Elijah Craig PGA Championship Edition 750ML

Elijah Craig PGA Championship Edition 750ML is a limited-release Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV) in a 750ml bottle. This special expression draws from individually selected barrels in designated Heaven Hill rickhouses, chosen to commemorate the PGA Championship. The core Elijah Craig Small Batch expression on which it is based earned 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 proof)  |  Origin: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA  |  Aged 8–12 Years, Small Batch  |  Distillery: Heaven Hill

Production & Heritage

Heaven Hill Distillery, headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky, is one of the largest family-owned and operated spirits producers in the United States. The Elijah Craig PGA Championship Edition uses the same 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley mashbill as the flagship Small Batch, aged 8 to 12 years in new charred American oak barrels. What distinguishes each annual release is the specific rickhouse selection—past editions have pulled barrels from Heaven Hill's Q and H1 rickhouses (honoring Quail Hollow Golf Club) and from rickhouses P, 1G, and A in subsequent years, creating subtle batch-to-batch variation tied to each championship venue. Small batch blending typically draws from 200 to 300 barrels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A strong, sweet fragrance opens with butterscotch and toffee before transitioning into toasted oak and warm baking spices. Vanilla and a whisper of orange zest emerge as the bourbon opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is smooth and honeyed, with caramel and toasted nuts arriving early on the palate. At mid-palate, wood spice, cinnamon toast, and nutmeg build alongside a layer of dark fruit. A touch of citrus brightness keeps the sweetness balanced through the peak.

Finish: Long and mellow, tapering gently with lingering caramel, vanilla, and a subtle herbal-anise quality. A light dryness from the oak provides structure without bitterness.

How to Drink the PGA Championship Edition

This bourbon rewards neat sipping at room temperature, where the rickhouse-specific character has room to express itself; a few drops of water can further open the aromatics without diminishing body. It also performs well in cocktails that showcase bourbon's caramel-oak backbone. An Old Fashioned lets the butterscotch and baking-spice notes take center stage against a simple syrup base. A Boulevardier pairs the bourbon's dark fruit and warm spice with Campari's bitter edge for a complex, aperitif-weight drink. A Whiskey Sour benefits from the expression's honeyed sweetness, which balances citrus without requiring excessive sweetener.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon collector who values limited or commemorative releases
• Hosting a tasting flight comparing rickhouse-specific barrel selections
• Celebrating a milestone round or tournament watch party among golf enthusiasts
• Adding a conversation-starting bottle to a home bourbon shelf

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the PGA Championship Edition taste like? It delivers a rich, mellow profile led by butterscotch, caramel, and toasted oak, complemented by baking spices, honey, and a touch of dark fruit. The finish is long with vanilla and subtle herbal-anise undertones.

How does the PGA Championship Edition compare to Buffalo Trace? Both are approachable Kentucky bourbons at a similar proof point, but the Elijah Craig PGA Championship Edition carries a distinctly Heaven Hill house character with deeper oak influence from its longer aging window of 8 to 12 years. Buffalo Trace tends toward a lighter, slightly fruitier profile with less pronounced wood spice.

Is the PGA Championship Edition good for sipping neat? Yes—its 94-proof strength and extended barrel maturation deliver enough complexity and depth for straight sipping without overwhelming heat, making it well suited to drinking neat or with a single ice cube.

Where is the PGA Championship Edition made? It is produced by Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, one of the historic centers of American bourbon production. Barrels are matured on-site in specific Heaven Hill rickhouses selected to correspond with each year's PGA Championship host course.

What foods pair well with the PGA Championship Edition? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the bourbon's oak and caramel depth. Dark chocolate truffles highlight the vanilla and baking-spice notes. Pecan pie mirrors the toasted-nut character on the mid-palate. Aged cheddar or Gruyère contrasts the sweetness with savory richness. Grilled stone fruit such as peaches or plums echoes the dark fruit undertones.

What sizes does the PGA Championship Edition come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. Availability of alternative sizes has not been confirmed for this limited edition.

Is the PGA Championship Edition worth the price? It positions as a limited-edition expression built on an already well-regarded small batch bourbon that has earned 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The commemorative packaging and rickhouse-specific barrel selection add collectible appeal beyond the liquid itself, placing it in a premium-but-accessible tier for bourbon enthusiasts.

Why the PGA Championship Edition?

The strongest differentiator here is the barrel selection process: Heaven Hill's team pulls from named rickhouses that correspond to each year's PGA Championship venue, meaning every annual release carries a subtly different flavor fingerprint rooted in warehouse location and microclimate. This is not a rebottled standard Small Batch with new packaging—the rickhouse specificity introduces genuine batch variation that rewards side-by-side comparison across vintages. Built on a mashbill and aging regimen that has already earned critical recognition, including 95 points from Wine Enthusiast, the PGA Championship Edition layers collectibility and provenance onto a proven Kentucky bourbon foundation. For drinkers who appreciate both the sport and the spirit, it represents a limited annual release with verifiable production distinction behind the label.