As for Bushmills, I prefer it myself. It's got a smoother taste than most others. Living about 8 miles from the distillery might have had an influence though.
It smells like cow poo by the distillery
Anyway after years of living in the north I concluded at the whole Ireland can only manage a good whiskey. Every beer or beer like stuff tastes pretty poor. All the stouts taste a bit bland and heavy (guinness tastes the same everywhere its pored regularly anyway) and Harp makes small babies cry.
Do like the old bit of Bushmills now and again though