Ben Lomond Scottish Gin, the Official Gin of The Open, has revealed the winner of its 2025 Serve of The Open competition – a creative celebration of place, spirit, and flavour, inspired by this year’s Open at Royal Portrush.
Scott Dunlop, of The Albyn Bar & Restaurant in Aberdeen, has been named the winner for his bold and evocative cocktail, ‘Bramble in the Rough’.
Crafted with Ben Lomond Scottish Gin, the winning cocktail showcases homemade bramble and woodruff syrup, fresh lime juice, soda, a saline mist, and a delicate meringue garnish. Each element was carefully selected to echo the unique natural landscape – with the brambles and woodruff foraged directly from the hedgerows of Royal Portrush Golf Club.
The drink also carries a deeply personal layer of inspiration. As a child, Scott spent time foraging brambles with his grandmother along the hedgerows at Old Prestwick Golf Course – the birthplace of The Open and his hometown of Prestwick.
Now in its second year, Serve of The Open was launched by Ben Lomond Scottish Gin in 2024 to celebrate the 152nd Open at Royal Troon. The competition began with over 30 entries from across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with bartenders going through a series of qualifying rounds before eight finalists were selected. Each was tasked with crafting a bold and imaginative serve that captured the adventurous spirit of Portrush through flavour, storytelling, and local inspiration.
The judging panel for the competition comprised sports broadcaster Di Stewart, renowned chef and Chair of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild Paula McIntyre, and Joanne Carlin, Head of Sponsorship and Events at the Loch Lomond Group.
“Scott really managed to capture the essence of both Royal Portrush, the landscape and the town,” said McIntyre. “The use of local ingredients, especially foraged from the course itself, brought a truly personal and grounded touch.”
“I absolutely loved being part of Ben Lomond’s Serve of The Open competition,” added Stewart. “There was such a fun mix of creativity and proper talent behind the bar. The winning serve really captured the feel of Portrush – fresh, full of personality, and something you’d want to go back for.”
The Bramble in the Rough cocktail will be available for fans and visitors to enjoy during The 153rd Open at the Ben Lomond Gin Garden, Loch Lomond Whiskies Stand, the Patrons Pavilion, and the Players Clubhouse – as well as at select participating venues across Portrush.
To find out more, visit: www.benlomondgin.com/products/153rd-royal-portrush-2025-limited-release-gin/