Elijah Craig 2024 PGA Championship Edition Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Heaven Hill Distillery
• MASH BILL: 78% Corn | 10% Rye. |12% Malted Barley
  (Comprised of bourbons aged in Warehouses P, 1G, and A. Not kidding.)
• AGE: Non age stated
• YEAR: 2024
• PROOF: 94 proof
• MSRP: $36.99

Drew’s NOTES

SHARE WITH: Elijah Craig fans, golfing buddies, and Scottie Scheffler, who could probably use a pour or four right about now.

WORTH THE PRICE: While I’m sure the Heaven Hill marketing folks loved the idea, the “PGA” gimmick doesn’t make this one worth much more than the standard Elijah Craig Small Batch. Which is exactly how they priced it. Kudos to Heaven Hill for giving the world a commemorative bourbon without an insulting markup.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle, but probably only if you’re a hot shot golfer (or, like me, just try not to lose all your golf balls). Otherwise, I recommend looking for a pour of this one at your nearest clubhouse or overstocked bourbon bar.

OVERALL: Elijah Craig became the official bourbon of the PGA in 2023, so this commemorative offering isn’t all that surprising, especially when the PGA Championship is being played just up the road from Heaven Hill’s home in Bardstown.

But this also isn’t Elijah Craig’s first golf-themed bottling. After announcing their sponsorship last year, Elijah Craig debuted the Ryder Cup Limited Edition, a special toasted barrel finish using new European Oak with a profile similar to barrels used in Italy’s Lazio wine region near Rome, where the Ryder Cup was held. That elaborate backstory actually yielded a pretty solid bourbon, but it commanded a pretty steep premium, too ($100, almost twice the price of a standard Toasted Barrel).

For 2024, Heaven Hill has dialed back the gimmick and the price point with favorable results. Does it taste any different than the standard Elijah Craig Small Batch? I definitely get more chocolate and barrel char on the nose, and the palate is slightly richer with a bit more spice. Other than those details, this is classic Craig with plenty of Cracker Jacks and butterscotch to chew on. It’s a perfect way to end a round at the 19th Hole or, if you golf like I do, somewhere closer to the 10th.

BRAND NOTES

• 25% barrels from Rickhouse P
• 61% barrels from Rickhouse 1G
• 14% barrels from Rickhouse A

A special-edition Commemorative Bottling of Elijah Craig Small Batch is now shipping to select retailers across the country to help fans mark the return of the Major Championship to Elijah Craig’s “backyard” where the brand is distilled, bottled and aged. The bottle will be adorned with a neck label featuring the PGA Championship’s Wanamaker Trophy, a gold coin emblazoned cork showing the 2024 PGA Championship logo and a face label prominently showcasing the “Official Bourbon” designation along with the PGA Championship logo. The barrels for this special release are uniquely pulled from Heaven Hill rickhouses P, 1G and A – to further the ties to Elijah Craig’s Official Bourbon partnership with the PGA Championship and the PGA of America. This one-time offering will become available nationally leading up to the Championship on an allocated basis.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.