Ben Lomond unveils 2026 Open gin
Scotch gin producer Ben Lomond has created a special edition to celebrate the upcoming 154th Open golf championship.
The brand, which is owned by Loch Lomond Group, has been the golf major’s official gin since 2023. It produces a limited edition release for the tournament each year.
The 154th Open will be held at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, from 12 to 19 July.
Ben Lomond’s gin pays homage to the course’s ‘wild and windswept’ character, with botanicals foraged from around Royal Birkdale’s links. They include blackcurrant berries, wild chamomile and sorrel.
Distilled at Loch Lomond Group’s newly opened Luss Distillery, using Ben Lomond’s classic London Dry base, the resulting profile has bright citrus and dried herbs on the nose with orange zest, juicy blackcurrant and sweet spices on the palate.
The finish is described as sweet, fruity and refreshing, with a lingering light peppercorn.
Group marketing director of Loch Lomond Group, Andrew Jack, said: “Royal Birkdale is one of the great links courses, shaped by wind, salt air and terrain that changes with every round. This year’s Open Special Edition bottles that character, drawing on botanicals foraged from the course itself to create something that genuinely reflects the place.
“The atmosphere, the course and the history make The Open the perfect setting for a gin that’s been shaped by the landscape around it. We’re looking forward to introducing Ben Lomond Gin to visitors to The Open again this summer.”
The Open Special Edition 2026’s bottle features iconography of The Open, Royal Birkdale and the gin’s botanicals in a screen-printed finish.
It is bottled at 43% ABV and retails for £32 (US$43). It is available from the brand’s website, at specialist retailers, Luss Distillery, and in the Ben Lomond Gin Garden at Royal Birkdale during the championship.
Ben Lomond is also searching for the official serve of The Open as part of its sponsorship of the tournament.
Last week, the brand debuted a new design for its bottles.
Its parent company has also released two single malt whiskies to honour The Open.
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