Bushmills Irish Whiskey has released its 26-Year-Old Crystal Malt. It joins the 25-, 30- and 31-year-old single malts, to expand its Prestige Collection.
To celebrate the Prestige Collection and this new release, Bushmills has unveiled an immersive brand experience honouring Irish culture and craftsmanship, in collaboration with award-winning contemporary artist Colin Davidson.
“I am so honoured to manage and supervise the ageing of all our single malts, but releasing this special expression – one which I’ve cared for throughout my entire career here – is truly a dream come true,” said Alex Thomas, Bushmills’ master blender.
“Our 26-Year-Old Crystal Malt epitomises Bushmills’ commitment to restless progress and our dedication to crafting exceptional single malts for whiskey lovers worldwide.”
Bushmills became the first Irish whiskey brand to distil crystal malt back in 1997. The new 26-Year-Old Crystal Malt is produced using crystal malt barley, whereby the barley undergoes an unusual and special malting process, wherein the sugars within the grain of this new whiskey are crystallised, imparting caramel and creamy chocolate flavours that have remained throughout the decades that the liquid has spent in oak.
Bushmills claims that its signature fruity complexity is enriched by chocolate and caramel notes from the crystal malt, enhanced further by maturation exclusively in high-quality first-fill bourbon barrels, sourced from the Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
“I love how beautifully light this whiskey is. It might look delicate and subtle, but don’t be deceived – it’s bursting with flavour,” said Thomas. ”Succulent, deep and complex notes overflow on the palate. Light in colour, but luscious in flavour.”
