Irish Distillers / Pernod Ricard). Diageo used to own Bushmills; the 2014 swap sent Bushmills to Cuervo and the rest of Don Julio to Diageo. Related: Bushmills, Jameson, Scotch vs Irish.
Same proof, different county
| Bushmills Original | Jameson Original | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical US ABV | 40% (bushmills.com) | 40% (Jameson nutrition) |
| Place | Bushmills, Co. Antrim | Midleton, Co. Cork |
| Owner | Becle / Proximo | Pernod Ricard |
| 1.5 oz drinks | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Watch | Black Bush still 40%; aged malts usually 40% | Distiller’s Batch 46%; Orange/Cold Brew 30% at launch |
A 750 mL of either Original is about 17 standard drinks. Four pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. “Smoother” is not a TTB class. North vs Republic is geography, not a proof law. No 2026 MSRP. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- bushmills.com Original: 40% ABV / 80 proof (fetched ).
- jamesonwhiskey.com US nutrition: Original 40%.
- 2014 Diageo–Becle brand swap (Irish Times). Irish whiskey ≥3 years. NIAAA (December 2025). No invented winner.