Whisky pairing for Highland Pro Am golf courses

Royal Dornoch – judged to be second in the world’s greatest golf courses by Golf Digest – four times Scottish Open host Cabot Highlands, and Nairn – which broke into the world top 100 rankings earlier this year – have had their distinct courses matched with whisky flavourings by distillers. 

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Each course provided an outline of how players described the challenge, conditions and surrounding environment of playing their greens, which were given to experts at Tomatin who added their own first-hand playing knowledge. 

They then matched the flavouring from their collections to the distinct characteristics of each course, which will be served up to whisky and golf fans as a flight for the first time at this year’s event. Tomatin whisky expert Alistair Ferns said it was a difficult undertaking.

“That was a very, very tough task I have to say,” Mr Ferns told the HGL podcast. “I think on a very simplistic level some people might think oldest whisky, oldest golf course.

“But the enjoyable part would be getting to know our whiskies a little bit better and then giving it a bit of thought after they have sampled the whiskies. I would do it that way.”

A keen golfer himself, Mr Ferns added: “When I first started here I was quite surprised but pleased to find my employer supports Scottish golf to that extent. 

The third hole at Cabot Highlands (Image: Cabot Highlands) “The enjoyment of whisky to me is very much to do with time, place and company. It’s who you are with, it’s where you are, and it’s the occasion.”

Tomatin, which is sponsoring the HGL Pro Am, is also putting up a 45-year-old bottle for the professional event winner, a 36-year-old charity prize for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, special edition bottles for all those taking part, and a cask for anyone bagging a hole in one.

Jeremy Matte, head of golf and operations at Cabot Highlands and lead for the HGL Pro Am, said: “There’s simply no other part of Scotland that offers a flavour of views and quality of golf in the way we can, so the chance to also match that unique experience with the best whiskies in the world with Tomatin was such a wonderful opportunity.

The 14th hole at Nairn (Image: Alison White)

“All our clubhouses are already very well acquainted with Tomatin given its popularity among our members and its status as the world’s best dram, so their ongoing support and sponsorship for the Pro Am has been a real source of pride for us.”

Tomatin is currently judged the world’s best whisky after its 36-year-old Highland Single Malt was crowned winner at the internationally renowned San Francisco World Spirits competition. The HGL Pro Am offers the biggest prize pot on the Tartan Tour of pro-am events.

Alistair Ferns’ Tomatin Whisky Pairing Menu

Royal Dornoch

“I paired Dornoch with our 18-year-old. I stuck with what I’d call our accessible range, and I would say our 18-year-old is at the top of that.

“It’s won gold at the International Wine and Spirits Awards for the last three years. It’s complex, it’s elegant, it’s delightful, so I think that goes very well with Dornoch.”

Cabot Highlands

“I’ve paired Cabot Highlands with our Legacy. Legacy is youthful, bright, fresh and very approachable.

“It is the course I’ve played most recently, and no matter all the visits I’ve made, I’ve always enjoyed it. No matter what other more expensive, older whiskies I’ve enjoyed, I still enjoy a glass of legacy too.”

Nairn Golf Club

“My impression of Nairn is it’s pretty muscular, it packs a punch, and the golf there can be very intense.

“I’ve paired it with our cask strength whisky which is matured in bourbon and sherry barrels, is 57.5% alcohol, so it can be a challenge for some people but very, very enjoyable, packed full of flavour and if you treat it the right way, it will be very satisfying.”