Bourbon’s bold new chapter where tradition meets innovation

From Missouri’s historic distilleries to Ireland’s cask finishes and the global stage of the Ryder Cup, bourbon is proving its legacy lies not just in heritage but in reinvention

Ireland’s bourbon market is expanding rapidly, fuelled by premiumisation, cocktail culture, and curiosity for American whiskey heritage. While Irish whiskey dominates, bourbon is carving space on shelves and backbars. Limited editions, cask finishes, and brand partnerships are driving awareness, positioning bourbon as a dynamic, premium category for Irish consumers. Bourbon is a spirit built on tradition, but its future is being shaped by innovation and global collaboration. From the historic rickhouses of Missouri to the shores of Ireland, distillers are pushing boundaries while honouring their roots. At Holladay Distillery, the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi, Soft Red Wheat Bourbon brings a new twist to a historic mash bill, offering one of the few Bottled-in-Bond wheat bourbons aged over six years. Meanwhile, Elijah Craig raises a glass to golf’s most prestigious competition with a 2025 Ryder Cup Limited Edition, a 700-bottle release finished with toasted sugar maple and applewood staves, capturing both New York’s spirit and autumn’s warmth.
Across the Atlantic, Roaming Road Spirits is redefining whiskey by finishing American bourbon and rye in Irish casks, bridging two great traditions with a style that is both bold and elegant. And at Woodford Reserve, over 200 tasting notes come alive in a Straight Bourbon that anchors celebrations of November’s Old Fashioned Month. Together, these stories showcase a category that remains authentic yet adventurous, proving that bourbon’s legacy is not just preserved, but continually reimagined for today’s discerning drinker.

From the oldest distillery in Missouri

The finest bourbon results from an ideal combination of climate and geology that is rare outside of Kentucky but is found in the rolling hills of Weston, Missouri at the Holladay Distillery. The Holladay Distillery was founded in 1856, making it both the oldest distillery in the state of Missouri and the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi still operating on its original site.

The Mash Bill for Holladay Soft Red Wheat is as follows; 73% corn, 15% wheat and 12% barely. It is remarkable how one ingredient in a recipe can change the entire taste profile of a spirit. Holladay Soft Red Wheat is crafted with the original Holladay recipe with one substitute: wheat for the rye. Holladay Soft Red is made in the original stillhouse, barreled in Missouri white oak barrels, aged onsite in iron-clad rickhouses, and bottled at 100 proof. The Bottled-in-Bond classification is a prestigious mark of transparency and legitimacy in the distilled spirits world. The Bottled-in- Bond Act was established in 1897 to guarantee that the product a customer was purchasing was truly whiskey. Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon is one of the very few bottled-in-bond wheat bourbons on the market aged 6+ years and it was worth the wait. To meet the rare and prestigious requirements to be classified as Bottled-in-Bond, a product must be distilled, aged, and bottled in the same location to assure a mark of authenticity.

When master distiller Kyle begins the process of crafting a batch of Holladay Soft Red Wheat, he blends bourbon from different barrels and tastes them in their original form, at Rickhouse Proof. Each expression of Holladay Rickhouse Proof is bottled at the exact proof from the bourbon barrel yield after a minimum of six years aging in one of the original Holladay Rickhouses. No two releases will ever be exactly the same, but every bottle of Rickhouse has one important commonality, full proof, full flavour.

Official Bourbon of the 2025 Ryder Cup

Elijah Craig toasts the Ryder Cup with its 2025 Limited Edition, a Small Batch Bourbon, celebrating the brand’s standing as the biennial competition’s Official Bourbon and a Worldwide Supplier. The release marks the beginning of Elijah Craig’s ‘Road to Ryder Cup’ which will take place from September 23-28, 2025 at Bethpage Black, New York, where Team Europe will take on the US Team. This limited edition is crafted to honour the competition in an exclusive release of just 700 bottles. Among members of Team Europe is Elijah Craig Golf Ambassador Bob MacIntyre, making his second consecutive Ryder Cup appearance.

