- Bushmills Irish Whiskey, the world’s oldest working whiskey distillery, is offering two DMARGE readers a chance to win an exclusive trip to Northern Ireland.
- Winners will be treated to an exclusive tour of the distillery, a visit to the Giant’s Causeway, and a round of golf at the prestigious Royal Portrush Golf Club.
- In addition to return economy flights, transfers and three nights’ accommodation, competition winners will be handed $2,000 AUD spending money.
Driving through the town of Bushmills, one thing in particular stayed with me. From the brand’s signature drops, proudly displayed behind lock and key in glass cabinets in local pubs and bars, to vintage posters, coasters, and old tin signs adorning the walls, I was struck by how much the revered Old Bushmills Distillery had touched every part of this small town in Northern Ireland.
“Without the village, there would be no whiskey, and without the whiskey, there would be no village.”
As the oldest working whiskey distillery in the world, Bushmills’ global reputation has put this area on the map. Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world make the pilgrimage to the picturesque coast of Northern Ireland to experience Bushmills for themselves; to witness the unique environment that has become so famous for influencing each of Bushmills’ ultra-premium drops throughout its 400-year history.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to join the world’s whiskey enthusiasts to experience the region for myself. Of course, the historic Old Bushmills Distillery was an impressive highlight, but notable mentions must include The Giant’s Causeway and its magical origins, as well as the picturesque Royal Portrush Golf Club.
But why was I chosen for this experience? How can DMARGE readers get involved? Well, our friends at Bushmills Irish Whiskey are offering an exclusive opportunity for two lucky DMARGE readers to win this exact trip.
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Competition winners will experience all that Northern Ireland has to offer, with exclusive access to the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery and the infamous Giant’s Causeway, and an unforgettable chance to play at Royal Port Rush Golf Club just months before it welcomes the world’s best golfers for the 2025 British Open.
As well as return economy flights, transfers and three nights’ accommodation, competition winners will be handed $2,000 AUD spending money. It’s a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the enduring legacy of Bushmills and the natural beauty of Northern Ireland.
The Old Bushmills Distillery
The first thing you notice stepping into the grounds of the Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland is the warming smell of toasted malt and barley.
For more than 400 years, this small town has been the home to one of the world’s best whiskeys. It’s a reflection of the age-old traditions that have been meticulously preserved in Bushmills and OBD, as it’s affectionately known around the town.
As the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, Bushmills has been a pioneer in the industry since its founding in 1608. Using 100% malted barley in each of their most celebrated releases, this iconic brand has continually set the benchmark for Single Malt Whiskey. Bushmills is a single malt Irish whiskey and lays claim to being the pioneer of smooth single malt.
The distillery’s unique setting alongside the River Bush (to which this town owes its name), infuses every one of Bushmills’ distinctive drams with the essence of its environment. Together with the Royal Portrush Golf Club, another historic gem of Northern Ireland’s dramatic coastline, these two esteemed locations offer visitors a profound cultural experience anchored in this enchanting region.
But before I was able to immerse myself in the Irish golfing traditions, I was fortunate enough to be shown around the Old Bushmills Distillery by one of the passionate guides, and immediately I felt immersed in the heritage, tradition and the people who make Bushmills Irish Whiskey so unique.
We started, as all good tours do, in the bar, sampling the Bushmills’ own hot toddy before being escorted around the grounds, through to the top-secret room filled with the original kilns used to toast the malted barley (although they’ve since been retired for more modern machinery in the distillery’s new location).
We then moved through the distillation area, where the whiskey is produced in impressive copper stills that rise from the floor to the roof of the historic building. They repeat this process three times to produce Bushmills’ signature Triple Distilled whiskey, like their classic 10-Year-Old release, and to achieve the perfect Bushmills flavour that has become legend around the world.
A short walk from the old building sits the latest jewel in Bushmills’ historic crown: a cutting-edge facility that blends modern technology with the storied traditions of Bushmills.
The newly opened Causeway Distillery has earned its name from The Giant’s Causeway: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit for any Northern Ireland trip. For centuries, this spectacular natural landscape, just a stone’s throw from the towering gates of the Old Bushmills Distillery, has inspired and excited Bushmills blenders, offering a guiding hand that has influenced each of the brand’s most celebrated collections.
