Bushmills Original
Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Blend of triple distilled Bushmills malt and lighter Irish grain whiskey, bottled at 40%. Matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks.
- Aging
- Ex-bourbon and sherry casks, minimum 3 years per the brand listing
- Grains
- barley, corn
- Congeners
- Moderate
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Low
- Calories
- 98
- Sugar
- 0g
14g ethanol at 40% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓Light grain-led blend
- ✓Triple distilled malt component
- ✓Bottled at 40%
What to watch
- !Barley in the mash means gluten
- !Caramel colouring permitted
- !Sherry casks can contribute small amounts of sulfites
Factor by factor
Congeners Moderate ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Bushmills Original is the lighter, grain-heavy end of the Bushmills range. Its chemistry is typical of a modern Irish blend: modest wood extraction and a 40% dose.
Bushmills Original questions
How many calories are in a shot of Bushmills Original? ▾
About 98 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 40% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Bushmills Original have sugar? ▾
No. Bushmills Original has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Bushmills Original gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Bushmills Original is distilled from barley, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What is Bushmills Original made from? ▾
Bushmills Original is made from triple distilled malt whiskey blended with grain whiskey.
What proof is Bushmills Original? ▾
Bushmills Original is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Bushmills Original give you a bad hangover? ▾
Bushmills Original scores 5/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 6/10 for irish whiskey overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is Bushmills Original vegan? ▾
Yes. Bushmills Original is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.