Lowden rolls out the barrels with Bushmills guitar run

Lowden Guitars has teamed up with Irish whiskey brand Bushmills, to create eight limited edition guitars made from whiskey barrels and ancient bog oak.

The guitars cost £8,500 each and are made from Bushmills whiskey barrel wood, which was picked for large sections of the guitar including the back inlays and bindings, while ancient bog oak was selected for the back and sides of the guitar; and Sinker Redwood for the soundboard.

They also include a cross symbol, formed of a cooper’s hammer and the chisel of a luthier representing the coming together of the two crafts.

On the back, two lines echo the staves found in a Bushmills whiskey barrel and represent the passing of skills from one generation to the next.

George Lowden, said: “We scour the world for the best tonewoods which are the real ‘stars’ of our guitars, determining how they sound, feel, and play. So my sons and I relished the opportunity to work with the coopers to select the best Bushmills barrel wood for the guitar.

“It was a great opportunity to see up close how the barrels are formed and how they give the whiskey its colour and flavour. The three woods used to create the guitar play an integral part in making the ‘Bushmills x Lowden F-50’ guitar so unique. The barrel wood complements the other tone woods with the bog oak offering a mellow, warm sound. And when paired with Sinker Redwood on the soundboard, it helps extract a clarity and sparkle from each and every note the guitar produces.”

The guitar run is part of Bushmills’ #AnswertheCall initiative to encourage creators, artists, entrepreneurs and adventurers to “celebrate their stories and inspire others to fulfil their true calling”.