Bushmills 18 Year Old World Wood Series - Colheita Port Cask Finish

Experience a landmark release from the world’s oldest licensed distillery. The Bushmills 18 Year Old Colheita Port Cask is a sophisticated addition to the exclusive World Wood Series. Originally launched as a Travel Retail Exclusive (TREX), this expression represents a "first" for Bushmills, showcasing the rare and intense influence of vintage Colheita Port wood.
Crafted by Master Blender Alex Thomas, this 18-year-old single malt undergoes a complex "triple-wood" maturation journey. It is aged for a minimum of 17 years in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts, before being finished for 12 months in rare Colheita Port casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal.

The Tasting Profile

  • Nose: Elegant and aromatic. Rich layers of toasted almonds and vanilla meet a burst of fresh red berries, dark cherries, and a hint of weathered oak.
  • Palate: A velvety, viscous mouthfeel. Initial flavors of creamy butterscotch and orange zest transition into deep notes of dark chocolate, damson plums, and warming baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Finish: Long and harmonious. The signature Port influence leaves a lingering crème brûlée sweetness and a gentle, drying oak spice.

Why the "Colheita" Cask Matters

Unlike standard Tawny Port, Colheita Port is produced from a single vintage harvest and aged for at least seven years. For this 18-year-old release, Bushmills selected casks that had held Port for 15 to 20 years. These seasoned staves are saturated with deep fruit sugars, which interact with the triple-distilled Irish spirit to create an unparalleled depth of flavour.