I’ve Just Started Playing Golf… And Then This New Loch Lomond Whisky Release Hits The Shelves…
There is a moment in golf that I keep chasing.
It only lasts a second. One clean strike, one pure connection, and suddenly everything makes sense. Then the next shot reminds me I am still very much a beginner, my handicap still sitting higher than I would like—but somehow that only makes me love the game more.
So when I came across the Loch Lomond Open Course Editions 2026, these drams hit differently.
Not just as whisky releases. But as something that actually reflects the feeling of the game I have just fallen into.
And in my opinion, this might be one of the most genuinely interesting golf whisky releases in years.¹²
Why this year’s Loch Lomond Open Course Editions feel different
Loch Lomond has been tied to The Open Championship for a while now, but this year feels more intentional.
The distillery has released two new single malts ahead of the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale:
- The Open Special Edition 2026 – 46% ABV, finished in Argentinian Malbec casks
- The Open Course Collection 2026 – 19 Years Old, 46.9% ABV, finished in Tawny Port casks, limited to around 3,000 bottles¹
That alone tells me this is not just a branding exercise.
In my opinion, this is Loch Lomond leaning into flavour, into experimentation, and into doing something that whisky drinkers will actually care about—not just golf fans.
If you have ever explored how finishing works (I broke this down in detail in my piece on cask finishes in whisky), you will know the difference between a gimmick and a genuinely well-thought-out cask choice.
This feels like the latter.
The Malbec finish is the one I think most people will love
If I am being honest, this is the bottle I would reach for first.
This 2026 Special Edition uses a Malbec wine cask finish, which is not something you see often in Scotch. And that immediately makes it more interesting than your typical red wine finish.
From what has been shared, it should bring dark berries, citrus, honeyed sweetness and a subtle touch of smoke.¹
That combination sounds exactly like the kind of whisky that can surprise you in a really good way—layered, slightly bold, but still balanced.
And at around £45, it is not trying to be untouchable. It is a bottle you can actually buy, open, and enjoy.
In my opinion, this is where Loch Lomond gets it right. It creates something distinctive without pricing people out of the experience.
But the 19-year-old might be the one everyone talks about later
A 19-year-old whisky finished in Tawny Port casks already sounds like something special. Tawny Port, when handled well, can add dried fruit, soft spice and a deeper, richer sweetness—the kind of flavours that tend to evolve beautifully in older whisky.
And with only around 3,000 bottles released globally, this one has that quiet “future favourite” potential.
In my opinion, this is the bottle that whisky enthusiasts will keep a close eye on once reviews start landing.
It also just feels right that the more mature whisky is tied to Royal Birkdale, one of the most iconic venues in Open history.² There is a sense of heritage there that matches the age of the spirit.
Why this release feels personal to me right now
I think the reason this release resonates with me so much is simple.
I am new to golf. I am inconsistent. I am still figuring things out. But I care about it already.
And the more I get into whisky, the more I realise the parallels.
Both are about detail. About patience. About small adjustments that make a huge difference over time. A slightly different swing, a slightly different cask, and suddenly the outcome changes completely.
That is why I appreciate what Loch Lomond is doing here.
This does not feel like whisky with a golf logo. It feels like whisky that understands the mindset behind the game.
It also fits into a bigger picture. With developments like the new Luss Distillery, Loch Lomond is clearly building something more defined and forward-thinking. And compared to other sports tie-ins—like I explored in my Glenfiddich Aston Martin 16 vs 19 breakdown—this feels far more grounded in the liquid itself.
Should you actually care about this release?
In my opinion—yes.
Not because it is tied to The Open. Not because it looks good on a shelf.
But because:
- The cask choices are genuinely interesting
- The price of the Special Edition is accessible
- The 19-year-old has real depth and limited appeal
- And most importantly—it feels like a release made with intent
The Special Edition is the one I would recommend most people try.
The 19-year-old is the one I would quietly watch.
Final thoughts
I am still at the stage in golf where I celebrate one good shot more than I worry about the scorecard.
And maybe that is why I like this release so much.
It feels like a distillery experimenting, refining, trying to get things just right. Sometimes that leads to something great. Sometimes it does not. But the effort, the detail, and the intent—that is what makes it worth following.
And in my opinion, the Loch Lomond Open Course Editions 2026 are absolutely worth keeping an eye on.
Footnotes
¹ Loch Lomond Whiskies – The Open Special Edition 2026
² The Open – Royal Birkdale and the 154th Open Championship
