Sipping on Bushmills 12 Year: A Symphony of Bourbon, Sherry, and Marsala Casks

This Irish whiskey is a complex blend of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry cask matured whiskeys that have been married in ex-marsala casks for a distinctive twist.
As I take a sip of this whiskey, I'm instantly struck by how smooth and easy to drink it is. The flavor profile is a delicate balance of sweet and spicy notes, with hints of vanilla, honey, and fruit. The marsala cask finish adds a unique twist to the whiskey, contributing a subtle nutty character and a light sweetness that is hard to resist.
As a whiskey lover, I appreciate the level of craft and care that goes into making this whiskey. The Bushmills 12 Year Old is a testament to the distillery's commitment to excellence and tradition. The flavor profile is well-balanced, making it an excellent choice for those new to whiskey or those who prefer a more approachable and flavorful expression.
In this video, I'll take you through my tasting experience, discussing the aroma, flavor, and finish of this whiskey. I'll also share my personal opinion on whether this whiskey is worth the investment.
0:00 - Intro and Overview
1:52 - Bottle Detail
2:40 - Nosing
4:20 - Tasting
6:04 - Overall
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[@laryco]

Been drinking the 10 for years…. Now I’m drinking the 12….I think you hit it on the head….a very relaxing dram for a nice campfire

[@triaxe-mmb]

Finally got around to trying the Bushmills 12yr - only took me a yr from the first tim i watched this video, lol I agree - its a buy it (-)...infact buying it tomorrow, lol

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Wonderful!

[@spencer-mav]

Just cracked my bottle of Bushmills 12, so drinking it while I watch this review

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Sounds good!

[@bladderpuncher3087]

I haven’t tried an Irish whiskey in a few years and I’m due for one, especially since I’ve since grown an appreciation for whiskey. I’m leaning toward redbreast 12 to ease me into the style. Love me some sherry influence. Next up for me might be a Japanese whiskey as I edge closer to completing the Whiskey Challenge. What a great way for me to step out of my comfort zone!

[@_Slicedbread]

I appreciate your videos. Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Thanks for taking the time to comment :)

[@lexmorallos7809]

Watching from the Philippines and drinking my 12 yo bushmill single malt too at the same time!

[@djbeacon6895]

Bill, haven't tried the 12 but love the Bush. Red and Black. Don't like it cold. Neat is nice. CHEERS!

[@matejpln]

I really like bushmills originál and black barell. 10yo still waiting unopened on my shelf and I am looking forward to try.

[@Robbie7441]

Kilbeggan ❤

[@4LeafWhiskey]

Great review!! I get a lot of fig and cherry on the nose but not much from the Marsala. The palate I get a lot of almond and honey and vanilla and cherry and tobacco. I don’t think I got apple or peach. But a lot of the notes I got are similar. It’s a good addition to their lineup!

[@archietyler6759]

Awesome video Bill!!! I always wanted to try Bushmills. For Irish month I grabbed a bottle of Connemara. It was my intro to peat although Port Charlotte 10 is my thing now...and I learned all this from you!!! You the man Bill!!! Cheers!!!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Ooo the NAS Connemara is great! Doesn't hold a candle to Port Charlotte 10, but nothing does

[@dettomsp]

I love your Irish whiskey reviews in March. We mostly see reviews of Irish in March, and not that many other times of the year. You should give Egans Vintage Grain a review. I feel in love with this one about a year ago.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4fLaqmQebuZma8 I reviewed this a few years ago!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I just had a sample. I think I enjoyed it more than you, but I am not running out to purchase a bottle. Thanks for sharing!

[@eviltrain24]

I have a bit of an existential issue with Irish and I'm hoping you'll lend me your thoughts. One of the things I love about scotch is when it really starts to get complex until it arrives at a point that the nose and palette kaleidoscope on you. I've found a few that does this while a huge chunk of the rest show off a dozen notes or more as the flavors intersect and trigger a new memory. Of the Irish I've had (Redbreast 12, RB12 CS, Greenspot, Glendalough Double Barrel, Redbreast Lustau, RB15, various blended irish, Connemara, Teeling sample pack, various Jameson, ) nothing so far has given me the same feeling of complexity. I get fewer flavor notes and far fewer memory triggers. My review notes always end up being shorter for Irish, across everything I've tried. "Do I enjoy it?" YEAH I DO! But irish always feels like the cleaner or easier, less complex cousin to scotch and it puts an existential damper on the category for me. It's not helping that the price of Irish whisky seems to be climbing faster than scotch these days ($120 for a 12 year old whiskey??? Yellow Spot, you don't think I can't buy two bottles for that and walk away with a better experience, complexity or not?) It just makes it a harder to want to get into the category. Setting aside the issue of price, I feel like I need to look at Irish in not the same way and maybe not drape the complexity millstone around it's neck. But is that the right expectation? I don't want to grade on a curve if the curve is misguided. Could you help me figure this out? Love your video's btw.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I have a somewhat short answer for your long question... Your evaluation is correct. I have never had an Irish Whiskey that could match the complexity of very complex Scotch. Given, I haven't had them all, but I think, as a category, Irish Whiskey is just Different than Scotch. Your instincts are right

[@davesterchele2679]

Would be nice if.... you could remove some of the H20 to concentrate the intensity. I think a 46 ABV would be perfect. Barrel pick?

