Ben Lomond Scottish Gin, the Official Gin of The Open, is proud to reveal the winner of its 2025 Serve of The Open competition – a creative celebration of place, spirit, and…
Ben Lomond Scottish Gin, the Official Gin of The Open, is proud to reveal 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.”
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.
Travel & Stays
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
20% off pay & play rates at Macdonald golf resorts
Scotland Top 100St. Nicholas Golf ClubPrestwick, South Ayrshire
Club partnerships
Put your club in front of thousands of golfers
From major course investments to visitor packages, showcase your venue across The Golf Guide's news, directory and social channels.
The judging panel featured an esteemed trio: sports broadcaster and host 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.
This year’s winning serve, “Bramble in the Rough”, was created by Scott Dunlop as a tribute to the striking Northern Irish coastline. Crafted with Ben Lomond Scottish Gin, the 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 serve 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. Though she now lives with Alzheimer’s, those memories remain vivid and meaningful, forming the heart of his creative approach.
“Bramble in the Rough”, brings that early connection full circle to Portrush, blending personal heritage with the story of The Open itself. Elements like the saline mist and meringue garnish reflect the North Atlantic breeze and the dramatic white cliffs of the coast, while the brambles used were freshly foraged in Portrush – grounding the serve in the landscape that inspired it.
The details
“Scott really managed to capture the essence of both Royal Portrush, the landscape and the town,” said Paula McIntyre, Chair of the Irish Food Writers Guild and competition judge. “The use of local ingredients, especially foraged from the course itself, brought a truly personal and grounded touch.”
Joanne Carlin, Head of Sponsorship and Events at Loch Lomond Group, said: “The creativity and flavour combinations were truly outstanding – I couldn’t resist going back for seconds. It’s a serve that’s absolutely worthy of The 153rd Open.”
"I absolutely loved being part of Ben Lomond's Serve of The Open competition,” added Di Stewart, Sports Broadcaster and host. “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 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.
With an adventurous spirit at the heart of everything Ben Lomond creates, the Serve of The Open celebrates the brand’s belief in giving drinkers the freedom to enjoy gin however and wherever they choose.