Elijah Craig Ryder Cup
Overall Score: 7/10
Overall Value: 2.75/5
Distillery: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished in European Toasted Oak Barrels
Company: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Release Date: August 2023
Proof: 94
Age: NAS
Color: Honey
MSRP: $100 (2025)
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose of this limited Ryder Cup edition of Elijah Craig opens with notes of sweet honey and vanilla, followed by deeper layers of peanut brittle and red fruits like strawberry and grape. There’s also a strong oak backbone and hints of powdered sugar and custard that give the nose a rich, full-bodied profile. Letting it sit brings out the signature Elijah Craig caramel, and even a little nuttiness, rounding out a layered and pleasant toasted barrel nose.
The palate delivers on the nose’s promise with a soft, easy-drinking character. It feels like a sweeter, fruitier take on the regular Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, but with a few twists—think grape, orange zest, toasted marshmallow, and just a touch of smoke. The mouthfeel is light and slightly oily, with flavors that evolve nicely across multiple sips. It’s approachable and flavorful, without being too complex or challenging.
The finish is where the pour gets some mixed reviews. The finish leans oak-heavy and dries the palate more than expected. While there’s still a lingering sweetness, it fades fast and is sometimes replaced by a faint skunky note or lingering nuttiness. It’s not unpleasant, but it doesn’t quite maintain the excitement of the first sip.
Elijah Craig’s Ryder Cup edition bourbon is a fun, limited release that makes for a great collector’s item—especially for golf fans. The toasted barrel influence is clear but subtle, and the pour overall is enjoyable. That said, with an MSRP around $100, you’re likely paying for the packaging and novelty. If you catch it on sale or closer to a price point near $60, it becomes a far better value. This review lands it in the “good but not essential” category—solid for the shelf, but not something you’ll be desperate to restock.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
Primarily nuttiness, like peanuts, but also sweet red fruits like strawberry.
The nose is very rich and full bodied giving a bit of a custard profile.
THE TASTE:
Light oil mouthfeel, but still full bodied. I get a bit of campfire smoke on the palate, which I attribute to the toasted finish.
However, I do still pull a bit of toasted marshmallow and sweet fruitiness.
I’m getting mostly orange from the fruit profile, and the sweetness that comes on towards the end is particularly surprising.
THE FINISH:
I really struggled to pick up specific notes on the finish, overall it’s sweet.
I occasionally got a skunky note. The nuttiness from the nose comes back a bit.
BUY OR PASS?
Overall I find this to be a decent pour. It’s unique without falling into the weird category.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 3/5
THE NOSE:
Sweet honey and vanilla. There’s a solid oak presence too, which really gives it some backbone.
With a few more sips and some time in the glass, that signature Elijah Craig caramel shows up—and even a little powdered sugar.
THE TASTE:
This drinks like a softer, sweeter version of regular Elijah Craig Toasted. It’s got that same easy-drinking profile, but with an extra pop of fruity sweetness.
I definitely get grape, which is kind of surprising in a good way. There's also honey in there, rounding it out.
It’s not the most complex pour, but it's enjoyable.
THE FINISH:
The finish leans heavy on oak and dries out the palate more than I’d like.
The sweetness fades fast, which is a bit of a letdown after such a nice start.
That lingering oak sticks around longer than anything else.
BUY OR PASS?
This is a fun pour and a great shelf piece—especially if you're into golf. But at $100, you're mostly paying for the Ryder Cup branding. The bourbon inside is good, but would feel like a much better buy closer to $60.
