Bushmills The Causeway Collection 2011 Banyuls Finish

Distilled on 1 March 2011 and bottled in 2020, this single malt from Bushmills forms part of The Causeway Collection and was finished in Banyuls wine casks before bottling at 53.2 percent ABV without chill filtration. After initial maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, the whiskey was transferred to Banyuls casks to add a deeper, fruit-driven layer to the profile.

Banyuls is a fortified wine from the Roussillon region of southern France, made primarily from Grenache grapes and known for its concentrated red fruit, raisin and cocoa-like character developed through oxidation and partial raisining. Casks seasoned with this wine carry dense fruit compounds, spice-laden phenolics and gentle tannins into the wood. During finishing, these elements dissolve into the spirit, amplifying dried fruit intensity and adding weight and richness through the mid-palate.

On the nose, the whiskey opens with raisins, dried apricot and dark fruit layered with chocolate and warm spice. The palate is rich and fruit-led, showing plums, fig and dessert-wine sweetness carried with firmness at higher strength. The finish is medium to long, with lingering dried fruit, spice and oak presence giving the whiskey persistence and depth.