Every year, admirers of the legendary Scottish poet Robert Burns gather to celebrate his life and work on Burns Night. On Burns Night, the man himself is commemorated with a traditional meal of haggis, neeps (swede mash) and tatties (mashed potatoes), as well as recitations of his most famous works.
Burns Night is held to celebrate the author's life and work. While Burns suppers can be held at any time of the year, they usually take place on Burns Night itself (January 25). As well as the traditional haggis dinner, Burns suppers typically include the drinking of Scotch whisky and the reading of Burns’s poems, ending with dancing or a ceilidh.
Various toasts are given throughout the evening, after which more Burns songs are sung and poems recited. Here are a few whiskies off the beaten track you could celebrate the evening with...
World Whisky Blend
A blend of whiskies from planet earth that celebrates a truly global flavour and the way the world really drinks whisky - mixed. World Whisky Blend is perfect for mixing with the most popular highball serves on the planet including green tea, coconut water, soda water and good old cola. An easy drinking blend with a truly global character.
It's perfect for those drinkers who aren't really into whisky and comes with a load of cocktail suggestions on the label. A good one to try is mixing it with ginger ale.
Price - £32.95
Burnt Ends Blended Whiskey
Inspired by the BBQ joints of America, this rich, meaty expression brings together Tennessee Rye Whiskey and sherry-cask finished peated, Single Malt Scotch Whisky. All served up in a bottle that could easily be holding your favourite BBQ sauce! It certainly does what it says on the label, as well as packing a mighty punch - best drank neat with an ice cube (just leave it a few minutes first).
Price - £29.95
Available from masterofmalt.com
Wormtub 10-Year-Old
Wormtubs are classic bits of distilling equipment and the distinctive, heavy, robust flavours they create are prized by whisky fans. Yet, those long copper coiled tubes housed in cold water in a large vat are sadly too rare these days as many favoured more modern and efficient condensers. They're the vinyl of the whisky world.
This expression takes some beautiful whisky that was at least ten-years-old from a distillery in Speyside that uses wormtubs, reracked into first-fill sherry casks before bottling. It's bottled at natural cask strength without any added caramel for colouring. Find us another whisky this cool at this price that showcases the beauty of the 'tub like this.
Price - £49.95
Available from masterofmalt.com
Regions of Scotland Tasting Set from Drinks by the Dram
Explore the five regions of Scotland with this set of five 3cl drams of whisky. Including whisky from the peaty, smoky Islay; the fruity, malty Highlands; the soft, floral Lowlands; and the honeyed, often Sherried Speyside and more. This set is a real showcase of what Scotland has to offer in the world of whisky!
Price - £29.95
Available from masterofmalt.com
Darkness 8-Year-Old
Darkness 8yo is intense sherried whisky at its finest. Finished in specially-coopered Oloroso sherry octaves, these small casks allow for more interaction between the wood and the whisky. The outcome is bold, sherry-bomb flavours such as amaretti biscuits, candied orange and powerful raisins
Price - £49.95
