OLD BUSHMILLS DISTILLERY

  At the top of the village you will find what Bushmills has become known worldwide for - the famous  Old Bushmills Whiskey Distillery. The Victorian architecture of the Distillery dates from 1885 when it was rebuilt due to a fire. It is located on the on the banks of St. Columb's Rill and reputed to be the oldest licensed Distillery in the world - being given legal status in 1608 when King James 1st granted a license to local landowner Sir Thomas Phillips. The process of illegal distillation in the village goes back even further than 1608. Local folklore tells of whiskey being made illegally in the 1400's, there are also records of a Sir Robert Savage enjoying the 'aqua vitae' (whiskey) with his troops in 1276 and the drink is even mentioned in the Book of Leinster. The company itself was founded in 1783 and in 1800's we find records of the  S.S. Bushmills, a large sailing ship own by company which transported whiskey across the Atlantic. During its existence the distillery has changed ownership many times. At one time it was owned by the Boyd family who were responsible for promoting the product worldwide, in 1972 it became part of the Irish Distillers Group who themselves were taken over by  Pernod Ricard, the distillery is now owned by Diageo. Whoever the owner is, it is hard to fault the Black Bush, especially hot with a hint of clove and a wee teaspoon of honey, oh!, and a winter night.

   Back