Bushmills and Malbon Get Together Again, Just in Time for The Open at Portrush

There's nothing like The Open. As a Georgia boy, I'm legally obligated to say Augusta is my favorite tournament, but The Open is where my heart really lies. It's golf as it was conceived—dreary and seaside. Watching it here in America, because of the time difference and meditative nature of links golf, is my perfect way to spend a summer weekend. I wake up, grab a coffee, watch an hour, fall asleep for an hour, sit outside in my summer sun for an hour, and when the day finishes it's still only mid-afternoon. This year, I'll be watching it fully kitted in the new Bushmills and Malbon collection that is dropping on July 17. I will, of course, be rooting for anyone Irish.

This is not the first time the two brands have collaborated. And we've seen Malbon do a bunch of collabs over the years. But (not to sound biased) I think this version of the Malbon-Bushmills collaboration is the best its come up with yet. Timing plays a key role. As does the look. It's the perfect collection for right now.

The Open, golf's oldest tournament, is back in Northern Ireland at Royal Portrush. It's (quietly) my favorite of the British Open links and only few minutes down the road from Bushmills. This weekend in County Antrim is going to be 60° (that's Fahrenheit) with wind and rain. It's weather made for links golf. It's the perfect time to bring golf back to County Antrim. It's the perfect time for me to get a little morning tipsy watching golf, and it's the perfect time for Malbon, the best new face in golf, to get on board with Bushmills, the best of the PGA Tour's sponsors.

For me, the star of the collection is the County Antrim plaid that runs through all the designs. The flask, which comes with a little luggage tag, is the most usable of all the pieces you can buy. But for my at-home viewing of the open, I just need the decanter set and a bottle of Bushmills, 10-year preferably. Of course, there is some classic Malbon on-course wear here. The windshirt, which I can see myself throwing on for a windy Northern Irish day, is killer, as is the woven vest.

Besides that, what can I say that we haven't already? Malbon makes the best golf gear in the biz, and Bushmills, even though it's an old-world distillery, is actually cool enough to tap the Malbon team and let them design something good. I'm celebrating by getting a little morning tipsy watching The Open. I'll be at home in a full kit; that's a Malbon x Bushmills tee, windshirt, decanter set, and pants I'm waiting for my fiancée to make me with some County Antrim tartan fabric. What will I be pouring up? Bushmills, for one. Not an Irish coffee because that's an affront to the liquid. I'll be pouring the 10-year into a highball with a splash of honey sweet tea (from Georgia, I told you), a lot of ice, and squeeze lemon. My fiancée, also from Georgia and actually Irish, calls it a Penal Colony highball.

Anyway, if you want to spend Friday or Saturday morning doing a little internet shopping, the collection is live on the Bushmills site, as well as Malbon. Get after it.