The Oldest Licensed Distillery in the World - Bushmills | WhiskeyPages.com by whiskey The year 1608. Shakespeare had already written Macbeth. The explorer John Smith became president of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. It was an era of Milton and Galileo. And it was the year that Bushmills distillery was granted a license to distill whiskey. Today, 389 years later, the Bushmills distillery is still producing whiskey. It is now the oldest operating licensed distillery in the world. A Look Back Records actually show that whiskey was distilled, and consumed, at the site much earlier than 1608. Sir Robert Savage, ground landlord of the town of Bushmills, was known to have fortified his troops with “aqua vitae” (whiskey) in 1276. And the Book of Leinster mentions a feast in the town of Bushmills back in 1490 where the local spirit helped to “down the food.” It is quite remarkable that anything lasts nearly four centuries, let alone a distillery. Throughout the years it has endured fires, wars, U.S .

Prohibition, and multiple owners-from families such as Phillips, Corrigan, and Boyd, to corporations that included Bass Charrington, Seagram, Irish Distillers Group, and Pernot Ricard. Not only is Bushmills the world’s oldest licensed distillery, it is also the only operating whiskey distillery in Northern Ireland. With more than a dozen active distilleries in the early 1900s, the amount was reduced to three by the mid 1900s. The Comber distillery would close in 1953, and the Coleraine distillery would stop making malt whiskey in the mid-1960s, and close down completely in 1978. Giants of Legend The Bushmills distillery is located on the edge of the town of Bushmills in Country Antrim, about an hour’s drive north from Belfast and a short distance from the coast. The town itself is small and quaint, with two streets connecting in the center of the town to form a ‘T’. There you’ll find a small war memorial, a clock tower, and several small shops.

The distillery is two miles from the Giant’s Causeway, described as the eighth natural wonder of the world. Its impressive vista of regular shaped stone outcrops of black basalt formed nearly 60 million years ago from the slow cooling of volcanic lava. Mythical legend describes the causeway as a passage across the Channel to Scotland so that the Irish giant Finn McCool could cross the water without getting his feet wet. Also near the distillery is Portrush, a highly acclaimed championship golf course, and Dunluce Castle, which sits along the coastline impressively perched on a rock outcrop since around the year 1300. Making Whiskey The distillery itself is very picturesque, with its stone buildings and twin pagoda-shaped roofs, reminders of the floor maltings that were once conducted at the distillery. The distillery uses water from Saint Columb’s Rill to make its whiskey. It is clear and pure, flowing over basalt rock before it reaches the distillery. The distilling process at Bushmills Distillery, which employs about 100 workers, is very similar to malt whisky distilleries of Scotland.

They use only 100% malted barley which is mashed in one huge cast iron mash tun to produce wort, a liquid which contains the sugars that are extracted from the malted barley. The wort is fermented by distiller’s yeast in stainless steel washbacks (fermenters) to produce wash (essentially beer without hops). The wash passes through pot stills which concentrates the alcohol and certain flavor components before being placed into barrels for maturation. The whiskey is matured in one of several warehouses. Some of the warehouses are quite modern, while others are more traditional with their low ceilings and earthen floors. However, there are some distinct differences at Bushmills which contrast sharply from most malt whisky distilleries in Scotland. The malted barley is completely unpeated, whereas most Scotch malt whisky has at least a hint of peat. At Bushmills, the whiskey is triple-distilled (i.e . it passes through three pot stills). Most malt whisky distilleries in Scotland are distilled only twice. No doubt this extra distillation enhances the purity of the whiskey produced at Bushmills.

The Bushmills distillery is also one of the few distilleries in the world to distill, blend, and bottle the whiskey under the same roof. As I walked the grounds of Bushmills, I was sadly reminded of the lost distilleries of Northern Ireland-Coleraine, Comber, and the rest. Fortunately, this great distilling heritage remains alive in Bushmills, the oldest operating licensed distillery in the world. The Whiskeys The first three different expressions of Bushmills whiskey described below can be purchased in the U.S. The ones after that are available in select locations in Europe. Let’s take a look at them. Bushmills Original Also known as White Bush. According to Dr. Barry Walsh, Chief Blender, Bushmills Original is a blend of approximately 1/3 malt whiskey to 2/3 grain whiskey. The malt whiskey is matured for up to seven years, while the grain whiskey is aged for about five years. The whiskey is matured primarily in ex-bourbon barrels. It is a light, balanced, clean whiskey that is unassuming. The high proportion of grain in the whiskey is evident. I use this one as a mixer.

