Ben Lomond Scottish Gin, the Official Gin of The Open, has named Glasgow bartender Branford Edgar as the winner of its 2026 Serve of The Open competition. Edgar, who works at Kelvingrove Café in Glasgow, created the “Solstice Sling,” a seasonal gin cocktail that will be served to fans throughout the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
Now in its third year, the competition brings together bartenders throughout the UK and Europe to create an original cocktail using Ben Lomond Scottish Gin. This year’s brief challenged entrants to reflect the atmosphere, landscape and character of Royal Birkdale. Finalists were chosen through qualifying rounds that assessed originality, technique and storytelling.
What Is the Solstice Sling?
Edgar designed the Solstice Sling as a nod to summer morning golf at Royal Birkdale. The cocktail combines Ben Lomond Gin with caramelised honeydew and basil cordial, fresh lime juice, sugar syrup and ginger beer, finished with a basil leaf garnish.
Speaking to What’s On Glasgow, Edgar said his brother’s dedication to the game inspired the drink: “My brother is an incredibly talented and dedicated golfer. He’ll wake up at 4:30am in the morning and play up to 96 holes in one day. This was the inspiration for the Solstice Sling, it is a nod to the longest day of the year where golfers try and play as much golf as physically possible.”
Edgar added: “It feels really special knowing that a drink I made will be served at The Open to thousands of fans at Royal Birkdale this summer.”
Andy Jack, Group Marketing Director at Loch Lomond Group, said the cocktail stood out for “its balance of flavour, storytelling, and seasonality, perfectly reflecting the atmosphere of summer golf alogond the adventurous character of Ben Lomond Scottish Gin.”
Where to Find It at The Open
The Solstice Sling will be available at several locations during the Championship:
- Ben Lomond Gin Garden
- Loch Lomond Whiskies Stand
- Patrons Pavilion
- Players Clubhouse
- Select participating venues across Birkdale
Ben Lomond has also released a limited-edition London Dry gin inspired by Royal Birkdale ahead of this year’s Open, featuring botanicals foraged from the links.
Solstice Sling Recipe
- 40ml Ben Lomond Gin
- 30ml Caramelised Honeydew & Basil Cordial
- 15ml Lime Juice
- 5ml Sugar Syrup
- Top with Ginger Beer
- Garnish with a basil leaf
Related: Ben Lomond Gin Launches Special Edition for The 154th Open
Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.