Elijah Craig 108 Proof, the commemorative bourbon for the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink, is shipping to Lehigh Valley retailers now at $36.99.
The PGA Championship is coming back to Pennsylvania in May. The bourbon to go with it is already here.
Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig released its 2026 PGA Championship Commemorative Edition Small Batch Bourbon this week, bottled at 108 proof to mark the 108th playing of the Championship.
The tournament heads to Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square from May 14 through 17 — roughly a seventy-mile drive from Allentown, which puts it in the category of weekend plans rather than local commute. The bottle itself is a different story. At $36.99 and moving through Pennsylvania retail now, it’s one of the rare commemorative spirits releases that earns the shelf space whether you make the drive or watch the back nine from the couch in Bethlehem.
What actually makes this release worth buying
A lot of commemorative bottles are the same liquid in a different dress. This one isn’t.
Standard Elijah Craig Small Batch pours at 94 proof. The 2026 PGA edition climbs to 108 — a fourteen-point bump that gives the house character more room to breathe. The nose opens with vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and citrus. The palate moves through butterscotch, ripe berries, and layered baking spices. The finish holds warm and long, with the kind of sweet-to-spicy transition that makes the bottle useful past the novelty of the label.
The batch was pulled from Heaven Hill’s N and S rickhouses in Bardstown — a detail most marketing copy would file off before print. Leaving it in tells you someone was paying attention when the barrels were chosen.
Why Lehigh Valley buyers should pay attention
Pennsylvania sells spirits through the state system, which means Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across the valley — Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and the smaller outlets — are the channel that matters here. Limited commemorative releases at $36.99 don’t stay on shelves long once golf fans, bourbon collectors, and gift-buyers get to them at the same time. This bottle is all three at once.
The release also fits the valley’s drinking culture honestly. The region has spent the last decade building a serious craft beer scene around places like Saucony Creek and Yergey Brewing, and that palate — people who care about the specifics of what’s in the glass — is the same palate that picks up on the difference between a 94-proof pour and a 108. The bourbon world calls this proof creep for a reason. Higher-proof small batch releases aren’t showing off. They’re giving the flavor more runway.
“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,” said 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.”
Elijah Craig is also 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.
If you’re making the trip — or not
Seventy miles from Allentown to Newtown Square. About an hour and twenty minutes depending on how the turnpike moves. Thursday through Sunday, May 14 to 17.
If you’re going, the bottle is worth tucking into the trunk for the return trip. If you’re not, the bottle still earns its keep for a Sunday afternoon watching the leaderboard tighten — neat, one rock, or long with ginger. The 108 proof holds up in all three. It also makes an Old Fashioned that doesn’t get buried under the citrus, which is more than most commemorative bourbons can say.
“Elijah Craig plays an instrumental role in bringing the PGA Championship experience to life,” said 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.”
For background on how Pennsylvania’s state spirits retail system handles limited releases, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board site is the primary source for availability.
Mini FAQ
Where can I buy the Elijah Craig 2026 PGA Championship bottle in the Lehigh Valley? The bottle is shipping now to Pennsylvania retailers at a suggested retail price of $36.99. In Pennsylvania, that means Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and surrounding communities should be receiving allocations through spring.
How far is Aronimink Golf Club from Allentown? Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania is roughly seventy miles from Allentown, which puts the 2026 PGA Championship within reasonable day-trip or weekend distance from most of the Lehigh Valley.
Is the 108-proof Elijah Craig worth buying if I’m not a golf fan? Yes. The 108-proof release delivers a more intense version of the same award-winning Small Batch flavor profile, with longer finish and more layered spice. The commemorative packaging is a bonus, not the reason to buy.
Pour one for the home state
The PGA Championship comes back to Pennsylvania in mid-May. The bourbon is on valley shelves now. Make the drive, or don’t — the bottle works either way.
