Updated October 2026
Bushmills is an Irish whiskey made at the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Its two best-known bottles, Bushmills Original and Black Bush, are both blended Irish whiskeys bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in the US. The range also includes aged single malts. Bushmills is known for light, smooth, fruity whiskey built on triple-distilled malted barley, and it is owned today by Proximo Spirits, part of Mexico’s Becle group.
This guide covers the distillery’s history, each bottle in the core range, how they differ, and the best ways to drink them.
Bushmills at a Glance
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Made in | Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| Distillery company founded | 1784 |
| “1608” on the label | The year a royal licence to distil in the area was granted |
| Owner | Proximo Spirits (part of Becle, the Jose Cuervo group) |
| Signature method | Triple-distilled malted barley |
| Original and Black Bush strength (US) | 40% ABV (80 proof) |
The Story Behind “1608”
Every Bushmills bottle carries the date 1608, and it is often misread as the year the distillery opened. In fact, 1608 is when King James I granted Sir Thomas Phillips a licence to distil whiskey in the area. The Old Bushmills Distillery Company itself was formed in 1784. After a fire in 1885, the distillery was rebuilt, and it has operated almost continuously since.
Ownership has changed several times. Diageo owned Bushmills until 2014, when it agreed to trade the brand to Proximo Spirits in exchange for the half of Don Julio tequila it did not already own. Proximo is a subsidiary of Becle, the publicly traded Mexican company controlled by the family behind Jose Cuervo.
The Bushmills Range
Bushmills Original
Also called White Bush, Original is the flagship. It blends Bushmills malt whiskey with lighter grain whiskey to create an easygoing, smooth Irish whiskey with notes of honey, vanilla and fresh fruit. It is bottled at 40% ABV in the US and is the bottle most bars stock.
Black Bush
Black Bush is the richer step up. It contains a much higher share of malt whiskey, about 80% according to the brand, blended with grain whiskey. The malt matures in former Oloroso sherry casks, which give Black Bush darker flavors of dried fruit, nuts and spice. It is also 40% ABV in the US. Many whiskey drinkers consider it one of the best values in Irish whiskey.
Red Bush and Other Blends
Bushmills has added other blended expressions, including Red Bush. Availability varies by market.
Single Malts
Bushmills also bottles single malt Irish whiskeys aged 10, 12, 16 and 21 years. These use only Bushmills malt whiskey, with no grain whiskey, and are matured in different combinations of casks. Older malts generally show more depth and dried fruit. Age does not change the bottling strength, so check the label for each.
How Bushmills Is Made
- Malted barley: Bushmills malt whiskey is made from 100% malted barley, unpeated, so it tastes clean rather than smoky.
- Triple distillation: The malt spirit is distilled three times in copper pot stills, one more distillation than most Scotch receives. That produces a light, smooth spirit.
- Cask maturation: Bushmills uses ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks, and its older malts may use other wine or spirit casks.
- Blending: Original and Black Bush combine the malt with grain whiskey; single malts do not.
All Irish whiskey, including Bushmills, must follow the Irish Whiskey Act, 1980: it must be distilled in Ireland or Northern Ireland from a cereal mash and matured in wooden casks for at least three years.
Bushmills vs Other Irish Whiskeys
Bushmills and Jameson are the two most recognized Irish whiskeys. Jameson blends single pot still whiskey (malted and unmalted barley) with grain whiskey and is made in the Republic of Ireland at Midleton, County Cork. Bushmills uses malt whiskey rather than pot still whiskey and is made in Northern Ireland. In the glass, Bushmills Original tends to taste a little lighter and more honeyed, while Jameson shows more spice. Read Bushmills vs Jameson and Bushmills vs Tullamore D.E.W. for full comparisons, or our guide to Jameson.
Which Bushmills Should You Buy?
- For mixing and highballs: Bushmills Original.
- For sipping on a budget: Black Bush.
- For a special bottle: one of the single malts, such as the 16 or 21 year.
- For a first Irish whiskey: Original or Black Bush. See our list of the best Irish whiskey for beginners.
How to Drink Bushmills
- Neat: pour 1 to 1.5 ounces into a tulip glass and add a few drops of water to open the aroma.
- On the rocks: one large ice cube keeps Black Bush cool without diluting it too fast.
- Highball: 1.5 oz Bushmills Original with 4 oz ginger ale or soda water and a lemon or lime wedge.
- Irish Coffee: 1.5 oz Bushmills, hot coffee, a little brown sugar and lightly whipped cream floated on top.
Strength and Standard Drinks
At 40% ABV, a 1.5-ounce pour of Bushmills Original or Black Bush equals one US standard drink of 14 grams of alcohol. A 750 mL bottle holds about 17 standard drinks, and a 1.75 L bottle about 39. For more on serving math, see how much whiskey it takes to feel the effects, or compare with Jameson’s proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bushmills Irish or Scotch?
Irish. Bushmills is made in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom but sits on the island of Ireland, and it is legally Irish whiskey.
Is Bushmills really from 1608?
The 1608 date refers to a licence to distil granted in the area. The current distillery company dates to 1784.
Is Black Bush better than Bushmills Original?
Black Bush is richer, with more malt and sherry-cask character. Original is lighter and better suited to mixing. Which is “better” depends on how you drink it.
Who owns Bushmills?
Proximo Spirits, a subsidiary of Becle, has owned Bushmills since Diageo traded it in 2014.
More in our whiskey hub, our Irish whiskey vs bourbon guide and Bar Basics.
Sources
- Old Bushmills Distillery: County Antrim location, 1608 licence to Sir Thomas Phillips, 1784 company founding, 1885 fire, product range, 2014 Diageo to Proximo trade for Don Julio.
- Proximo Spirits: subsidiary of Becle, S.A.B. de C.V.; control of Old Bushmills Distillery.
- Bushmills Black Bush: 40% ABV, about 80% malt, triple-distilled malted barley, Oloroso sherry cask maturation (Difford’s Guide; US retail listing).
- Bushmills Original: 40% ABV (80 proof), per US product listings.
- Irish Whiskey Act, 1980, Section 1 (Irish Statute Book).
- NIAAA: definition of a US standard drink (14 grams of pure alcohol).