Incidentally, the grain whiskey used in the Bushmills blends come from its sister distillery in Middleton, County Cork. At one time, the grain whiskey came from the now extinct Coleraine distillery near Bushmills, and it was comprised mostly of barley (something which is unusual for a grain whiskey, which is usually produced with maize or wheat). There is still a hefty proportion of barley in the Bushmills grain whiskey. Black Bush The most sherried of the lot, and one sip tells you that this whiskey has a very high malt content. Black Bush contains 70-80% malt whiskey that is 8-9 years old. The grain whiskey is only slightly younger. Approximately 20-30% of the whiskey is matured in ex-sherry casks. Black Bush is a must try for lovers of sherried whiskeys. Having said this, I still feel it is not overly sherried. Its rich maltiness, grain softness, and a hint of oak, all share the limelight, both in aroma and flavor. I save this whiskey for after dinner in a snifter, or perhaps with a fine cigar.

Bushmills Malt The age statement on the label is 10 yrs., but Barry Walsh informs me that the lion’s share of the whiskey is 10-12 yrs. old. Introduced in 1984, it has only been available in the U.S. since 1993. Ironically, it is less sherried than Black Bush, but the sherry character is still evident in the delicate fruitiness expressed by the whiskey. Combining with this fruit character is a clean rounded maltiness which is gently sweet and pleasant, with a hint of vanilla. Bushmills Malt is very accommodating to any mood or occasion and universally enjoyable. Bushmills 1608 Special Reserve Available only at select Duty Free outlets. It’s worth the trip to Europe just to buy a bottle of this gem. Matured for a minimum of 12 yrs., this whiskey is still a blend, but it contains more malt than Black Bush (80-90%). It appears more sherried than Bushmills Malt, but less than Black Bush. Barry Walsh describes it as “more of everything” referring to its richness of flavor and impeccable balance.

All the flavors dovetail nicely, combining the richness of the malt, fruitiness of the sherry, and roundness of the oak. A complex, subtle spiciness also emerges now and then. A splendid whiskey! Bushmills Distillery Reserve Only recently has the distillery made this beautiful whiskey available. I’m afraid you’ll have to visit the distillery to get your fingers on this one, since it’s the only place where this expression is sold. It is a single malt Irish whiskey that is matured a few years longer than the standard Bushmills Malt, resulting in a whiskey that is a tad richer, with an incremental increase in sherried fruit, and a drier finish with gentle notes of oak. A nice contrast to the standard Bushmills Malt, and worthy of even the most discriminating drinks cabinet. Bushmills Millennium In 1975, a few hundred barrels were filled with whiskey that still have not been bottled. Named “Bushmills Millennium,” the whiskey was only sold by the cask and will not be bottled until 1999, just in time for the new Millennium. At that time it will be a single malt Irish whiskey of nearly 25 years of age.

When I first learned of the Millennium offer, I was a bit hesitant. I was concerned that such a delicate, soft whiskey would not be able to stand up to 25 years on the wood. I was wrong. A sampling of the whiskey in 1995 offered a glimpse of something most unique and mature that I have never before experienced in an Irish whiskey. Sure, there is more than a hint of oak, but this influence is entirely a positive one. Its contribution to the roundness and depth of flavor is astonishing, without smothering the whiskey. Sherried fruit, malty richness, subtle spiciness, eminent drinkability Ð nothing is missing or out of proportion! The last few years of its life will be spent in ex-bourbon barrels, after many years in ex-sherry barrels, with the hopes that any additional changes to the whiskey will be subtle. Sadly, the entire lot of Millennium malt casks have been sold, and they won’t be available in restaurants or liquor stores. Start making friends with those that have purchased a cask, and when the Millennium comes to a close, perhaps you will be among the fortunate few to appreciate this wonderful whiskey.

