Whisky Focus - Bushmills Causeway Collection 1991 Madeira Cask & 2000 Port Cask

Bushmills Irish Whiskey is launching two new and rare expressions, in Great Britain’s second annual release of The Causeway Collection. Last year, the highly coveted 2001 Feuillette Cask sold out in less than 24-hours. This Autumn, Bushmills is introducing two cask strength expressions which will be exclusively available to Great Britain.

The Bushmills Causeway Collection 1991 Madeira Cask is an rare release of only 738 bottles. The expression has been aged for over 13 years in a combination of Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels before going through an unrivalled maturation period of 15 years in first-fill Madeira wine casks. Bushmills describe the resulting whiskey as a highly unique Irish single malt whiskey, rich with a deep, sweet, fruity character and overtones of creamy pralines and black coffee and bottled at a cask strength of 50.2% ABV.

The Bushmills 2000 Port Cask is also an unparalleled Irish single malt having spent its entire life in rare first-fill ruby port casks. After an incredible 20 year maturation in wine casks from Portugal, this whiskey is said to be imbued with big, bold and luscious red fruit flavours. The Port 2000 Cask expression is bottled at a cask strength of 54.1% abv.

With a rich heritage in craftmanship, tradition and storytelling, each generation at Bushmills are custodians of time and the creation of fine liquid. Launching two new rare Irish single malt releases inspired by the natural wonder and mythical tales of the Giant’s Causeway. The fortified port wine cask adds waves of sweet, caramelised toffee notes, balanced by a hint of sweet chilli.

Steeped in myth and legend, the UNESCO World Heritage site the Giant’s Causeway is just a stone’s throw from the Old Bushmills Distillery and has been a source of inspiration to Bushmills’ Master Distillers for centuries. The Causeway’s extraordinary hexagonal columns, each unique but perfectly locked together, much like the unique and extremely rare casks of Irish single malt whiskeys selected to create The Causeway Collection. Both are shaped by their surroundings and interact with the alchemy of nature. Every drop of spring water from the River Bush drawn by the distillery will have lapped the same mineral rich basalt rock as the Causeway itself.

Bottled at cask strength 50.2% ABV, non chill-filtered and priced at £695 for 700ml, just 738 bottles of the 1991 Madera Cask will be available to purchase through The Whisky Shop from W/C 1st November.

The 2000 Port Cask has been bottled at cask strength 54.1% ABV, non chill-filtered. Only 2,322 bottles are available with an RSP of £260 for 700ml.

The Causeway Collection limited series joins the existing Bushmills Irish single malt collection comprising a 10 year old, 16 year old and 21 year old.

Colum Egan, Bushmills Master Distiller, said: "All the whiskeys used in The Causeway Collection have been expertly created and cared for by craftsmen steeped in a unique whiskey-making tradition passed from generation to generation for more than 400 years here at The Old Bushmills Distillery.

"The Causeway Collection celebrates our extremely rare and unique casks, our passion for single malts and honours our rich heritage. It’s a privilege to work with such rare liquid, these special cask whiskeys really are our greatest treasures. We were delighted with how the Bushmills Causeway Collection was received globally in 2020, with some even selling out in minutes – and we can’t wait to share this year’s Collection with the world."


The Causeway Collection 1991 Madeira Cask will be available to buy exclusively from The Whisky Shop and The Causeway Collection 2000 Port Cask will be available at selected specialist whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

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