In celebration of the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Loch Lomond, the Scottish single-malt distillery, has created two new limited-edition single malts: the Open Course Collection 2025 and the Open Course Special Edition 2025.
Loch Lomond has gained a reputation as a world-class whisky maker thanks to its signature straight-neck stills, which allow master blender Michael Henry greater control and ease of manipulation over the distillation process. Loch Lomond has provided the “spirit” of the Open Championship since 2018, with each new edition paying tribute to the host venue in some way. This year’s offering is no exception.
The Open Course Collection 2025 is a 22-year-old single malt, aged in American Oak barrels and hogsheads before being finished in first-fill Spanish oak casks — a nod to the Spanish Armada ship, La Girona, which sank off the Royal Portrush coast in 1588. Tasting notes include cinnamon, spice, fruit, honey and soft smoke flavors. The Open Course Special Edition 2025, conversely, was finished for eight months in first-fill Chianti casks. Tasting notes for the special edition include rich red fruit, honey, peach and soft oak tannins.
The whiskies were created in collaboration with Loch Lomond ambassador Colin Montgomerie, whose signature also appears on each bottle.
“Scotland has two fantastic exports in the world, really: golf, and of course, whisky,” Montgomerie told GOLF in a recent interview. We’re very fortunate to call ourselves the home of golf and really the home of whisky as well.
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“I wasn’t really a big whisky drinker beforehand really,” he continued. “But I got into it because of the advice and the knowledge that I’ve been given by Loch Lomond. To see how well they make the whisky and put it all together, it’s incredible. I particularly like a heavy peat flavor in mine as opposed to the fruit.”
Montgomerie, a World Golf Hall of Famer with 31 career wins on the DP World Tour, will be onsite at this week’s Open at Royal Portrush.
“I enjoy going to the Open still, although I’m not playing,” he said.
Montgomerie will be busy instead as Loch Lomond’s onsite ambassador, mingling with visitors to Loch Lomond’s outpost on the course, sharing his insights on both Loch Lomond’s latest editions and what’s going on at the Open.
“It’s a full day [at Loch Lomond’s tent],” he said. “But also there’s the odd hour where, OK, I’m going for a walk, I’m going out on the golf course. It’s nice to get a feel of the course, get a feel of the pace and how certain holes are playing, and then relating to the guests when I get back. I put my commentator’s hat on, on the particular shots that certain people face.”
How does Monty likes his whisky? Neat — or with a bit of ice, he said.
And if you’re lucky enough to be attending the Open, there’s one place you must go.
“Come in, go to the bar where the experts are from Loch Lomond,” Montgomerie said. “They’ve come over from Scotland to Ireland for this particular reason.”
Another bonus?
“Free tastings for everybody.”
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