Bushmills launches World Wood Series

Proximo Spirits-owned Bushmills has launched a collection of rare single malt Irish whiskeys, which will be exclusive to global travel retail.

The World Wood series, which will launch in September, will be available in duty free stores throughout Asia Pacific, as well as Dublin Airport.

The 15-year-old single malt combines ex-Bourbon first- and second-fill American oak casks, with aromas of toasted oak, warm caramel, vanilla and subtle hints of hazelnut.

The 21-year-old single malt was aged in Bourbon barrels and oloroso Sherry butts for 18 years before being finished in rare first-fill Marsala wine casks from Sicily for three years.

The casks were seasoned with Marsala Fine Ambra Semisecco DOC, and then lightly toasted to deliver lighter, fruitier notes. It has aromas of caramelised brown sugar and toasted oak, interwoven with candied orange and vanilla.

Alex Thomas, master blender at Bushmills, said: “We searched the four corners of the world to find exactly the right casks to bring back to our corner to Northern Ireland – Jerez in Spain, Kentucky in the USA and Marsala in Sicily.”

Both versions are bottled at 46% ABV, with the 15-year-old priced at RRP US$90 for 700ml and the 21-year-old at RRP US$265 for 700ml.

Bushmills, which was acquired by Proximo Spirits in 2015, is based in County Antrim and has more than 400 years of whiskey-making heritage.

In June this year, the brand broke the million-case sales mark for the first time after opening a £37m (US$46m) distillery and doubling its production capacity.