At the distillery, I was fortunate enough to sample a new Bushmills whiskey that has not yet been bottled at the time of this writing, but should be by the time you read this. It is a 16+ yr. old malt whiskey that was first matured in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks, before being finished in port pipes prior to bottling. The port influence contributes a richness and fullness to the whiskey in a manner similar to what port has done to the Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish. As I sip and savor a Bushmills whiskey, I am reminded of the lost distilleries of Northern Ireland Ð Coleraine, Comber, and the rest. Fortunately, this great distilling heritage remains alive in Bushmills, the oldest operating licensed distillery in the world. This entry was posted in Whiskey by whiskey . Bookmark the permalink . The bucket list- Oldest Distilleries in the World DrinkWire The bucket list- Oldest Distilleries in the World Contributed by Vgulp on Feb 23, 2015 10 Ten readers love this post.

The first batch of an alcoholic beverage is known to have been made 5000 years ago. There is always a fight on who made it first. Some say the Egyptians; some say it was the Chinese. I would prefer to sit back relax and enjoy the beverage while they are busy in the argument. Commercial manufacturing of Alcohol with licenses began much later, probably about 500 odd years ago. New distilleries come up at different parts of the world and they do definitely surprise all of us, consumers, with their craft products. Here are some of the oldest distilleries in the world, in no particular order. 1. Year- 1608, Old Bushmills Distillery, Ireland One of the oldest licensed distillery is located at Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Manufacturing began with the grant from King James 1, back in 1608. The trademark license was registered in 1784. Bushmills are known for their Irish whiskey brands. They also produce single malt using 100% barley. This brand is currently owned by Diageo, the world’s largest liquor company. 2.

Year- 1757, Kilbeggan Distillery, Ireland There is always a fight here with regards to which is the oldest distillery. Although they had stopped production for a while, the license to produce was received in 1757. Some say that the distillery is older than the Bushmills, however, this is still a debate. 3. Year- 1691, Nolet Distillery, Schiedam, Holland This family run business would definitely go on top of the list of oldest distilleries in the world if the dating of Bushmills is proved to be 1784 against 1608 that they claim. This Dutch distillery is known for its brand Ketel One Vodka and Jenever. 4. Year- 1575, Lucas Bols Distillery, Holland Oh! Well.. Wait before you decide which is the oldest. Here is a clear winner. The distillery had been producing spirits since 1575 and is one of the global leaders in liqueur manufacturing. They manufacture 38 different varieties of liqueurs apart from spirits. 5.

Year- 1779, Distilleria Nardini, Veneto Region, Italy The first Grappa’s were distilled here and yes, they still manufacture the finest of the Grappa’s in the world. The ingredients for the Pomace Brandies are transported from Piedmont region, in Italy. 6. Year- 1670, Demrara Distillery, Guyana Older than the oldest known rum brand in the world, Mount Gay, the distilleries were set up as a cooperative. They are the largest producers of Rum in the world with a capacity of 26 million Litres a year. They also supply liquor to brands like Diageo in Europe. Their famous brand of liquor is the El Dorado Rum and is Demrara Rum. 7. Year- 1703, Mount Gay Distilleries, Barbados Now this is the second oldest Rum Distillery in the world. The name of the distillery came from Sir John Gay Alleyne, the manager of the distillery and the sugarcane plantation, where the distillery is setup- Mount Gilboa Plantation. The company owns premium rum brands and they recently entered India.

The brand is currently owned by the French group- Remy Cointreau. 8. Year -1773, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky Buffalo Trace is named as such because it was erected where ancient Buffalo once roamed. The distillery is known for its Bourbon , Rye whiskey, Sazerac and Vodka too. They were awarded the brand innovator of the year 2015 and won the Whisky Distiller of the Year award in 2014. 9. Year- 1775, Glenturret Distillery, Scotland The oldest known distillery in Scotland was founded in 1775. However, this is not the oldest continuously operating distillery as it was shut down for a large part of the 20th century, until 1959, when Remy Cointreau acquired it. The brand from this distillery is Famous Grouse. 10. Year- 1793, Plymouth Gin Distillery, Plymouth, England Although not really eligible to be in the top 10 oldest, this Gin manufacturer was a monastery that was built in 1431.

