What's in a name? What's in the smokey still out in the back yard? Well, about four fine Irish whiskeys, subtle and lighter than your Scots variety which bludgeon you with malt. Ever run through a field of barley with your mouth open?Jump over to Eire and taste the alternative. Come in from the cold and rally your toasts with our smooth and well-aged guide to Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

   “….Is chan easba bidh ach díobháil dí
            a d'fhág i do luí thú ar chúl do chinn”
            (It wasn’t hunger but thirst for a mouthful
            That left you foundered and me heartsore.)
                An Bonnán Buí, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Gunna
                        (trans. Seamus Heany)    

Good afternoon, good evening and good morning readers, and welcome to this small submission, this humble offering to the Slow Review. After much humming and hooing I’ve decided to turn my pen to the glorious world of whiskey and one of my favourite distilleries: Bushmills. I’ll admit, I’m watching Eurosport at the same time as writing this and can’t help being distracted by the sight of two rather shapely young lady tennis players. So, if the flow of this story seems somewhat disjointed then you can put it down to hormones and a span of attention that has been worn down, over the years, with the help of large doses of Bushmills.

Indeed, much like the young tennis players mentioned above, this is an article about something golden, supple, full-bodied and in the right hands, lusty. However, enough of that for the moment. Bushmill’s distillery is an Irish whiskey maker, situated in County Antrim (in the north of Ireland) and its name comes from the Irish Gaelic, Muileann na Buaise, or the mill at the rapids. It is said to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world, said license having been granted by King James I in 1608.  However, according to some sources whiskey has been produced there since the 13th century. This could well be the case. I’m guessing the situation wasn’t unique to Bushmills, either. In fact, distilleries were almost everywhere, including most people’s back gardens at the time. I’m also sure that what passed for whiskey back then had a lot in common with that classic modern beverage, anti-freeze. Fortunately though, they started when they did, and their stuff has gotten considerably better in the meantime.