Bushmills Single Malt 21 Year Madiera Finish 750ML

Bushmills Single Malt 21 Year Madeira Finish 750ML is a triple-distilled Irish single malt whiskey aged 21 years and bottled at 40% ABV. Awarded 96 points by Whisky Advocate and named Best Irish Single Malt in 2013, this expression also earned Jim Murray's Irish Single Malt of the Year designation multiple years running — accolades that place it among the most decorated Irish whiskeys ever released.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: County Antrim, Northern Ireland  |  Age: 21 Years  |  Distillery: Bushmills

Production & Heritage

Bushmills Distillery, located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, holds a distilling license dating to 1608, making it one of the oldest licensed whiskey operations in the world. The 21 Year expression is triple-distilled from 100% malted barley in copper pot stills, then aged through a distinctive triple-cask process: approximately 19 years maturing in a combination of hand-selected ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, followed by a final 2-year finish in Madeira wine casks. This extended Madeira cask finishing stage is what separates the 21 Year from other expressions in the Bushmills range, layering a richness and dried-fruit complexity that no other step in the process could replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honeyed sweetness leads into dried figs and raisins, with roasted hazelnuts and warm baking spice developing underneath. Orange peel and caramel emerge with time in the glass, anchored by a subtle oak backbone.

Taste: The entry is soft and syrupy, opening with toffee and vanilla bean before the mid-palate shifts toward dried apricots, fig, and forest honey. Toasted oak and browned butter build at the peak, joined by subtle banana bread and sultana notes that speak directly to the Madeira cask influence.

Finish: Generously long and clean, with raisin and vanilla lingering well after each sip. A gentle warmth persists alongside traces of date and blackberry, fading slowly without turning bitter or tannic.

How to Drink Bushmills 21

Neat is the definitive serve — pour it into a Glencairn or tulip glass at room temperature and allow five minutes for the aromas to open fully. A few drops of water can unlock additional sweetness without diminishing the structure. For cocktails, the Madeira-cask character lends itself well to three specific builds: a Rob Roy, where the dried-fruit notes complement sweet vermouth; a Gold Rush, where the honey and toffee amplify the honey-lemon syrup base; and an Irish Coffee, where the vanilla and caramel depth adds a layer of sophistication that younger whiskeys cannot match.

Best For

• Gifting a serious whiskey collector who appreciates aged Irish expressions
• Marking a milestone anniversary, retirement, or personal achievement
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Irish, Scotch, and Madeira-finished whiskeys
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a fine cigar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bushmills 21 taste like? Bushmills 21 delivers a rich, layered profile of toffee, dried apricots, fig, and vanilla bean, underlined by toasted oak and browned butter from its extended triple-cask maturation. The Madeira cask finish adds a distinctive raisin and dark fruit sweetness that carries through a long, clean finish.

How does Bushmills 21 compare to Redbreast 21? Redbreast 21 is a single pot still whiskey made from both malted and unmalted barley, aged primarily in sherry and bourbon casks, yielding a spicier, more robust pot still character. Bushmills 21 uses 100% malted barley with a Madeira cask finish that produces a softer, more fruit-forward and honeyed profile by comparison.

Is Bushmills 21 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 40% ABV makes it approachable without a water addition, and the 21 years of maturation have produced a depth and balance that rewards slow, undiluted sipping. The long finish and layered aromatics are best appreciated neat or with just a few drops of water.

Where is Bushmills 21 made? Bushmills 21 is produced at the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, a site that has held a distilling license since 1608. The whiskey is triple-distilled in traditional copper pot stills on the distillery grounds.

What foods pair well with Bushmills 21? Dark chocolate truffles complement the toffee and dried-fruit sweetness. Aged Comté or Manchego cheese mirrors the nutty, caramel undertones. Fig and walnut tart echoes the Madeira cask's dried-fruit influence. Crème brûlée pairs naturally with the vanilla and honey notes. Smoked duck breast provides a savory contrast that highlights the whiskey's sweetness.

What sizes does Bushmills 21 come in? Bushmills 21 Year Madeira Finish is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Bushmills 21 worth the price? Bushmills 21 positions as an ultra-premium Irish single malt, competing at the top tier of the category against expressions like Redbreast 21 and Midleton Very Rare. Its 96-point Whisky Advocate score, multiple Jim Murray awards, and the uncommon triple-cask aging process provide strong justification for its price point within that bracket.

Why Bushmills 21?

The triple-cask maturation — bourbon, Oloroso sherry, then Madeira — is a sequence almost no other Irish distillery attempts at this age statement. That final two-year Madeira finish transforms what would already be a well-aged single malt into something distinctly richer, layering dried fig, raisin, and dark berry over the honeyed vanilla base. A 96-point rating from Whisky Advocate and repeated recognition from Jim Murray confirm that this is not simply a marketing exercise in cask finishing but a genuinely exceptional whiskey. For anyone exploring the upper reaches of Irish single malt, Bushmills 21 remains one of the most compelling and verifiably acclaimed bottles in the category.