Elijah Craig 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Heaven Hill deliberately cranked the voltage for the 2026 PGA Championship. To honor the 108th iteration of the tournament at Pennsylvania's Aronimink Golf Club, they bottled this commemorative release at a formidable 108 proof. It completely bypasses gimmick territory. Instead, the distilling team sourced specific 8- to 12-year-old barrels exclusively from Rickhouses N and S, a sly geographic nod to Newtown Square. The resulting liquid demands absolute attention. By shedding the constraints of their standard 94-proof flagship, this whiskey uncovers a deeply structural, unapologetically rugged profile. It doesn't rest on brand recognition alone; it commands profound respect.

The foundation relies upon the distillery's pivotal classic mashbill—78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. That specific grain ratio typically yields a familiar sweetness, yet the elevated proof completely alters its trajectory. Extra heat intensifies oak extraction, amplifying underlying charred-wood tannins while pushing dark-fruit notes to the absolute forefront. It boasts remarkable viscosity. You won't often find this exact convergence of event-driven packaging and legitimately compelling liquid inside the glass. This iteration satisfies hardcore collectors and casual sippers with equal ferocity.

• Matured for 8 to 12 years in Level 3 charred oak barrels.
• Features a custom 108-proof bottling to celebrate the 108th PGA Championship.
• Blended from select casks drawn entirely from Heaven Hill's N and S rickhouses.

Nose: Vibrant citrus zest and crushed clove strike the senses immediately. That initial sharpness rapidly dissolves into a dense layer of caramelized sugar, ground cinnamon, and well-seasoned oak.

Palate: The texture hits with intense, heavy viscosity. Robust waves of dark butterscotch and crushed bramble berries dominate early, while an assertive, building oak tannin structure anchors the mid-palate.

Finish: It lingers endlessly. Deep ribbons of toasted oak and lingering baking spices slowly unravel, leaving behind a persistent, dusty vanilla resonance.

Pair this high-proof pour with a deeply charred ribeye steak. The assertive oak tannins effortlessly slice through rich fat, elevating the savory notes perfectly.