This is the only distillery in Plymouth that has survived till date. This distillery is also known as Black Friars Distillery. The company is currently owned by Pernod- Ricard, the second largest liquor company in the world, known for brands like Chivas Regal , Jameson Irish whiskey , Absolut Vodka and many more. The oldest known Distillery in Asia is the Kasauli Brewery. This was setup in the late 1820’s by then General Edward Dyer, of the East India Company. This was constructed to make the finest whisky. The equipment were shipped from England and Scotland too. However, in 1855, the brewery was dismantled and moved to Solan. The distillery still operates at Kasauli and it is one of the oldest distillery in the world, which has been in continuous operation. The most regarded produce is the Solan No.1 Single Malt whisky. However, since the exit of British from India, the distillery is now known as Mohan Meakin Limited. This is the distillery from where the Cult Old Monk Rum is manufactured. Other noted products are Diplomat Deluxe Whisky, London Dry Gin and also a Vodka named Kaplanski.

A totally multi functional distillery cum brewery. A hotelier, trained bartender and a wine and spirit specialist. Creation of new cocktails, innovative methods of serving and responsible drinking are my interests. I am an avid reader and a traveller too A Bushmills review and information by AWA OLD BUSHMILLS : From the book 'The Scottish Collection' Classic Malts by Carol P. Shaw : Old Bushmills glories in the status of the oldest licensed distillery in the world. It is though that distilling may have begun on the site as early as the thirteenth century, but the first permit was granted by James VI and I to Sir Thomas Phillipps, a local landowner, in 1608. The site was especially well suited for its purpose, standing on the banks of St Columb's Rill, or stream, which flowed over the nearby peaty ground and into the River Bush, and which still provides the distillery with its fresh water supplies today. Belying its antiquity, Old Bushmills is distinctly Victorian-Speyside in appearance - a legacy of its rebuilding and the addition of its pagoda towers after a devastating fire in 1885.

Although no longer in use, the tower remain the distinctive landmark of a distinguished distillery. The Old Bushmill's can glory with the title 'The oldest licensed distillery in the world'. The license was granted in 1608 to Sir Thomas Phillips who were a local landowner. It was founding as a company in 1783 but local competition of legal and illegal distillers made the competition hard making the Bushmills to close and re-opened several times. It revived under the ownership of the Boyd family, but again under the second world war it moved inevitably from being a family concern through a succession of larger, corporate buyers until in 1972 it joined the Irish Distillers Group. Irish Distillers Group were the bought by Pernod Ricard Group at the end of the 1980's. Rip from The year 1608. Shakespeare had already written Macbeth. The explorer John Smith became president of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. It was an era of Milton and Galileo. And it was the year that Bushmills distillery was granted a license to distill whiskey.

Today, 389 years later, the Bushmills distillery is still producing whiskey. It is now the oldest operating licensed distillery in the world. Records actually show that whiskey was distilled, and consumed, at the site much earlier than 1608. Sir Robert Savage, ground landlord of the town of Bushmills, was known to have fortified his troops with "aqua vitae" (whiskey) in 1276. And the Book of Leinster mentions a feast in the town of Bushmills back in 1490 where the local spirit helped to "down the food." It is quite remarkable that anything lasts nearly four centuries, let alone a distillery. Throughout the years it has endured fires, wars, U.S . Prohibition, and multiple owners-from Seagram, Irish Distillers Group, and Pernod Ricard. Not only is Bushmills the world's oldest licensed distillery, it is also the only operating whiskey distillery in Northern Ireland. With more than a dozen active distilleries in the early 1900s, the amount was reduced to three by the mid 1900's.

The Comber distillery closed in 1953, and the Coleraine distillery stoped making malt whiskey in the mid-1960s, and closed down completely in 1978. The Bushmills distillery is located on the edge of the town of Bushmills in Country Antrim, about an hour's drive north of Belfast and a short distance from the coast. The town itself is small and quaint, with two streets connecting in the center of the town to form a 'T'. There you'll find a small war memorial, a clock tower, and several small shops. The distillery is two miles from the Giant's Causeway, described as the eighth natural wonder of the world. Its impressive vista of regular shaped stone outcrops of black basalt formed nearly 60 million years ago from the slow cooling of volcanic lava. Mythical legend describes the causeway as a passage across the Channel to Scotland so that the Irish giant Finn McCool could cross the water without getting his feet wet.

