Bushmills 1996/2022 25 Year Old Madeira Cask - The Causeway Collection (70cl, 50.3%)

A 25-year-old triple-distilled Irish single malt from Bushmills, released in 2022 as part of The Causeway Collection. It was distilled on 23 October 1996 and is bottled at 50.3% in a 70cl bottle, without chill-filtration or added colour. The whisky matured first in Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks. On 4 December 2002 it moved into first-fill Madeira casks, where it spent a further 19 years, so Madeira shapes most of its time in wood. The nose brings apricot, pronounced hazelnut and sweet honey. On the palate come baked peaches, toasted almonds and toffee, with warm spice, brown sugar and raisin sweets. The long finish carries warm spice and a touch of toasted oak.