Whisky and Golf – Two of Scotland’s Finest Exports

If you think of Scotland then two things will surely come to mind, whisky and golf. There are five main whisky-producing regions in Scotland and each have their own distinct flavour profile. Today we will look at the best courses in the Highland region as well as the single malts that you should be sampling along the way.

Royal Dornoch Golf Club – Glenmorangie

World famous, highly celebrated and never disappointing. These are three phrases that can describe both Royal Dornoch Golf Club and Glenmorangie. There is a strong bond between this course and Glenmorangie, the 18^th hole of the Championship course is named after the distillery. In 2016, Glenmorangie released a 16-year-old edition of their fine single malt to celebrate 400 years of golf in Dornoch. This was only the second private edition the distillery has ever done!

Castle Stuart Golf Links – Tomatin

Much like the vast history of Royal Dornoch makes Glenmorangie their perfect companion, the classic modernity of Castle Stuart pairs well with the recent rebranding of Tomatin. Castle Stuart is one of Scotland’s outstanding new links courses. The Inverness course has hosted four Scottish Opens since it was opened in 2009. Each winner of the event has signed a bottle of special edition Castle Stuart Tomatin that are displayed in the clubhouse.

In general, the award-winning Tomatin is a whisky with many subtle flavours. Those with a discerning palette will enjoy discovering the nuances that the dram holds. They recently picked up the award of ‘Best Single Malt Scotch’ for their 36-year-old spirit. The subtleties in the flavour are what seasoned whisky drinkers love about Tomatin, again is much like Castle Stuart. The seasoned golfer will pick up on the hidden subtleties of the Gil Hanse designed course bringing greater enjoyment to your round.

Muir of Ord Golf Club – Glen Ord

Muir of Ord Golf Club is a hidden gem in the highlands, fittingly Glen Ord distillery is relatively unheard of but many will have tasted some spirit produced here. James Braid, the famous fan of doglegs, redesigned Muir of Ord in the 1920s and created the course that is played today. Playing this course is like stepping back in time and enjoying golf as it was played long ago, that’s not to say it is easy though.

Glen Ord is in two of Diageo’s most famous whiskies. You can get The Singleton of Glen Ord and it features in some Johnnie Walker blends too. To buy The Singleton of Glen Ord you need to go to the distillery, this is a rare dram. So why not play the course then head to the distillery for a tour and a bottle?

Brora Golf Club – Clynelish

Finally, another superb local pair, Brora Golf Club and Clynelish, with both being heavily influenced by their proximity to the coast. Brora Golf Club was also designed by James Braid and is a quaint links golf experience. The course may not be long at 6100-yards but it is in perfect shape and you will thoroughly enjoy it. With the course almost completely untouched since it was designed in 1924, this is a unique golf experience!

Clynelish is a coastal whisky with subtle sweet floral flavours to compliment the flavours of the sea. This whisky is famous for its unique herbal flavours and its almost creamy feel in the mouth. This is one of the best whiskies for non-whisky drinkers to taste and learn different flavours. It is also just five minutes from the golf course!

Whisky and Golf

If you go to a whisky tasting you see scotch paired with cheese, chocolate or a host of other things. Here is a way you can pair a local dram with a great golf course. These courses are all close to each other. This is the perfect tour to get a real taste of Scotland.