Bushmills has launched its complete Causeway Collection. The new range from the Northern Irish distillery is made up of 10 single malt Irish Whiskies, including a 2001 Feuillette Cask, and follows in the footsteps of recent Ireland-exclusive releases under the same collection.
Inspired by the Giant’s Causeway, a large formation of hexagonal rocks in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the new Causeway Collection of 10 cask-finished single malt whiskeys includes expressions finished in new American oak, Cognac, wine and fortified wine casks.
“This launch represents a bold new step for Bushmills, one that not only honours the giants and generations before us but also the incomparable natural landscape in which it was forged,” said master blender Helen Mulholland. “The whiskeys in this collection, all non-chill filtered and some of the first cask strength whiskeys to be released by us in over 15 years, are among Bushmills’ greatest treasures. We can’t wait to share them with the world. With these new exclusive releases, we celebrate our passion for single malt, showcase our rare and unique casks, and honour our 400-year heritage.”
One of the most highly anticipated releases is the Bushmills Causeway Collection 2001 Feuillette Cask, a 19-year-old expression matured in a rare Burgundy feuillette cask, a type of barrel used to age wine from Chablis. It marks the first cask strength release from the brand in more than 15 years and the first red wine cask-matured Whiskey from Bushmills to be made available in Great Britain.
The single malt was aged for more than 17 years in Oloroso Sherry butts and Bourbon barrels before being finished for two years in a rare Burgundy cask. The cask, which can fill just 168 bottles, is the smallest that Mulholland has ever worked on. Bottled at 49% ABV, the Whiskey offers notes of smooth plum and cherry fruits.
Each expression in the Bushmills Causeway Collection will be available in nine different countries by the end of 2020, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, Portugal, Nordic countries and global travel retail. The 2001 Feuillette Cask will be available beginning December 7, exclusively from The Whisky Shop and will be priced at £200 ($266 USD) per 700ml.