Welcome to another edition of Whiskey You Can Drink, wherein I drink whiskey and tell you about it. It’s been awhile since we talked about Irish whiskey, so today the spotlight is on Bushmills, a blended whiskey weighing in at 80 proof. I paid about $24 for this bottle on sale, which is why you can drink it.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “That’s Protestant whiskey!” Yes, it is made in Northern Ireland, but sit the fuck down, Jimmy McNulty, and let me explain something. John Jameson himself was Scottish, and hence probably Protestant, so GTFOH with that nonsense.

For a time there were only a few distilleries in Ireland, all of which shared their stock, and by some accounts probably still do (which is another reason your theory is bullshit, McNulty). The real differences are apparently in the blending and aging processes. Bushmills contains 55% single-malt whiskey, which is reportedly aged for around 6 years in former bourbon, port, madeira, and sherry casks, and blended with grain spirits that have been aged for five years.

What’s it smell like? A little shortbread, maybe some honey, a slight bit of butter or butterscotch, but mostly orchardy-type fruits. We’re talking apricots or nectarines or some shit like that. Maybe some of that elusive green apple everybody else seems to smell but I can never quite detect.

What’s it taste like? About the same. This is lighter and fruitier than Powers or Jameson. The finish is short, but the butterscotch lingers for a bit. These are round flavors, slightly astringent but sort of not, sort of sweet and sort of dry, too, whatever the hell that’s all supposed to mean. Maybe I sampled a bit too much, but hey, I had to compare it to Jameson and Powers, didn’t I? Well fuck it, might as well have a little Tullamore, too. Then I’ll have a head start on that other thing. Wait, I haven’t mentioned that yet.

Okay, I’m back. Should you buy it? Don’t let me tell you what to do with your money. But if you’ve been avoiding this because “That’s Protestant whiskey!” you’re kind of missing out. One of these days I should host a head-to-head battle of the Irish middle-shelf whiskies, just for the buzz fun of it.

Will I buy it again? Hellyeah. It’s on sale again next month, and I’ll probably grab another bottle then. I also tried a bottle of Red Bush, which is Bushmills aged primarily in bourbon casks. It tasted like Irish bourbon. Wasn’t a big fan. When I want Irish whiskey, I want it to taste like Irish whiskey.