Old Bushmills Distillery

The Old Bushmills Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, established in 1784 and owned by Proximo Spirits. Bushmills Distillery uses water drawn from Saint Columb's Rill, which is a tributary of the River Bush. The distillery is a popular tourist attraction, with around 120,000 visitors per year. It produces the Bushmills brand of Irish whiskey.

The company that originally built the distillery was formed in 1784, although the date 1608 is printed on the label of the brand – referring to an earlier date when a royal licence was granted to a local landowner to distil whiskey in the area.[1][2] After various periods of closure in its subsequent history, the distillery has been in approximately continuous operation since it was rebuilt after a fire in 1885.[3]

History

The area has a long tradition with distillation. According to one story, as far back as 1276, an early settler called Sir Robert Savage of Ards, before defeating the Irish in battle, fortified his troops with "a mighty drop of acqua vitae".

In popular culture

Before attaining relative sobriety in the early 2000s, Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen was a heavy drinker of Bushmills, consuming as much as two full bottles per day.

The band NOFX mentions Bushmills in the song "Theme from a NOFX Album" on the 2000 release Pump Up the Valuum.

Tom Waits mentions 'Old Bushmills' in the song "Tom Traubert's Blues" (which was also covered by Rod Stewart).

In the third-season episode of The Wire, "Back Burners", Jimmy McNulty refers to Bushmills as "Protestant whiskey" when he is offered it after being told Jameson is unavailable.

Burt Reynolds plays a police lieutenant in the 1975 film Hustle whose favourite drink is Bushmills.

Todd Rundgren cites "a half a pint of Bushmills" as a poor substitute for love in his song "Hungry for Love" from the 1973 album A Wizard, a True Star.

Paul Freeman's character Colin orders two Bushmills at a Belfast pub in the 1980 film The Long Good Friday.

In the 1982 film The Verdict, the Paul Newman character Frank Galvin orders Bushmills and water at his neighbourhood pub.

In Rescue Me the series, seasons 1–7, Bushmills is the common whiskey shared and favourited among the entire Irish Gavin Family and referred to in at least ten episodes.

In Jackie Brown, a bottle of Bushmills is visible in scenes in Max's office and is referenced in the script.

In Independence Day, Jeff Goldblum's character is seen drinking a bottle of Bushmills, lamenting the end of the world.

In Better Call Saul Season 4, Episode 6 "Piñata", Howard suggests to Chuck McGill to join him in his office, where a Mr. Bushmills is waiting for him - an apparently workplace correct reference to celebrate a recent lawsuit win in a difficult case by Chuck for the law firm.

In The Eagle Has Landed, the character of Liam Devlin expresses a fondness for Bushmills whiskey.

In The Sting, Robert Redford's character can be seen drinking Bushmills whiskey before the final con.

During the movie The Lawnmower Man, Pierce Brosnan's character pours himself a glass of Bushmills Whiskey with a tricolour of the Republic of Ireland seen in the background.

In Take the High Road, gamekeeper Davie Sneddon (played by Derek Lord) is a regular customer at the Ardnacraig Bar, where he always requests "a large Bush".

foundation	1784, Kingdom of Ireland
location	Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
products	Irish whiskey
parent	Proximo Spirits
homepage	www.bushmills.com

Old Bushmills Distillery

History

Current whiskey range

Critical acclaim

In popular culture

See also

External links

References