or was it...?

www.potstill.com/bushmills.html

"Each bottle of Bushmills proudly states that it is from the Worlds Oldest Whiskey Distillery licenced in 1608 but this is not strictly true.

In 1608 a licence was granted to Sir Thomas Phillipps "for the next seaven yeres, within the countie of Colrane, otherwise called O Cahanes countrey, or within the territorie called Rowte, in Co. Antrim, by himselfe or his servauntes, to make, drawe, and distil such and soe great quantities of aquavite, usquabagh and aqua composita, as he or his assignes shall thinke fitt;and the same to sell, vent, and dispose of to any persons, yeeldinge yerelie the somme 13s 4d..."

This therefore covered the area of Bushmills but the Bushmills Old Distillery Company was not established until 1784 by Hugh Anderson. Also in 1608 licences were granted to cover the areas which now host Cooley`s and Midleton distilleries so they could similarly lay claim to the oldest distillery title but again the distilleries were not built until many years afterwards. "