Also near the distillery is Portrush, a highly acclaimed championship golf course, and Dunluce Castle, which sits along the coastline impressively perched on a rock outcrop since around the year 1300. Other rips : The Bushmills distillery, in the little town of the same name was licensed by King James I (and James IV / Red.) in 1608. It is the world's oldest licensed malt distillery though its single malt was launched only in the mid 1980s. There are three labels - "Bushmills Malt", a de luxe blend partner "Black Bush" and a regular "Old Bushmills". They are all triple distilled. There's lots of info about Bushmill's on other whisky related sites, seek your self or try some links on the buttom of this page. From the Whisky pilot by Uniqum Systems : Bushmills was granted a licence to distil in 1608, making it by far the earliest legal distillery of all.

Operated by Irish Distillers which, in 1988, was the target of a hard fought take-over battle between British giant Grand Metropolitan and French rival Pernod Ricard, which the latter won. Bushmills is triple distilled, although it is not alone in this respect. Auchentoshan, Rosebank and Benrinnes also use forms of triple distillation. Bushmills is also available in duty- free markets at 43% vol. Irish whisky is unpeated, unlike most Scotch whisky. Irish Distillers own two distilleries, Bushmills and the modern Midleton complex near Cork. Irish blends such as Jameson, Original Bushmills, Black Bush, Powers, Paddy and Tullamore Dew are produced from whiskies distilled at these two distilleries. In 1920, there were 23 distilleries in Ireland and 134 in Scotland. The distillery is situated near the Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Ulster. Water is drained from the Saint Columb's Rill. The distillery is open to the public all year.

April to Octobeer, M-S 9.30am-5.30pm, S 12noon- 5.30pm.(Last tour 4.00 pm each day) Off Season : M-F 6 tours daily, 10.00am, 11.00am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm sharp. BOTTLINGS Bushmills 1608 (not!) - Whisky Forums Bushmills 1608 (not!) Quote Post by Iain » Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:31 pm To return to an old chestnut - what is it with Diageo and this pretend foundation date for Bushmills? It was all over the UK press and media last week. The distillery wasn't founded in 1608. It is not the oldest in the world. In that respect it is a phoney.

As Jim Murray has written, in his usual forthright style, ""the Bushmills Old Distillery Co was not formed until 175 years later." There are those who believe it wasn't even founded in 1784. Charles Craig could find no evidence of a distillery on the site prior to 1833. Jim Murray points out (Classic Irish Whiskey, p55) that Middleton Distillery has exactly the same right to claim a 1608 foundation date. In other words, a spurious one. I'm boycotting the stuff, until Diageo stops telling fibs. (Yes, I appreciate that last statement will have the world's biggest booze company quaking in its boots ) Quote Post by DavidH » Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:18 pm I feel it's a bit in poor taste too. We are talking about a time when the Catholic landowners were being driven off their lands in Northern Ireland, to be replaced by loyal Protestants. The guy who received this 1608 licence to distil was Sir Thomas Phillips who received land from the King for his service in ridding the place of Catholics.

Now I don't get upset about history but given that the wounds of the Plantation of Ulster still hadn't healed by the late 20th century, why did Bushmills think it was good idea to invent a link to it? Post by irishwhiskeychaser » Fri May 02, 2008 10:45 pm DavidH wrote: irishwhiskeychaser wrote: I think their latest claim now is the oldest continuous working distillery (1784) to get at Kilbeggan for their claim of 1757 (which was closed for 55years). One could counter that Bushmills burned to the ground in 1885 so the distillery "only" dates from then. Yes I see where you are coming from there but in the case of a distillery you really are referring to it as an producing entity rather than morter and bricks. In my eyes a distillery is still a producing entity when they are releasing maturing stocks even if they are not distilling. Bushmills pretty much got straight back into action after a quick rebuild so I would not pull then up on that . Iain wrote: Err...

not sure - convince me. I'm not trying to convince anyone. IWC proposed the continuous operation of the producing entity, independent of the bricks and mortar, as the crucial element in establishing the record (oldest continuous distiller, not oldest distiller). In which case I submit that Jameson has been a continuous producing entity since 1780. I am playing devil's advocate here, not advancing an agenda of my own. No lives depend on the outcome We seem to have two "oldest", according to the criteria used - the Kilbeggan distillery was reportedly working in 1757 as Brusna (I see that Barnard says it was founded 1750) but closed for a few decades, whereas Jameson, the company, has been making whisky since 1780 but not at Midleton originally (it was built in 1825?). I'd give the decision re the "oldest distillery" to Kilbeggan, I reckon, as the distillery seems to have occupied the same site since it was first built. But I agree - there is plenty of room for devil's advocacy, and no lives will be lost if you disagree!

