For the 2026 U.S. Open, Dewar’s has once again marked the championship with a special annual release. The Scotch whisky brand announced the sixth edition of its Champions Edition 19-Year-Old expression, celebrating the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club with a unique finish inspired by Long Island wine country.
Building on a partnership that began in 2021, Dewar’s 19 Year Old The Champions Edition continues the brand’s tradition of honoring the connection between golf and Scotch whisky through distinctive cask finishes tied to each host venue. For the 2026 edition, six-time Master Blender of the Year Stephanie Macleod collaborated with Southampton’s Wölffer Estate, finishing the whisky in Cabernet Franc red wine casks sourced from the Long Island winery. The release pays tribute to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, one of the USGA’s five founding clubs and one of the most revered courses in American golf.
Crafted from up to 40 single malt and grain whiskies from across Scotland, the expression spends 19 years maturing in ex-bourbon and sherry casks before being married in refill oak casks and ultimately finished in Cabernet Franc barrels. According to Dewar’s, the resulting whisky opens with aromas of violets and honey before revealing notes of red berries, blackcurrant, cinnamon, and dried orange peel, culminating in a long finish accented by toasted oak and refined sweetness.
“There is a natural synergy between whisky and wine; both are shaped by time, place and oak cask,” said Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for DEWAR’S. “For this year’s Champions Edition, we used Cabernet Franc casks sourced from a renowned Southampton, New York winery to finish Dewar’s 19. We have created an expression that not only showcases the complexity of our Dewar’s Double-aged Scotch but also reflects the terroir of the wine region hosting this year’s Championship.”
In addition to the annual limited release, Dewar’s returns as the Official Cocktail of the U.S. Open with the Lemon Wedge, a combination of Dewar’s 12 Year Old, lemonade, and club soda. The brand says the cocktail offers a lighter and more approachable way to enjoy Scotch whisky during the championship festivities.
“At DEWAR’S, we believe life’s defining moments deserve to be celebrated, from Father’s Day gatherings with family to championship weekends at the U.S. Open,” said Brian Cox, Global Vice President of Scotch Whisky at Bacardi. “Rooted in the shared Scottish heritage of whisky and golf, The Champions Edition is our annual toast to the 19th hole and the stories that bring people together.”
The 2026 Dewar’s 19 Year Old The Champions Edition is now available in limited quantities at select retailers nationwide and online while supplies last.
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