The village owes its name to the River Bush (which is derived from the Irish name an Bhuais) and to a large watermill that was built there in the early 1600s Bushmills.

The village is best known as the location of the Old Bushmills Distillery, founded in 1608, which is the oldest licensed distillery in the world. The distillery's range includes the Bushmills Original and Black Bush blends and the 10, 12, 16, and 21 year old Bushmills Single Malts.
The Giant's Causeway is located 2 miles (3 km) north.