Inside Ireland's whiskey distilleries just in time for St Patrick's Day | Daily Mail Online Next Centuries old kilns, waterwheels and sprawling warehouses: Inside Ireland's most beautiful whiskey distilleries... just in time for St Patrick's Day Dublin's Old Jameson Distillery is one of the city's largest tourist attractions, despite no longer being in operation The Midleton Distillery in Cork is another Jameson property, which dates back to 1795 and is set on 15 acres In Northern Ireland, guests are encouraged to keep an eye out for the resident ghost at the Old Bushmills Distillery Oldest Distilleries in the World on oldest distilleries Oldest Distilleries in the World The first batch of an alcoholic beverage is known to have been made 5000 years ago. There is always a fight on who made it first. Some say the Egyptians; some say it was the Chinese. I would prefer to sit back relax and enjoy the beverage while they are busy in the argument. Commercial manufacturing of Alcohol with licenses began much later, probably about 500 odd years ago.

New distilleries come up at different parts of the world and they do definitely surprise all of us, consumers, with their craft products. Here are some of the oldest distilleries in the world, in no particular order. 1. Year- 1608, Old Bushmills Distillery, Ireland The oldest licensed distillery is located at Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Manufacturing began with the grant from King James 1, back in 1608. The trademark license was registered in 1784. Bushmills are known for their Irish whiskey brands. They also produce single malt using 100% barley. This brand is currently owned by Diageo, the world’s largest liquor company. 2. Year- 1757, Kilbeggan Distillery, Ireland There is always a fight here with regards to which is the oldest distillery. Although they had stopped production for a while, the license to produce was received in 1757. Some say that the distillery is older than the Bushmills, however, this is still a debate. 3.

Year- 1691, Nolet Distillery, Schiedam, Holland This family run business would definitely go on top of the list of oldest distilleries in the world if the dating of Bushmills is proved to be 1784 against 1608 that they claim. This Dutch distillery is known for its brand Ketel One Vodka and Jenever. 4. Year- 1575, Lucas Bols Distillery, Holland Oh! Well.. Wait before you decide which is the oldest. Here is a clear winner. The distillery had been producing spirits since 1575 and is one of the global leaders in liqueur manufacturing. They manufacture 38 different varieties of liqueurs apart from spirits. 5. Year- 1779, Distilleria Nardini, Veneto Region, Italy The first Grappa’s were distilled here and yes, they still manufacture the finest of the Grappa’s in the world. The ingredients for the Pomace Brandies are transported from Piedmont region, in Italy. 6.

Year- 1670, Demrara Distillery, Guyana Older than the oldest known rum brand in the world, Mount Gay, the distilleries were set up as a cooperative. They are the largest producers of Rum in the world with a capacity of 26 million Litres a year. They also supply liquor to brands like Diageo in Europe. Their famous brand of liquor is the El Dorado Rum and is Demrara Rum. 7. Year- 1703, Mount Gay Distilleries, Barbados Now this is the second oldest Rum Distillery in the world. The name of the distillery came from Sir John Gay Alleyne, the manager of the distillery and the sugarcane plantation, where the distillery is setup- Mount Gilboa Plantation. The company owns premium rum brands and they recently entered India. The brand is currently owned by the French group- Remy Cointreau. 8. Year -1773, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky Buffalo Trace is named as such because it was erected where ancient Buffalo once roamed. The distillery is known for its Bourbon , Rye whiskey, Sazerac and Vodka too.

They were awarded the brand innovator of the year 2015 and won the Whisky Distiller of the Year award in 2014. 9. Year- 1775, Glenturret Distillery, Scotland The oldest known distillery in Scotland was founded in 1775. However, this is not the oldest continuously operating distillery as it was shut down for a large part of the 20th century, until 1959, when Remy Cointreau acquired it. The brand from this distillery is Famous Grouse. 10. Year- 1793, Plymouth Gin Distillery, Plymouth, England Although not really eligible to be in the top 10 oldest, this Gin manufacturer was a monastery that was built in 1431. This is the only distillery in Plymouth that has survived till date. This distillery is also known as Black Friars Distillery. The company is currently owned by Pernod- Ricard, the second largest liquor company in the world, known for brands like Chivas Regal , Jameson Irish whisky , Absolut Vodka and many more. The oldest known Distillery in Asia is the Kasauli Brewery.

