Ben Lomond Gin, the Official Gin of The Open, announces its Open Special Edition 2026 – a limited-edition gin inspired by Royal Birkdale, host of The 154th Open.
Royal Birkdale is renowned for its undulating fairways, deep, rugged rough and exposure to the ever-changing coastal elements – a links course where the landscape plays as much of a role as the golfer. These natural characteristics provide the foundation for this year’s expression, inspiring a gin that reflects the same sense of wildness and unpredictability.
For 2026, the brand returns with a new expression shaped by botanicals foraged from Royal Birkdale’s links, including blackcurrant berries, wild chamomile and sorrel. Sourced from an environment defined by wind, salt air and shifting terrain, the result is a gin that captures a true sense of place – bold, untamed and shaped by nature.
Distilled in a classic London Dry style and bottled at 43% ABV, the gin delivers a bold yet balanced profile with bright fruit, soft florals and a fresh, herbaceous finish.
“We’ve taken the spirit of Royal Birkdale – wild, windswept and rich in character – and captured it in a distinctive gin,” said Andy Jack, Head of Marketing at Loch Lomond Group. “Each Open Special Edition is designed to celebrate not just the Championship, but the unique landscape and heritage of its host venue.”
The design of the bottle features a bespoke screen-printed finish, with geometric illustrations that weave together the iconography of The Open, the natural elements of Royal Birkdale and the botanicals that define the gin.
The Open Special Edition has been distilled at the newly opened Luss Distillery – the home of Ben Lomond Gin – located on the banks of Loch Lomond and now open to visitors, marking an exciting new chapter for the brand.
Available now, the Ben Lomond Gin Open Special Edition 2026 can be purchased online at www.benlomondgin.com as well as at Luss Distillery in Scotland.
The limited-edition release, which is priced at £32, will also be available to spectators attending The Open at Royal Birkdale, offering fans the opportunity to sample and take home a taste of this year’s Championship host venue.