Elijah Craig PGA Championship bourbon arrives at 108 proof from Heaven Hill’s N and S rickhouses. Small batch, $36.99, shipping now.
Some tributes show their work. This one shows it on the label.
Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig team pulled a small batch of barrels from the N and S rickhouses in Bardstown, bottled it at 108 proof, and sent it out as the official commemorative edition for the 108th PGA Championship.
The number isn’t a coincidence and it isn’t subtle.
It’s the kind of detail a distiller notices first and a golf fan notices second, which is exactly the right order for a bourbon that has to earn both rooms. The 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition Small Batch ships now at $36.99, timed to Aronimink Golf Club’s hosting duties in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, May 14 through 17.
What the extra proof points actually do
The standard Elijah Craig Small Batch sits at 94 proof. This release climbs fourteen points. That’s not a new mash bill or a new distillate — it’s the same house character turned up.
The nose opens with vanilla and citrus before the baking spices arrive. Clove and cinnamon show up where you’d expect them, but the higher proof pushes them forward instead of folding them into the background.
On the palate the release delivers butterscotch, ripe berries, and layered baking spice, with a finish that carries warmth longer than the 94-proof version does. That’s the point of the proof bump. You don’t get a different bourbon. You get a longer look at the one you already know.
Whether anyone will actually open a commemorative bottle before hoisting it for Instagram is a separate question. The gold coin cork stamped with Aronimink’s logo makes a case for the shelf. The liquid makes a stronger case for the glass.
The partnership under the partnership
The PGA Championship tie is the headline. The bigger signal is the depth of Elijah Craig’s golf portfolio.
“Elijah Craig’s strong partnership with PGA of America
brings together the best in golf and the best in Bourbon,
and reflects our shared spirit of craftsmanship and dedication,”
Max Stefka
AVP, Global Whiskey Brands at Heaven Hill.
“We look forward to toasting a glass of this 108-proof Small Batch Bourbon to mark the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink.”
Beyond the Championship itself, Elijah Craig is the Official Bourbon of the PGA of America, the Ryder Cup, and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, with Tour pros Robert MacIntyre and J.T. Poston on the brand roster. That’s a long bench for a spirits sponsorship, and it’s why the commemorative editions keep landing cleanly — the brand isn’t renting the association every May.
“Elijah Craig plays an instrumental role in bringing the PGA Championship experience to life,”
Ernie Vilar
PGA of America Senior Director, Global Partnerships
“The PGA of America is proud to continue our partnership with this iconic brand, offering spectators both at-home and along the fairways the opportunity to toast this year’s historic return to Aronimink with Elijah Craig’s award-winning Bourbon.”
The rickhouse detail worth keeping
The press material names the N and S rickhouses specifically. For anyone who doesn’t spend a lot of time in Bardstown, that’s the kind of line most marketing copy files off before it reaches the bottle. Leaving it in is a signal to the trade: this is a batch with a provenance, not a number. Heaven Hill’s rickhouses are famous among bourbon people for the way barrel placement shapes flavor — the upper floors deliver heat-driven intensity, the lower floors carry more restraint. Pulling from two named houses for a limited run tells you someone was paying attention when the barrels were chosen. [HUMOR] It’s the same reason you don’t order a Burgundy by color.
For context on how commemorative bourbon releases have performed in recent years, The Bourbon Review’s coverage of limited-edition strategy is a useful read.
Mini FAQ
What proof is the Elijah Craig 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition? The release is bottled at 108 proof, chosen to honor the 108th playing of the PGA Championship. It sits fourteen proof points above the standard Elijah Craig Small Batch.
Where can I buy the Elijah Craig PGA Championship bottle? The bottle is shipping now in limited quantities to retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $36.99. Availability varies by market.
What does Elijah Craig 108 proof taste like? The bottle opens with vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and citrus on the nose, moves to butterscotch, ripe berries, and baking spices on the palate, and finishes with lingering sweetness and complex spice.
Pour the math
If you collect commemorative bottles, this one earns shelf space for the proof-point detail alone. If you drink them, even better — the bump to 108 gives Small Batch a version of itself worth tasting side by side with the standard pour. The PGA Championship arrives at Aronimink in mid-May. The bottle is already in motion.