[@groberti]

I don’t drink that frequently so when I do I drink Scotch naturally

[@WhispyWoods.]

I’m not sure how I didn’t know that Proper 12 was from Bushmills…….. thanks for the education!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Just wait for my episode 2 weeks from now :)

[@lghbtsl]

Noob question: is Arran and The Arran one and the same scotch?

[@kyletaylor13]

Maybe a RBCS 12 batch variation test? I had an older one (b/16 i think) and it was sour, my beloved b/21 is top shelf but I've heard they havent applied for a label for 22 or 23, which is worrying me as its my fav irish by a mile.

[@88johnbarnes]

I have the bushmills 21 year old in my collection. Not opened it yet, I'm waiting for a special occasion. What can I expect? Great review of the 12. 😊

[@88johnbarnes]

@maritimeus aw well I'm still learning, it's my first year into whiskey/whisky. I had no idea about whisky being watered down or chill filtered! Nevermind I've picked up a bottle of redbreast 12 cast strength in the mean time and its beautiful. 👍🏾

[@triaxe-mmb]

I am not sure if you have done it yet but a good entry Irish IMO is Sloane. If not reviewed, would be good to get your opinion on it

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Do you mean Slane? I did that last year, was a great episode actually. Worth a watch. If you did in fact mean Sloane, I've never heard of that one

[@triaxe-mmb]

Yes, it was Slane...typo. Sorry for the delayed response...never got a push notification for your comment...

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

No problem at all!

[@Stephen_Curtin]

Here's the thing with the whole 1608 date. As you know In this year a licence was granted by King James I to a Sir Thomas Phillips to distill, and if he chose to, sell spirits including aqua vitae. This license was only valid for 7 years, and was not renewed when it expired, so there can be zero connection between it and the establishment of of the Bushmills distillery in the 1780s. At this point in Irish history there were no large commercial distilleries, but many farmers from all over the island fermented and distilled their own alcohol. It seems likely that King James issued this license as a way for Sir Thomas to earn a decent amount of money from the farmers on the lands under his control. As the only man in the area with an official license he could essential say who could or couldn't distill. As far as we know Sir Thomas never built a distillery of his own.

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Very interesting. Thanks for the insight!

[@Stephen_Curtin]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary I generally don't like to post historical information online without double checking my facts and in doing so I just found something interesting. Sir Thomas Philip wasn't the only one to receive a license from King James in 1608, there were others including Charles Waterhouse, who, was granted a license covering the whole of the province of Munster. So if Bushmills want to claim 1608 as their year of founding then maybe so should Midleton (Midleton being in Co Cork, Munster)

[@karadordarkraven]

I am looking for opinions on an Irish Whiskey called "The Busker".

[@marcwhiskey]

I bought the Peaky Blinders version. It's 46% and NCF but it's NAS and nothing about the color that I saw. It's tasty, sweet, metallic (I get on nearly all Irish I taste), but short finish. If it was any less than 46% it would be a huge disappointment but there's enough there where I'm just ok with it.

[@4LeafWhiskey]

The Prohibition bottle is a great buy!

[@MrPsiman]

where is the Bushmills Prohibition Peaky Blinders ? it can be found for 20 and not bad for the money

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

I havent seen it near me

[@MrPsiman]

@@TheWhiskeyDictionary It probably is now because they are closing it out for St.Patrick's Day for cheap. it was $30 msrp and I have seen it for as low as $17.95 here. 46% abv and non chill filtered is a surprise from Bushmills

[@TheGrafton12]

​@@TheWhiskeyDictionaryTotal Wine Shrewsbury

[@warrenhurley4148]

Mentioned before, I’ve seen a lot of print ads in the WSJ for Knappoge Castle but haven’t seen too many reviews on it. Maybe you can fit this one in? Thanks Edit: lol just searched and see that you already reviewed the 12!

[@TheWhiskeyDictionary]

Yup! Years ago! I remember it well, though I suspect it's not as great as I remember

[@alandiaz1041]

I haven’t tried the 12. I have had the regular and didn’t care for it. Haven’t had the black yet. As a category, Irish Whiskey is a nice alternative to scotch or bourbon. I rank my whiskey as scotch, bourbon, rye, and Irish last. There is nothing wrong with Irish whiskey. It just isn’t as enjoyable to me as scotch. When I do drink Irish, I enjoy Powers or Sexton. Powers is 43% ABV which does make a difference. Sexton I buy just for price and the sherry finish. I won’t spend hundreds of dollars on Irish.

[@BornAragorn]

Powers whiskey please. Thanks!

[@4LeafWhiskey]

Bushmills doesn’t own Proper 12, Proximo does. They are both owned by the same company but only a small amount of P12 is Bushmills stock. At least the original recipe. Bushmills numbers will hopefully be better next quarter, they had the 12, Prohibition, and 4 Causeway Releases late last year.

[@teddyballgame25]

RB Lustau