Australian professional golfer Marcus Fraser, winner of the 2010 Ballantine’s Championship, has collaborated with Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop to create the 2011 Championship Blend.

An exceptionally limited edition blend, the Scotch contains precious whiskies aged for at least 38 years and is so rare only 10 bottles are being produced. The creation of the 2011 Ballantine’s Championship Blend continues a unique tradition at the tournament as well as the brand’s heritage in golf, which was established back in 1960.

As reigning Ballantine’s Championship winner, Fraser will receive one of the 10 bottles created. One bottle will also be reserved for the 2011 champion and another will be auctioned for charitable causes during the 2011 tournament, which will unfold in Seoul next April.

Fraser is only the second person outside Ballantine’s expert blending team to influence a Ballantine’s blend, with Northern Irish golfer and Major winner Graeme McDowell granted the same privilege as winner of the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship in 2008.

Master Blender Hyslop personally guided Fraser through the delicate blending process, «Marcus tasted different whiskies from the Ballantine’s family of flavours and the blend is extremely fruity, with lots of soft fruit flavours, allied with some lovely, creamy background flavours, and when you taste it the whisky’s finish just seems to last forever. Marcus obviously has a bit of a sweet tooth, as some of the flavours he has chosen have given the Championship Blend a beautifully sweet top dressing.”

The Ballantine’s Championship was inaugurated in 2008, and as an event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, it represented the European Tour’s first ever foray into South Korea. Now established for three years, The Ballantine’s Championship is Asia’s fourth biggest golf tournament and the largest annual golf event in South Korea.