Bushmills 16 y.o. single malt whiskey

 Bushmills 16 y.o. single malt whiskey

 Bushmills 16 y.o. single malt whiskey was one of the first whiskies with diverse finish, which I tried in the summer months of the past 2014. The fact that it was aged in sherry and port casks suggests that the liquid will be characterized by greater complexity and a palette of flavors and aromatic borrowings. At that time, the sample which I had, seemed quite delicious and beautiful to me. Months passed and I decided to check whether from the distance of time, these impressions will be confirmed or on the contrary, will be refuted. Here’s what happened.
Christmas is the perfect time to procure a bottle of Port wine or whisky with such a finish, as this fortified wine carries in itself an incredible stock of festive notes, which I could describe /perhaps not so successfully/ as a Christmas cake with dark fruits. So, I also tried to find some bottles of this type and seized by holiday mood, I opened them.  Initially Bushmills seemed slightly shy and timid. Here is the place to share something I learned in the process of tasting whisky. Give some time of the liquid, especially if you open a new bottle. Imagine how many years the distillate has spent in the cask and then in the bottle, in which the air was almost negligible. Actually, exactly the air reveals the character of the whisky. In some, the effect is not so favourable, but in others the contact of the liquid with the air does wonders, and otherwise boring drink can become a ‘prom queen’. I noticed something similar here. I opened the bottle around Christmas. Some time passed, I drank several times of it, but just a few day ago I decided to review it, as the moment seemed appropriate to me. Even the slightest bending over its throat suggested that the liquid has ‘opened’. And before I present you my notes, I’ll make a clarification. I’ll save some time and won’t write anything about the history of the brand. Not out of laziness or disrespect, but for the simple reason, that in the category of ‘Archive’ and ‘Labels’ can be found my previous notes of Bushmills distillates, in which I wrote about the past of the company. Now lets proceed to the glass.
Aroma – chocolate, as after a few minutes my nose was „conquered“ by plenty of cocoa. Faint honey, apricots, peaches, a dose of woodiness, sweetness, spices from the kitchen cabinet – rather the smell of a packet of black pepper, mango and vanilla. Taste – dried fruits, peaches, slight bitterness, which could be associated with cocoa, but with sweetness peering behind it, buttery layer for cake, milk chocolate, a hint of cherries. Finish – medium. Buttery, sweetness, peaches, later and dried fruits. The sweetness and butter notes gradually strengthen, as I caught and dark forest fruits and honey. Assessment: 87/100


 In summary: delicious whisky, which is worth buying. Its price is around 75 lv.