Bushmills adds new Three-Wood 18YO single malt to World Wood Series
Bushmills introduces the latest addition to its World Wood series, Three-Wood 18 Year Old
Bushmills Irish Whiskey, home of the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, is expanding its World Wood travel retail exclusive series with a new Three-Wood 18 Year Old single malt.
Available initially exclusively through Asia Pacific travel retail outlets, the expression will make its debut at the upcoming TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore from May 12-15 on the Proximo Spirits stand (Basement 2, N11).
For over four centuries, Bushmills has pursued perfection, staying true to its time-honored craft while embracing constant innovation. Since 1608, this unwavering passion has inspired some of the most distinctive and esteemed Irish whiskeys in the world.
Crafted by Bushmills Master Blender, Alex Thomas, the World Wood series is an exceptional collection of small-batch Irish whiskeys that blend long-standing tradition with modern innovation. The use of extraordinary casks is essential to crafting outstanding Irish single malt – a hallmark that has come to define Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
Guided by intuition, inspiration, and innovation, Thomas selects casks for each expression from world-class cooperages and winemakers, continuing partnerships that have been maturing for generations. “We search the four corners of the world to find exactly the right casks to bring back to our corner in Northern Ireland,” he said.
This new release has been matured in bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts for a minimum of 17 years before finishing in rare Colheita port casks sourced from an award-winning bodega in Portugal’s Douro Valley.
To preserve every nuance of flavor, Thomas ensured that no more than a week passed between the port casks being emptied in northern Portugal and refilled with aged whiskey in Northern Ireland. Colheita is a single vintage port that only uses grapes from a single year’s harvest before ageing for at least seven years. Unlike normal tawny port, the grapes are not blended for consistency and flavor can vary year to year. To best complement the unique character of Bushmills, Thomas chose a Colheita that had been maturing for 15-20 years, so the port had soaked deep into the oak to ensure the casks were ripe and ready to give maximum flavor to the whiskey.
“Each Colheita port cask has a phenomenal aromatic intensity,” he said. “When we first opened them, a flood of sensational warm, fresh, and deep fruit flavors filled the room. It was incredible. This mouth-watering depth of flavor is what makes this 18 Year Old release so unique – perfectly complementing our deeper floral and fruity Bushmills DNA.”
The careful combination of three distinct oak casks imparts unparalleled depth and complexity: the bourbon casks offer notes of vanilla and almond, while the sherry butts enhance the profile with deeper dried fruit flavors and a subtle hint of spice. The Colheita port casks introduce fresh, intense fruit notes and a silky crème brûlée sweetness. Together, these casks create an extraordinary fruit-forward flavor profile.
Bottled at a 46% ABV, the intricate layers of spiced fruit and velvety honey sweetness are fully showcased, offering a rich tasting experience.
The introduction of Bushmills 18 Year Old Single Malt follows the releases of the 12 Year Old in 2024, and the 15 and 21 Year Old expressions in 2023. Following its exclusive launch across the Asia Pacific region from May 2025, Bushmills 18 Year Old Single Malt will be rolled out to GTR globally from January 2026. It carries an RRP of US$140 for a 700ml bottle.
Roy Summers, Proximo Spirits Head of Global Travel Retail Roy, commented, “We are thrilled to be further strengthening our travel retail portfolio and specifically our offer to regional partners in Asia with Bushmills 18 Year Old Single Malt. I’m delighted to be introducing this incredible new liquid to visitors at the forthcoming TFWA Asia Pacific event, expanding the World Wood Travel Retail Exclusive Series.”
The launch will be supported by activations at key airports within Asia Pacific during 2025 and globally from 2026.