The limited release Bourbon marks the Ryder Cup’s return to New York through the involvement of applewood and sugar maple trees, the latter being the Empire State’s official tree. It starts with fully-matured Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, which is then finished with toasted staves made up of 75% toasted sugar maple and 25% toasted Applewood. The finished liquids are aged separately over an eight-week period and then vatted together before the 2025 Ryder Cup Limited- Edition Small Batch Bourbon is bottled at 47% ABV.

This edition leads with rich maple syrup on the nose followed by decadent apple pie, and once tasted, the rich maple sweetness reveals notes of candy apples and caramel, both synonymous with the autumn season. The finish is soft and warm, dominated by notes of chocolate and cocoa, with a final note of pepper at the very end to balance the sweetness.

“Elijah Craig’s world-renowned Bourbon will once again be an incredible part of the spectator experience at the Ryder Cup,” said Luke Reissman, PGA of America senior director, Global Partnerships. “From raising a glass at the Elijah Craig Speakeasy onsite at Bethpage Black to savouring the moment at home with a Limited-Edition 2025 Ryder Cup Small Batch Bourbon, there are multiple ways for spectators to celebrate the 2025 Ryder Cup with Elijah Craig.”

Each 700 ml bottle comes with a natural cork and wood top sealed and emblazoned in gold with the tournament’s logo, then is packaged in a commemorative Ryder Cup gift box also emblazoned with the official seal to adorn bar carts and collectors’ shelves alike.

Elijah Craig’s support of golf runs wide and deep. Along with Bob MacIntyre, the iconic whiskey brand is also “The Official Bourbon” of PGA Tour Professional Golfers J.T. Poston and sports broadcaster Amanda Balionis. Elijah Craig is also the official bourbon of PGA of America. Elijah Craig’s is distributed by Barry & Fitzwilliam.

Roaming Road Spirits unites two whiskey traditions

Launched in the United States in 2023, Roaming Road Spirits was founded on a simple but ambitious vision: to search the world for singular casks and share them with those who appreciate authenticity. Early imports of aged rum, Cognac, Armagnac, and Irish whiskey set the stage for a portfolio defined by rarity and individuality.

The introduction of bourbon and rye whiskeys from Kentucky and Indiana brought a natural next step and a bold idea. Rather than keep these American whiskeys bound to US rickhouses, Roaming Road transports them to Ireland, where seasoned Irish whiskey casks provide a finishing chapter. This process does more than layer new flavours; it unites two great whiskey traditions. American intensity, rich with grain and oak is tempered by Irish elegance, producing a style that belongs to both worlds.

With the establishment of Roaming Road Spirits International Ltd. in Dublin, Ireland is now more than a destination, it is central to the brand’s identity. Strategic partnerships with Irish industry figures are ensuring the expansion is not just commercial, but cultural, strengthening the ties between two nations with storied whiskey legacies.

Roaming Road Spirits offers more than just rare barrels and limited releases. It is building a bridge between two countries with proud whiskey legacies, proving that when American character meets Irish influence, the result is a spirit greater than the sum of its parts.

At Roaming Road, the belief has always been simple but profound: the finest spirits tell a story, embody character, and bear the mark of time. Spearheaded by founder Mike Gilmore, they’re thrilled to share the next chapter in their story with you, Roaming Road Spirits International Ltd.

“I’m honoured to announce the launch of a new international company, dedicated exclusively to bringing our expertly curated single cask spirits, headquartered in Dublin Ireland, to a worldwide audience. While our base in the US remains steadfast, we are now expanding into new horizons, sharing our passion for exceptional Bourbon, Rye, and aged Rums with spirit enthusiasts around the globe,” says Mike.

