"This 18-year old will not go waste" - Amanda Balionis thanks bourbon brand for 'spoiling' her

Amanda Balionis is back to covering the NFL after a long season of golf. The CBS Sports reporter recently announced that she has shifted her focus to the NFL.

The 39-year-old, who is a partner at Elijah Craig Bourbon, recently thanked the brand for 'spoiling' her in an Instagram story. She shared a picture of a gift set from Elijah Craig, featuring an 18-year-old single barrel bourbon, a decanter, two glasses, and a branded hat.

Balionis wrote on her Instagram story:

"Until @elijahcraig says, 'hold my bourbon' 😉 thanks for always spoiling me! This 18-year old will not go to waste"

Screengrab of Amanda Balionis' Instagram Story (Source: @balionis/Instagram)

The Sports reporter signed a multi-year partnership deal with Elijah Craig Bourbon in February 2023. She joined golfer Max Homa who signed the deal with the company in January 2022.

At the time of signing the deal, Amanda Balionis had said (via Elijah Craig):

"As a sports broadcaster I’m lucky to cover golf tournaments all over the country and the world. One of my favorite things about the game is who I get to enjoy it with—including close friends like Max Homa. Our hangouts just got a lot better now that I’m Team Elijah Craig’s newest golf brand ambassador."

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Max Homa asks Amanda Balionis what it takes 'to ask the right questions'

Max Homa and Amanda Balionis are both partners of Elijah Craig Bourbon. In a recent Instagram reel by Elijah Craig, the two sat together as Homa asked Balionis questions about her profession.

Balionis started her journalism career after graduating from Hofstra University in 2008. Since then, she has worked with Verizon Fios, MSG Network, PGA Tour and CBS Sports. Homa asked Balionis what it takes to ask the right questions in the biggest moments.

Balionis humorously questioned Homa back (via Elijah Craig):

"Are you saying I do ask the right questions in the biggest moments?"

Homa concurred. Balionis then said:

"I was trying to get a compliment out of you there. I think it's just being in the moment, right? Like doing your research, understanding what that moment means for each individual player, what contextually has been happening with them."

Homa further asked Balionis if she felt like she had gotten better at picking up on what to ask as she had done it more often. The sports reporter said:

"I think the more you get to cover certain players, right? (0:33) I've been covering you since 2011. I know so much more about you now than I did even five years ago."

Max Homa turned professional in 2013. Since then he has had nine wins, including six on the PGA Tour. He is currently positioned 25th in the Official World Golf Rankings. He finished 46th in the FedExCup standings in 2024 with three top-10 finishes.

He further mentioned that Balionis had officiated his wedding and said that she asked the greatest question at the perfect time, which was whether they would marry one another. Homa said that it helped him with his nerves and anxiety.

Max Homa married Lacey Croom in November 2019. The couple share a son, Cam Andrew Homa who was born in 2022.