“If we think of the Giant’s Causeway, right on our doorstep and the influence that the landscape has had on the master blenders and distillers over the generations, it’s in the heart of our spirit and our whiskey,” Alex Thomas, Bushmills Master Blender told DMARGE.
To celebrate the distillery’s rich connection to the surrounding landscape, Bushmills released The Causeway Collection: a series of ultra-rare drams that have been aged for an unprecedented amount of time, reminiscent of the great weather-beaten hexagonal basalt columns that have stood for millennia.
Overseeing this expansion is Bushmills’ Master Blender Alex Thomas, who was appointed to the position in 2021. Thomas was born just 15 minutes from the distillery and has been part of the Bushmills family for more than 20 years. When we sat down, Alex jokingly told me that when she first arrived at these iconic gates, she said she would have taken any role to begin her journey with Bushmills. And well, the rest, as they say, is history.
“We want to be here for another 400 years.”
Alex Thomas, Bushmills Master Blender
“As a master blender, my job is to innovate,” Alex Thomas continued. “To think of the future and how I can grow the Bushmills family of whiskey lovers. So by bringing new people in – by creating different cask profiles – we’ll give them a new vision and a reason why they want to fall in love with Bushmills. All, whilst retaining those wonderful people that have been following us for all those years.”
The tour concluded as it had begun, with a glass of Bushmills’ single malt in one of the distillery’s secret tasting rooms.
Years ago, this room would have been used to toast barley before the introduction of modern equipment. During our visit, it welcomed us in to continue an incredible journey tasting each one of Bushmills’ most popular releases: from everyone’s favourite 10-Year-Old expression, through Alex’s celebrated Causeway Collection to Bushmills’ unforgettable 30-Year-Old Single Malt Whiskey.
Sitting in the heart of this historic distillery and sampling whiskeys that had been ageing for over three decades, it was clear to see why Bushmills has earned the enduring title as The Pioneers of Smooth Single Malt Whiskey. I could’ve stayed there all day, had they not closed up for the afternoon. Which was probably for the best, as the following morning, I was set to compete for the British Open.
Royal Portrush Golf Club
The first time I ever played golf was, like most of us, standing at the driving range, aimlessly working my way through the clubs. So, when I arrived in Northern Ireland as part of this incredible experience with Bushmills, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to work on my form at the world-renowned Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Just a short drive from the Old Bushmills Distillery, this course is a true gem in the world of golf. Known for its stunning coastal views and challenging links-style course, Royal Portrush has earned a place among the most prestigious golf destinations in the world, welcoming some of the very best through its fabled doors in pursuit of perfection. It was a natural stop, then, on this unique Bushmills Irish Whiskey adventure.
Simply walking through the clubhouse, past the many trophies, championships and photos of legendary golfers that line the walls, the intertwined histories of the Royal Portrush Golf Club and the Old Bushmills Distillery become abundantly clear: both are woven in the cultural fabric of Northern Ireland, making this region a highly-sought-after destination for whiskey enthusiasts and golfers alike.
Though the British Open has been held away from Northern Ireland for some 68 years, its 2019 return was a moment to savour for Northern Ireland, with local hero Shane Lowrey taking the championship win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Next year, this iconic club will play host to the 153rd Open on 13 – 20 July 2025, drawing the best golfers from around the world… but first, it was my turn to step onto the fairway.
In true Irish style, we were treated to sporadic bursts of rain, intermittently interrupted by glorious sunshine. As the skies cleared, the Irish sun beaming down, we exited out onto the manicured green to experience the spectacular surroundings.
And now DMARGE readers will have the chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience, courtesy of Bushmills Irish Whiskey. From touring the renowned Old Bushmills Distillery, immersing yourself in the time-honoured whiskey-making process and sampling some of the brand’s signature drops, to teeing off in style at the Portrush Royal Golf Club, Bushmills Irish Whiskey is offering the perfect opportunity to explore the rare beauty of Northern Ireland, don’t miss out!