Bushmills The Rare Cask Series 28 Year 750ML

Bushmills The Rare Cask Series 28 Year 750ML is a limited-edition Irish single malt whiskey bottled at 46.7% ABV, triple-distilled in 1992 and aged across three cask types over nearly three decades. Scoring 95 points from Whisky Advocate in its Winter 2020 issue—labeled "Exceptional" and flagged as a collectible—this release was limited to just 800 bottles worldwide, making it one of the most sought-after expressions in modern Irish whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46.7% (93.4 proof)  |  Origin: County Antrim, Northern Ireland  |  28 Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: Old Bushmills  |  Limited to 800 Bottles

Production & Heritage

The Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim holds a distilling license dating to 1608 and is widely recognized as one of the oldest licensed whiskey distilleries in the world. This 28 Year expression was triple-distilled from 100% unpeated Irish malted barley in 1992, then initially matured for 11 years in a combination of former oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels. What distinguishes this bottling from virtually any other Irish whiskey is what happened next: the two whiskey batches were married together and recasked into former cognac casks, where they spent an additional 17 years—meaning the secondary maturation actually exceeded the primary aging period, a practice that is extraordinarily rare in the whiskey world.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Citrus oil rises first, followed by roasted almond and layers of caramel. A gentle sweetness underpins the nose, suggesting dried stone fruit and a faint herbal quality from the cognac cask influence.

Taste: Bright, juicy peach arrives on entry, giving way to a mid-palate rich with dried apricot and orange marmalade. Roasted almonds build through the center, while baking spices—cinnamon and nutmeg—emerge as the whiskey opens up. The triple distillation keeps the texture silky despite the density of flavor.

Finish: Long, nutty, and warming, with the cognac cask lending a luxurious richness that lingers well past the last sip. Vanilla and cinnamon persist alongside a gentle citrus echo, fading gradually into toasted oak.

How to Drink Bushmills 28 Year

A whiskey of this age, rarity, and complexity is best enjoyed neat at room temperature or with a few drops of water to coax out additional fruit notes. Given its 800-bottle scarcity and layered cask profile, mixing is generally not recommended, though collectors and bartenders have noted that aged Irish malts like this can anchor a remarkable Tipperary cocktail (equal parts Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, and green Chartreuse) where the apricot and spice qualities shine, a refined Bobby Burns variation where the marmalade notes complement Bénédictine, or a minimalist Whiskey Highball with chilled sparkling water to showcase the fruit-forward character without diluting complexity.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Irish whiskey collector or single malt devotee
• Milestone celebrations—retirement, major anniversaries, landmark birthdays
• Adding a rare, critic-acclaimed bottle to a curated spirits library
• Side-by-side tasting sessions comparing premium aged Irish whiskeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bushmills 28 Year taste like? It leads with bright peach and dried apricot, transitions through roasted almonds and orange marmalade at mid-palate, and finishes with a long, nutty warmth accented by vanilla, cinnamon, and lingering citrus from its extended cognac cask maturation.

How does Bushmills 28 Year compare to Redbreast 21 Year Old? Redbreast 21 is a single pot still whiskey using both malted and unmalted barley, yielding a spicier, more full-bodied character, while Bushmills 28 Year is a single malt triple-distilled from 100% malted barley with a distinctly fruit-forward and nutty profile shaped by 17 years in cognac casks. The Bushmills also carries seven additional years of age and was produced in a far more limited quantity of 800 bottles versus Redbreast 21's wider annual release.

Is Bushmills 28 Year good for sipping neat? This expression is ideally suited for neat sipping, as its 46.7% ABV delivers full flavor intensity without excessive heat, and the layered complexity from three cask types rewards slow, attentive drinking.

Where is Bushmills 28 Year made? It is produced at the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, on the north coast of Northern Ireland, a site that has held a distilling license since 1608.

What foods pair well with Bushmills 28 Year? Dark chocolate truffles complement the whiskey's roasted almond and caramel notes; aged Comté or Gruyère cheese echoes its nutty depth; fig and walnut crostini mirror the dried fruit character; seared duck breast with an orange glaze highlights the marmalade notes; and crème brûlée ties into the vanilla-cinnamon finish.

What sizes does Bushmills 28 Year come in? This Rare Cask Series expression is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Bushmills 28 Year worth the price? Positioned firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Irish whiskey, this bottling justifies its placement through a genuine 28-year age statement, a 95-point Whisky Advocate rating, an unconventional 17-year cognac cask finish, and extreme scarcity at only 800 bottles released globally.

Why Bushmills 28 Year?

The defining detail of this whiskey is the inversion of conventional cask finishing: most finished whiskeys spend a few months to a couple of years in a secondary cask, but this expression spent 17 of its 28 years in former cognac barrels—far longer than its initial 11-year maturation in sherry and bourbon wood. That prolonged cognac influence is what drives the unusually deep apricot, almond, and baking-spice character that earned it 95 points from Whisky Advocate. With only 800 bottles in existence, it represents one of the rarest official releases from Ireland's oldest licensed distillery. For collectors and enthusiasts tracking the resurgence of aged Irish single malts, this bottling stands as tangible proof of what patience and unconventional cask management can produce.