Bushmills The Causeway Collection 2011 Sauternes Finish

Distilled on 22 August 2011 and bottled on 6 July 2021 at 56.3 percent ABV, this Causeway Collection release explores the influence of rare Sauternes wine cask finishing on a decade-aged Irish single malt.

The spirit spent more than seven years in a combination of oloroso sherry butts and ex-bourbon barrels, establishing a foundation of dried fruit complexity, vanilla and gentle oak structure. It was then transferred to Sauternes wine casks for additional maturation. Sauternes is a sweet fortified wine from Bordeaux characterised by concentrated residual sugars and layered fruit acidity, which contribute amplified stone fruit and citrus sweetness alongside refined texture during finishing.

On the nose, the profile is rich and vibrant with layered apricot, tangerine and honeyed fruit, supported by pastry-like vanilla custard and subtle nutty undertones. As it opens, citrus peel and herbal earth elements balance the sweeter notes. The palate delivers ripe stone fruit, toffee apple and honey, with gentle spice and ginger warmth adding structure. Oak presence remains integrated, supporting the fruit and fortified wine character without dominating the profile.