Description
About Bushmills 21 Year Old Three Woods Single Malt Irish Whiskey
What It Is / Production Details
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Distillery: Old Bushmills Distillery, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
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Age: 21 years total maturation.
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Mash / Type: Single malt (100% malted barley). Triple-distilled.
Cask / Wood Maturation (The “Three Woods”)
Bushmills 21 “Three Woods” is matured using a multi-stage, multi-cask approach involving three types of wood / cask finishing (“three woods”):
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Ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts for the first ~19 years.
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Then finished / further matured for about 2 years in ex‑Madeira wine casks.
So the whiskey has spent long time in bourbon and sherry, then a final period in Madeira wood influences.
ABV & Bottling Notes
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ABV / Proof: 40% ABV (80 proof).
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Size / Format: Typically 750 mL bottles.
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Limited release: It’s a relatively rare, premium offering from Bushmills. Not always in huge supply.
Flavor Profile & Tasting Notes
Here’s what people commonly pick up in nose, taste, and finish:
| Aspect | Typical Notes |
|---|---|
| Color / Appearance | Deep amber / mahogany. Rich tone. |
| Nose / Aroma | Honey; rich dried fruits (fig, raisin, apricot); dark chocolate; vanilla; warm baking spices; toasted nuts; subtle citrus. |
| Palate / Taste | Creamy / smooth mouthfeel; sweet toffee/caramel; orchard / stone fruit (peach/pear); dark fruit (dried strawberry, raisin); vanilla; subtle oak; chocolate or cocoa undertones. Some spice. |
| Finish | Longish finish; sweetness tends to linger (honey, vanilla) with dried fruit tones; mild dryness from oak; sometimes a touch of mint or herbal nuance noted by some reviewers. |
Strengths, What People Like & What to Be aware of
What People Often Like:
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Depth & complexity: Because it’s aged 21 years and uses multiple kinds of casks, there are layered flavour components — fruit, wood, wine cask influence, etc.
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Balance: Even with its age, people often praise it for being smooth, with no harsh edges, with sweetness balancing wood/spice nicely.
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Dessert‑like richness: Many note the wine cask finish (Madeira) adds fruity, raisiny, syrupy notes that make it feel luxurious.
Reviews
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