Black Bush traces its roots to the 1930s, evolving from Bushmills Special Old Liqueur Whiskey. It is a blended Irish whiskey, not a single malt: 80% single malt aged in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, combined with 20% grain whiskey. The spirit is triple-distilled and matured for eight to ten years before bottling.

The Oloroso cask maturation gives Black Bush its depth. This is a full-bodied, fruit-forward blend with pronounced sherry character—a departure from the lighter Irish whiskey profile many expect. The whisky has won top awards at the World Whisky Awards in both 2007 and 2010.