New Single Malt Releases in Celebration of The 149th Open

As the Official Spirit of the Open, we are delighted to unveil two new special limited edition single malt whiskies, to mark The 149^th Open at Royal St George’s, which will take place in July.

The 149^th Open was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The championship will be played at Royal St George’s this July, and to celebrate we have two new expressions; The Open Special Edition 2021 and The Open Course Collection 2021.

These two editions have been specially crafted by our Master Blender, Michael Henry to mark our first visit to England as the Official Spirit of The Open. The Open Course Collection 2021 has been crafted using specially commissioned English Virgin Oak and has been released in partnership with Darren Clarke, Professional Golfer and Loch Lomond Whiskies ambassador..

This edition joins a collection of expressions released in previous years to mark Open championships in 2018 & 2019.

Matured in our finest oak American oak casks before being finished in specially commissioned English virgin oak, this expression has a rich mouthfeel with caramel sweetness, spiced apple and toasted oak, before a long, dry finish with lime citrus, cumin and ginger.

Priced at £160, the Loch Lomond Open Course collection is bottled in the traditional artisanal manner: non chill filtered and has an ABV of 50.3%. 

The 2021 Open Special Edition   uses a combination of spirits from our unique straight neck and traditional pot stills and has been created in partnership with one of our Loch Lomond Whiskies ambassadors, Colin Montgomerie. Colin is a Scottish Professional Golfer, and each carton bears his signature.

Colin commented “Working with Michael Henry once again has been an incredible experience. I know that both golfers and whisky fans will love what we've been able to produce."

Matured in three types of American oak casks, and finished in Virgin American Oak, the 2021 Open Special Edition delivers an approachable single malt with a vibrant palate of lemon citrus and green apple.  Rich in caramel and toasted oak, with a gentle hint of peat smoke, providing a balanced finish. 

The Loch Lomond Special Edition 2021 is priced at £40, bottled at 46%, is non-chill filtered -  the perfect dram for any golf or whisky lover

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, said: "Like all golf enthusiasts across the world, we were disappointed to learn of the postponement of The Open last year, but we are very much looking forward to the championship returning in the summer."

“We are very proud of our partnership with The Open, which has allowed us to showcase the very best of the Loch Lomond Whiskies range among golf and sport fans across the world. Both our Special Edition and Open Course Collection expressions are very special limited editions and are emblematic of the true diversity and distilling expertise we have at our Loch Lomond Distillery, and mark Loch Lomond Whiskies’ first trip to Royal St George’s as the Official Spirit of The Open perfectly.”

Master Distiller, Michael Henry commented: “It has been a real pleasure crafting these limited editions to mark this year’s Open Championship. We’re thrilled that The Open will be returning this year, and both The Open Special Edition and the Course Collection expressions are a fantastic tribute to the 2021 Championship, each expression showcasing Loch Lomond Whiskies’ character wonderfully.”

Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer at The R&A, said: “Loch Lomond Whiskies’ special edition products have already proven to be a hit with fans of The Open, bringing together two of Scotland’s greatest exports beautifully: golf and whisky. “Following an unprecedented year, we are very much looking forward to Royal St George’s this summer. Both golf and whisky fans alike will be able to enjoy a taste of The Open and raise a dram to our championship returning.”

Our new editions are available to purchase here.