Toast the summer of golf with a dram of Loch Lomond
GH Mumm Champagne is the official drinks sponsor of the America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in international sport, going back to 1851. Now the oldest golfing major has its own official spirit too. The 149th Open Championship is being held between 15-18 July at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England. To mark the occasion, two special whiskies have been created by Loch Lomond distillery master blender Michael Henry: the Open Course Collection Royal St George’s 2021 and The Open Special Edition 2021.
The bottlings celebrate the company’s first visit to England as the official spirit of The Open. The 20-year-old Open Course Collection Royal St George’s 2021 whisky has been created in collaboration with Open 2011 champion Darren Clarke, an Irishman who is also a Loch Lomond ambassador.
Made using English virgin oak casks, the 50.2% ABV bottling has notes of spiced apple, elderflower and caramel, followed by a ‘long, dry’ finish of lime, cumin and ginger.
The 20-year-old whisky joins a range of expressions created by Loch Lomond to mark previous Open tournaments in 2018 and 2019.
The Open Special Edition 2021 (46% ABV) was made in partnership with Loch Lomond ambassador and Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie. The expression combines spirit from straight neck and traditional pot stills, resulting in a ‘fruity’ single malt with a hint of smoke on the finish.
The liquid was matured in three types of American oak casks, before being finished in virgin American oak.
Clarke and Montgomerie also collaborated with Loch Lomond on the creation of whiskies to mark the 2019 Open. The Loch Lomond Open Special Edition 2021 (£40) and The Loch Lomond Open Course Collection (£160) are now available to buy from the Loch Lomond website and select retailers.
Across the Pond, Dewar’s is the official blended Scots whisky of the 121st US Open being held at Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, California.
“Dewar’s blended Scotch whisky, like the game itself, can trace its prestigious lineage to the windswept dunes and lush valleys of Scotland,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “It’s an honor to partner with an iconic brand with a rich history that is often associated with the game.”
As part of the partnership commitment, Bacardi-owned Dewar’s will produce a special limited-edition commemorative bottle each year. The first such edition will be a 19-year-old blended whisky aged and finished in first-fill American ex-bourbon casks. The whisky comes in a silver bottle design reflecting the US Open trophy.