This was setup in the late 1820’s by then General Edward Dyer, of the East India Company. This was constructed to make the finest whisky. The equipments were shipped from England and Scotland too. However, in 1855, the brewery was dismantled and moved to Solan. The distillery still operates at Kasauli and it is one of the oldest distillery in the world, which has been in continuous operation. The most regarded produce is the Solan No.1 Single Malt whisky. However, since the exit of British from India, the distillery is now known as Mohan Meakin Limited. This is the distillery from where the Cult Old Monk Rum is manufactured. Other noted products are Diplomat Deluxe Whisky, London Dry Gin and also a Vodka named Kaplanski. A totally multi functional distillery cum brewery. Balakrishnan Subramanyan, Chief Bartender, Mixologist & Editor at Vgulp via Balakrishnan Subramanyan Balakrishnan Graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad. He went on to do his masters in International Hospitality. He has also completed his foundation and intermediate levels in Wine and Spirits training.

He understands beverages from their inception stage till they are sipped. Be it storage or handling, he knows how delicately beverages are treated. Upon obtaining considerable experience in travelling, eating and working in some of the niche destinations of hospitality, he is the chief mixologist at Vgulp and the journey continues. He believes there is no better love in this world than the love for alcohol. Ten of the world’s oldest distilleries BRAND CHAMPIONS Ten of the world’s oldest distilleries 10th April, 2014 by Amy Hopkins - This article is over multiple pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Old Bushmills Distillery, est: 1608 Now owned by UK drinks giant Diageo, the Old Bushmills Distillery, based in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is the world’s oldest licensed distillery. The Irish whiskey brand was officially given a registered trademark in 1784, yet its origins date back to 1608 when King James I granted Sir Thomas Phillips – landowner and Governor of County Antrim – a license to distil.

The distillery therefore claims to be the oldest licensed distillery currently in existence and has the date 1608 printed on its bottles. All of the whiskey bottled under the Bushmills whiskey brand is produced at the Old Bushmills Distillery. Old Bushmills Distillery in Belfast, Northern Ireland | Expedia Old Bushmills Distillery in Belfast, Northern Ireland | Expedia Old Bushmills Distillery Old Bushmills Distillery, current page Previous image, 8 total items. Next image, 8 total items. Old Bushmills Distillery Head to the north coast and visit the oldest operating distillery in the world to try a famous Irish whiskey. One of the few historic operating distilleries to offer tours, the Old Bushmills Distillery is a must-do for whiskey lovers. Even if you don’t like the strong alcoholic drink, it’s interesting to see the making of the malt concoction that Ireland is so famous for at one of Northern Island’s best-known producers. The Bushmills saga starts in 1608 when King James I granted a distilling license to Sir Thomas Phillips, which makes it the oldest distillery in the world.

Then, in the mid 18th century, the Old Bushmills Distillery became official and registered its trademark pot still. The walking tour lasts about 45 minutes and takes you through the whole production process. Begin in the mixing room to see malted barley and water from the River Bush combined. Walk through the fermentation hall to see the yeast being added and alcohol begin to form. See the copper stills that define the Bushmills flavor in the distillery before discovering the rich aromas of the American oak and Spanish sherry casks, used for maturation. Finish the tour as you make your way through the blending lounge and the bottling plant as you learn about the finishing touches. The tour is given by the same people that make Bushmills whiskey, so you can ask the experts about their work. Learn about the history of whiskey in Ireland in general and the difference that a subtle change in ingredients and soil can make to the taste of a cask. At the end of the tour, adults are invited to try the whiskey themselves, while children are offered complimentary soft drinks. Try more whiskey coupled with traditional Irish fare in the bar and restaurant.

Visit the Bushmills store if you want to take home rare and vintage Bushmills whiskeys or other souvenirs. The distillery in Bushmills is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Belfast, near the Irish Sea. Ample free parking is available on site. Bushmills is open daily, but it is wise to call ahead as operational procedures may render the distillery shut for hours at a time. Explore More of Belfast

Question: Where is the oldest whiskey distillery still operating, which was established in 1608?
Answer: Northern Ireland