Edinburgh residents and those visiting the city next week will be able to enjoy a special collaborative Burns evening with the Scotch Whisky Experience and Mary King’s Close.
The organisations have teamed up to offer a Burns themed tour of the Close with a wee dram and some poetry as well as a Burns Taste of Scotland themed menu at the Scotch Whisky Experience’s Amber restaurant.
The event will run from Burns day on January 25 with other events held on 28 & 29 of January - the special Burns menu will be available from January 25-29 at the Amber restaurant.
Prices are set at £62 per person for the tour and dinner, with prices at £22pp for just the tour and £14.50 per child.
The combo deal includes a one-hour guided tour of The Real Mary King’s Close with a dram of whisky included as you listen to poetry recitals. Alongside this, there will be an exclusive three-course Burns Taste of Scotland meal, with dessert matched with a dram at the Amber Restaurant.
A spokesperson for Mary Kings Close said: “We will look to focus on the relationship between Robert Ferguson and Robert Burns - with the former being a major inspiration for the latter’s work.
“The evening will see three actors - Matt, Ben and Raffy - portraying two Robert Burns and Rabbie’s rumoured love interest from the time, Agnes.
“Ferguson is understood to have lived in the Close before it was built over by authorities. The Close at this time was putrid but it was also intellectually vibrant. Of course the Close did not exist by the time that Burns had travelled to Edinburgh.
“There is a unique focus on mental health with both Burns and Ferguson understood to have suffered from various conditions - Burns is believed to have suffered BPD and Ferguson is understood to have died in a mental institute after suffering from syphilis.
“The two gentlemen are said to have been members of the Cape club which was sort of like a frat club of the time.
“Guests will be able to enjoy a themed tour of the close with performers reciting poetry as people enjoy a dram courtesy of the Scotch Whisky Experience.”
Those taking part in the event will be escorted up the Royal Mile to the Amber restaurant.
When there, they will be treated to a trio starters: Beetroot salmon roulade with pickled beetroot; Scotch quail egg with tomato chutney and Haggis, neeps and tatties with a whisky sauce.
Diners will then enjoy a trio of mains as part of the unique tasting menu: Balmoral chicken with a turnip fondant; Braised Ox cheek with creamy kale and Haddock, leek and smoked cheddar pie.
They will then end with a heather honey and preserved raspberry cranachan, with whisky chantilly cream dessert that will be paired with a specially selected whisky.
The whisky that has been chosen is a blended whisky that is aptly named - ‘Timorous Beastie.’
All of the ingredients for the menu have been locally sourced where possible, so it is truly a unique Scottish experience.
The Scotch Whisky Experience have said that they will also be offering an £82pp tour of the Whisky Experience, with the opportunity to taste five whiskies, before enjoying the special Burns menu from 25-29 January.
On the Mary King’s Close website, a description for the event reads: “Every year we celebrate Burns Night in Scotland; an evening commemorating the life of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns, who was born on 25th January 1759. Even if you are unfamiliar with the poet, you are bound to know of his poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’. That’s right, the song we sing as the bells ring in a new year was written by Burns himself.
“The first-ever Burns Night was held in 1801, just five years after the poet died in 1796 when Burns’ friends gathered together to mark the anniversary of the great man’s death. It was then decided that a feast would be held every year in his honour. Now every year friends and families get together, eat, drink, and of course read the poetry of Scotland’s National Bard.
“This year we’ve partnered with the Amber Restaurant, from The Scotch Whisky Experience, to create a unique Burns Night experience filled with poetry, history, Scotch whisky and delightful dishes.
“Guests will start their evening with a guided tour of The Real Mary King’s Close. They will explore the uniquely preserved streets and spaces underneath Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile where they will learn about the city’s dark past, listen to a recital of Burns poetry and raise a glass to Scotland’s favourite son.
“Escorted to Amber Restaurant at the top of the Royal Mile, guests will be treated to an exquisite three-course Burns Taste of Scotland menu, including a taste of haggis, a trio of starters, a trio of mains, with a specially selected dram matched with dessert to draw the evening to a close with its own special tale. The personalised menu will include some Burns poetry to enjoy reading over dinner.”
Those hoping to book ahead of next week can do so here.