An Irish kiss

From Kentucky and Indiana to the Celtic Coast of Ireland, the Bourbon and Rye whiskeys are being “kissed” by single malt Irish whiskey casks for a touch of Irish soul. These casks, procured over years of exploration, represent Mike’s roots in Bourbon and his unending quest for the remarkable. Every sip is layered with character, tradition, and an innovative new Irish influence that you won’t find anywhere else. These offerings will be available in Ireland, Scotland, and the wider UK, with plans for expansion into other countries as well.
Its spirits remain single cask, hand-selected, and built upon relationships and trust with producers from around the world. It’s a celebration of exploration, craftsmanship, and authenticity.
Roaming Road is currently available in Corkscrew Wine & Spirits Merchants, Dublin, James J. Fox Cigar & Whiskey Bonders, Dublin, Amai by Viktor Restaurant, Dublin, Paladar Cocktail Bar, Cork and Shannon International Airport, Duty Free Shop- County Clare
For online sales go to https://wineonline.ie.

Make it exceptional

In Ireland, we are rightly proud of our whiskey but in Kentucky, they certainly know what they’re doing too. That’s where Woodford Reserve is from, the land of fried chicken, bluegrass music, horse racing, and, of course, the world’s finest bourbon. It’s a piece of American tradition woven into the fabric of its history.
They have a full line-up to choose from at Woodford Reserve, with something for every budget and taste, but the Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a great place to start. It’s a unique offering as it uses an unusually high proportion of rye grain at 18%. It’s a stunning honey-amber colour, with over 200 delectable tasting notes. It’s aromatic on the nose with dried fruits, hints of mint and orange.
To the taste, it offers a robust and complex mix of citrus, cinnamon, and cocoa. Toffee, caramel, chocolate, and spice notes abound. Then, on the finish, it’s smooth and warm with sweet aromatics and a kiss of floral notes.
The month of November is marked as Old Fashioned month and what better way to celebrate than raising a glass of one of America’s classic cocktails, made with the world’s finest bourbon.
So, if you’re looking for whiskey on the rocks, or a signature cocktail, make it exceptional with Woodford Reserve.

 

Q&A with Mike Gilmore, founder and curator of of Roaming Road Spirits

Roaming Road Spirits is making its mark with Ireland’s first Cask-Strength, Single-Cask Bourbons and Rye Whiskey finished in Irish Whiskey Casks in Ireland. How would you describe the experience for an everyday consumer discovering this for the first time?
“For me, it’s about discovery. These are not mass-produced bourbons, every cask carries its own character, its own soul. The experience is one of intensity and honesty: cask strength means nothing is diluted, nothing is hidden. When someone takes that first sip, I want them to feel the journey, from the rolling rickhouses of Kentucky and Indiana to the Irish coast where the cask breathes in a touch of Irish air and influence.”
The name “Roaming Road” suggests a journey. How do you want consumers to feel when they pick up a bottle or order a glass?
“The name came from a simple truth: life, like whiskey, is a journey. For me, Roaming Road is about discovery across borders, across traditions, across experiences. I want consumers to feel part of that journey when they hold the bottle, almost like they’ve stepped onto the road themselves. It’s not just bourbon in a glass, it’s a story that connects heritage with discovery, carrying American strength and Irish soul in every sip.”
Single-cask releases are inherently limited. How does that sense of rarity enhance the consumer experience?
“Rarity is not a marketing trick for me, it’s the heart of Roaming Road. When a cask is gone, it’s gone, and it can’t be duplicated and that creates a moment in time. Consumers get to share in something truly unrepeatable, and that sense of “I was there, I tasted that” is what makes our bourbons special.
Looking five years ahead, how do you hope Roaming Road Spirits will be perceived in Ireland’s drinks landscape?
“I hope people will say Roaming Road brought something fresh to Ireland, respect for tradition, but also the courage to innovate. If we’re seen as the brand that bridged two whiskey worlds and gave consumers something both rare and authentic, then I’ll know I’ve done my job.”