Bushmills 18 Year Three Wood Review
In-Depth Review
I can’t be the only one to have felt that Travel Retail whiskey has – at times – felt like the afterthought of the industry, where all difficult to sell whiskey goes to be labeled a “limited release” or a Travel Retail “exclusive”. But I’m beginning to believe that the age of Travel Retail gimmick bottles might be over. After spending time in Dublin airport and its expansive Duty-Free retail experience, I found myself with an incredibly long list of potential last-minute additions to my luggage. They had unique Redbreasts, Jamesons, Teelings, and Bushmills - and those were just the name brands on offer.
But as I perused wall after wall of Irish whiskey, it was a Bushmills that caught my eye. Specifically, an expression they called the 18 Year Three Wood, which was labeled as a limited release and “cask reserve”. And while all of that could likely be chalked up to marketing, the specs were intriguing. Bottled at 46%, and aged in a combination of bourbon, sherry, and Colheita port casks, I couldn’t deny the allure of its $140 MSRP. A quick search told me this was a brand new expression that’s being limited to Travel Retail in Ireland and Asia for now, but look for an expanded rollout to Global Travel Retail in 2026. I grabbed it and took it halfway around the world with me. Now let’s dive in and see if this is worthy of a spot in your carryon.
Age: 18 Year
ABV: 46%
Cask: Mixture of bourbon, sherry, and Colheita Port.
MSRP: $140
Distillery Name: Bushmills Distillery
Review Date: 6/3/25
Color: Beautiful garnet with strong red hues throughout
Nose: Wow. The nose is bursting with fresh red apple peel, cranberry sauce, strawberries, and the inside of an oak drawer. The big fruity notes are mixed with the faintest wood oil note that provides nice depth and complexity right off the bat. After resting for 5-10 minutes, more earthy notes like worn leather and cedar poke through – balancing well with the burst of fruity notes found upfront. You immediately can tell that there are some unique woods at work here, each providing layer upon layer of complexity – culminating in one of the better noses I’ve experienced lately.
Palate: On first sip, I am surprised by the deliciously light and fruity front palate. It’s only after letting the whiskey sit on the tongue for a moment does a rush of dark, woody, spices come through. The crescendo of flavors come in the form of mulled wine, red fruits, fresh apricot, Venezuelan dark chocolate, bourbon vanilla extract, and fresh cinnamon. The mouthfeel is fantastically viscous, with its cacophony of flavors clearly influenced by its exotic cask maturation.
Finish: Medium length finish with a drying spice oak note accented by cooked strawberries and fig jam. The flourish is all on the midpalate, with the finish left fading to baking spices and dried oak - a bit quicker than expected.
Final Thoughts: I’ll admit that my first pour of Bushmills 18 Year Three Wood left me completely enamored with this bottle. Its intoxicating nose, its burst of fruit on the front palate, and its subtle drying spice left a great first impression. And even after the romanticism of the first few sips began to fade, I still found myself going back repeatedly to its wonderful nose – a complex assortment of strawberries and old wood that left me hesitant to drink for fear the nose would disappear. It’s an undeniably well-executed port finished expression from Bushmills, which makes it more of a shame that this won’t have widespread distribution. And compared to the Balvenie 21 year old port finish’s ever increasing MSRP, this almost feels like a good deal. So, if you ever find yourself in Travel Retail and spot this bottle, do yourself a favor and find some room in your suitcase and thank me later.
