On the Antrim coast, a few kilometres from the Giant's Causeway, Old Bushmills distillery has produced triple-distilled Irish whiskey since the late 18th century. It is based on a distilling license granted in 1608 by King James I to Sir Thomas Phillips, making it one of the oldest claimed sites in the world for this activity. With approximately 120,000 visitors per year, it is one of the most visited stops on the Causeway Coastal Route.

Why visit Bushmills distillery

• Understand triple distillation, the signature of Irish whiskey, at an active site.
• See 10 giant stills in operation that produce nearly 4 million litres of alcohol per year.
• Follow an industrial history spanning more than two centuries, from early exports to America to successive acquisitions by global corporations.
• Combine the visit with other major sites in Northern Ireland: Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Royal Portrush Golf Club.
• Leave with a tasting and, if you wish, a bottle from the on-site shop.

A history spanning more than four centuries

Distillation has been rooted in this region long before the emergence of an organized distillery. A frequently cited chronicle suggests that in 1276, a settler named Robert Savage of Ards allegedly gave his troops distilled spirits before battle. The episode owes more to founding legend than established fact, but it testifies to the antiquity of the practice.

In 1608, James I granted Sir Thomas Phillips a distilling license in the area. It is on this authorization that the brand bases its antiquity. The distillery itself, as we know it today, was not founded until 1784 by Hugh Anderson.

In the 19th century, the establishment passed to James McColgan and Patrick Corrigan in 1860 and became a joint-stock company in 1880. A fire ravaged the site in 1885; it was quickly rebuilt. In 1890, Bushmills exported its whiskey to the United States aboard the SS Bushmills, which made stops in Philadelphia and New York before continuing to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama.

The American Prohibition, enacted in 1920, struck Irish whiskey hard. Bushmills endured. After World War II, the distillery became the property of businessman Isaac Wolfson, then was acquired by Irish Distillers in 1972, a group itself absorbed by Pernod Ricard in 1988.

In 2005, Diageo took control for £200 million. In 2008, the Bank of Ireland chose the distillery to illustrate its new banknote series, replacing Queen's University Belfast. In November 2014, Diageo sold the brand to Proximo Spirits in exchange for the remaining 50% of Don Julio tequila. More recently, in April 2023, Bushmills opened a second distillery on the site, named Causeway Distillery, to increase production capacity.

What you'll see on site

The guided tour lasts approximately one hour and covers a one-kilometre route, punctuated by approximately 150 steps. The circuit passes through the main manufacturing stages:

• The 10 copper stills room, the heart of triple distillation.
• The maturation warehouses, where whiskey ages for over 4.5 years in wooden casks.
• The bottling workshop and the craftspeople who keep the site running daily.

The tour concludes with a tasting. An on-site shop offers the various expressions of the brand as well as rarer editions and merchandise.

Practical information

Opening hours

The distillery is open daily, mornings Monday to Saturday and early afternoon on Sunday, with closing in late afternoon. The last tours depart approximately one hour before closing. Check updated hours on the official website before visiting, especially outside peak season.

Prices

Expect a moderate rate for the standard guided tour, with discounts for seniors, students and children. Premium experiences (in-depth tastings, private casks) are offered at higher rates. Group rates apply from 15 people.

Booking and children access

Advance booking is highly recommended, as the site is very popular. The guided tour is reserved for children aged 8 and over, due to the route through production areas.

How to get there

The distillery is located in the village of Bushmills, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

• From Belfast: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by road via the M2 motorway then the A26 towards Ballymena and Coleraine.
• From Derry/Londonderry: approximately 1 hour by road via the A2.
• Via the Causeway Coastal Route: the distillery lies almost on the route, ideal as a stop between Belfast and Derry.
• By public transport: Translink bus line 172 serves Bushmills from Coleraine and Ballycastle.

Free parking is available on site.

Things to see nearby

• Giant's Causeway: 5 minutes by car, the most visited geological site in Northern Ireland.
• Dunluce Castle: spectacular ruins perched on a cliff, approximately 10 minutes away.
• Royal Portrush Golf Club: one of Europe's most prestigious courses, about ten minutes away.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: approximately 20 minutes to the east, on the same Causeway Coastal Route.

To further explore the island, check out Lissadell House in County Sligo or the Bogside murals in Derry.

Frequently asked questions

Extend your experience in Ireland

Bushmills distillery fits naturally into an itinerary combining the Antrim coast, Belfast and the Republic of Ireland. To build a tailored trip incorporating this stop, check out our ideas for trips to Ireland.