Bushmills 16year

Bushmills 16 Year is an Irish whiskey with a sixteen-year age statement. That is long enough for a malt-driven Irish whiskey to pick up real cask character without losing its easy, rounded base. Irish whiskey in this vein is typically triple-distilled and smooth, with little of the smoke or heavy peat you'd find in many Scotches. Expect a soft, fruit-forward nose with honeyed malt and vanilla. Aged Irish whiskeys also tend to show dried fruit, toasted oak and gentle baking spice, and a sherry or wine-cask component would add darker notes such as raisin, toffee and a touch of cocoa. The palate usually leans creamy and sweet rather than sharp, with the oak showing as light spice on the finish instead of bitter char. Pour it neat first. A whiskey of this age gives most of its detail at room temperature, and you can taste where the malt, fruit and wood sit relative to one another. If the alcohol feels tight on the first sip, add a few drops of room-temperature water. This loosens the aromatics and usually brings out the vanilla and orchard-fruit notes. Ice is a poor fit here. One large cube is fine if you prefer it cold, but it dulls the subtler aromas, and the longer it sits the more it flattens the finish. For glassware, a Glencairn or a similar tulip-shaped glass is the best choice for nosing, because the narrow rim concentrates the aromas. If you'd rather sip slowly in a more relaxed way, use a rocks glass, ideally with a single large cube, or none at all. Cocktails are possible but should be restrained, because a sixteen-year bottle costs more than a mixing whiskey and its subtlety gets lost under strong ingredients. An Old Fashioned with a sugar cube, two dashes of Angostura and an orange peel suits a soft, malty Irish whiskey, since you aren't fighting a rye backbone. A Manhattan made with a good sweet vermouth works similarly. A Whiskey Sour or a long Highball with soda and a lemon twist will taste fine, but they use up the bottle's finer qualities, so keep them for the occasional pour. For food, try milk chocolate or dark chocolate, aged cheddar, roasted nuts or an apple tart, all of which match the whiskey's sweetness and fruit.