The Old Bushmills Distillery

Welsh golfer Jamie Donaldson has collected the freedom of the Old Bushmills Distillery after winning the Irish Open golf tournament.

The Diageo-owned Irish whiskey brand was an official sponsor of the tournament and Donaldson collected the honour in addition to his prize money at Royal Portrush Golf Club from Master Distiller, Colum Egan.

In addition he received a unique bottle of Bushmills Single Malt selected for the occasion and housed in a box made from the oak cask in which it was matured.

Egan was quoted on the Golf Business News website as saying: “I want to congratulate Jamie Donaldson on his success this week. Like Royal Portrush Golf Club, the Old Bushmills Distillery is one of the icons of the North Coast of Ireland.

I look forward to welcoming Jamie to the Distillery, to open this handcrafted whiskey for him and to toast his success at the 2012 Irish Open with a very special glass of Bushmills.”