Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition
DistilleryBalblairElijah Craig
RegionHighland
CountryScotlandAmerica
TypeSingle MaltBourbon
ABV53.7%47%
Age20 yrNAS
Price£60.45£43.9
Rating5.00/53.50/5

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner65/100
Value83/100

Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner60/100
Value80/100

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) is rated higher (5.00 vs 3.50).

Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition is better value at £44 vs £60.

For beginners: Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.7%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£60.45 vs £43.9)

Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition

Pros

  • +More affordable (£43.9 vs £60.45)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (3.5 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Balblair?

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Who should buy Elijah?

Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Bourbon character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Honey

Only Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

SherriedDried FruitChocolateOld Wood

Only Elijah Craig Small Batch Ryder Cup Commemorative Edition

VanillaToastedMalt Extract

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