Elijah Craig 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition Small Batch Bourbon Review

 

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Actually, it isn’t much of a secret because I’ve been saying this for years. I’m an Elijah Craig fanboy. Back when I first started drinking Bourbon, that big, red 12 on the label stood out to me, and I fell in love.

 

Back in January 2016, when Heaven Hill announced that it would drop the 12-year age statement from its Small Batch Bourbon, fans were pissed and whining about how awful the “new” Elijah Craig tasted. Except, it hadn’t been released yet. Not to the public, and as far as I know, not even to the press. It was more about throwing a temper tantrum than anything else.

 

I wasn’t on that bandwagon. In fact, I wrote about how humorous I found the whole “controversy” to be back in 2018 when I was still writing for Bourbon & Banter. By the time the dust settled, Elijah Craig lost no popularity; in fact, demand surged with its new Private Barrel program and its continued Barrel Proof releases.

 

The dirty little secret is that most of those same naysayers are still drinking Elijah Craig today. Why? Because all grandstanding aside, it is an incredibly solid, classic, affordable Bourbon, and they know it.

 

Now, that’s not to suggest that everything Elijah Craig’s label is on is excellent. I panned Elijah Craig Rye release back in 2022. I’ve had some Private Barrels that were on the bland side. Some of the Barrel Proofs are far superior to others. However, if you asked me to select a brand that consistently produces great, affordable Bourbons, I’d answer Elijah Craig. And that even goes for its flagship Small Batch Bourbon.

 

That brings us to the subject of today’s whiskey review: Elijah Craig’s 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition Small Batch Bourbon.

 

For this release, all of the barrels aged in Heaven Hill’s N and S rickhouses were dumped and packaged at 54% ABV (108°). The proof was purposely chosen. You see, this is the 108^th annual PGA Championship, which returns to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA, this May 14 – 17^th. Did you catch that? Rickhouses N and S are for Newton Square.

 

“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. We look forward to toasting a glass of this 108-proof Small Batch Bourbon to mark the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink.” - Max Stefka, AVP, Global Whiskey Brands at Heaven Hill

 

Heaven Hill is keeping this release affordable at $36.99, and it has a national rollout. Be on the lookout for the gold coin embedded in the classic wood stopper.

 

Elijah Craig was kind enough to send me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. The cool thing for me is that I don’t believe I’ve tried Elijah Craig at this proof. Let’s #DrinkCurious and taste what it is all about!

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 54% ABV (108°)
• Price per 750mL: $36.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The golden amber liquid produced a thick rim, which discharged a combination of a curtain and thick, widely spaced tears.

 

Nose: I allowed the Bourbon to oxidize for about 15 minutes before nosing. There were smells of charred oak, rose petals, vanilla, caramel, and clove. When I pulled the air through my lips, I found cherries and charred oak.

 

Palate: The first sip revealed a thin, oily mouthfeel along with a punch of cherry pie filling. There was an eyebrow-raising lack of heat associated with the stated proof. On my second approach, I tasted black cherries, orange citrus, and butterscotch on the front of my palate. Notes of leather, pipe tobacco, and cinnamon created a nice transition on my mid-palate, leading to clove, charred oak, and nutmeg on the back.

 

Finish: Cherries, older leather, butterscotch, sweet tobacco, charred oak, and clove played well together. While the finish’s warmth was soft, the duration was dry, making it an attention-getting one at 1:43.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Whenever there is a limited-edition whiskey that is something other than a special paper label, the first question I ask is, “What’s the markup?” Cashgrab prices seem to be the norm, so I commend Heaven Hill for making this 108° expression only a few bucks more than its standard, 94° Small Batch Bourbon.

 

I found that the 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition drank closer to 94° than the stated one. You’ll recognize that as a commonly cited “win” in my book. I love that higher proofed whiskeys are easy sippers, but that’s also a two-edged sword, because at some point, you have to stand up, and the alcohol will sneak up on you.

 

I must admit that with some distilleries, I’m more familiar with the nuances of the various rickhouses than others. At Heaven Hill, there are 70 in use, and I know that Deatsville and Rickhouse Y are two that consistently produce impressive barrels. I’m unfamiliar with Rickhouses N and S. It seems risky to randomly select a proof and certain rickhouses based on wordplay. Regardless, what I tasted today was delicious.

 

If you’re a fan of Elijah Craig, then the 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition will more than satisfy you. If you’re not, well, perhaps this one will garner your interest. In my opinion, it is a slam-dunk Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.