Updated March 2026.
Bushmills Original is 40% ABV / 80 proof on the official US product page (fetched ). Black Bush is the same 40% / 80. A 1.5-ounce pour is one NIAAA standard drink. It is blended Irish whiskey from the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland — single malt plus grain, triple-distilled on the malt side. Irish whiskey must be aged ≥3 years in Ireland. We will not reprint a 2021 price grid.
Becle (Jose Cuervo / Proximo Spirits) has owned the brand since the 2014 swap with Diageo. That is corporate, not a Midleton mash. Related: Jameson, Bushmills vs Jameson, Jameson proof.
Original vs Black Bush vs aged
| SKU | US ABV (brand) | 1.5 oz drinks | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 40% / 80 | 1.00 | bushmills.com Original page |
| Black Bush | 40% / 80 | 1.00 | Higher malt share; sherry + bourbon casks (brand) |
| 10 / 12 / 16 / 21 year malts | Usually 40% — read the neck | 1.00 if 40% | Age is not extra proof |
| 750 mL Original | 40% | ~17 in the bottle | NIAAA math |
A 1.75 L Original is about 39.5 standard drinks. Four Original pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. June 2026 Black Bush bottle redesign does not change the liquid (trade press). “Oldest licensed distillery, 1608” is a license-date claim, not a 400-year barrel. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- bushmills.com/products/the-original and /black-bush: both “(40% ABV – 80 Proof)” fetched.
- Owner: Becle / Proximo; 2014 Diageo brand swap (Irish Times / company reporting).
- Irish whiskey ≥3 years. TTB Irish whiskey class. NIAAA (December 2025). No 2026 MSRP (site cart tags are not a spec).
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