
Celebrate Burns' Night with a Specially Selected Line Up
Burns Night in Scotland is traditionally celebrated on the 25th January and is perhaps the most enjoyed Scots night of the year - beating St Andrews and even Hogmanay in many cases.
The traditions behind Robert Burns night go back to 1801, where nine friends of Rabbie

gathered in his cottage in Alloway, to celebrate his life. It was organised by Reverend Hamilton Paul and included a simple meal, recitals and a toast.
While line ups and running orders can vary, one element of Burns' night is a mainstay - whisky!
We've put together a line up of whiskies that we think would suit any Burns' Supper, and paired them with each stage of the evening to help your night go without a hitch - we've even put them into a special Burns Night Tasting Pack, so you can enjoy them alongside your supper at home if you are not attending an organised event.
Pre Meal/Guests arriving.
At this stage of the evening, the guests are settling in to idle chit-chat, catching up on the day and their focus may be elsewhere. Latchy babysitters and taxis, hold ups at work and catching up with long unseen friends take centre stage. Therefore, a back seat whisky is required. We've opted for Table Whisky, from Port of Leith Distillery, for this occasion.
A very easy drinking Single Grain whisky, matured in Virgin Oak and Sherry Casks and bottled at 43%. This does what is says on the bottle. It's a drink for sharing and talking with, rather than for stealing conversation and gathering deep, meaningful tasting notes. A perfect dram for being in the background of chat.
The Selkirk Grace
The traditional toast to begin any Burns' Night. A grace made in the finest Scots language. It is followed up by the starter - traditionally a Scots soup such as Cock-A-Leekie or Cullen Skink. So this whisky has to fit into both camps - Grace worthy and soup complimentary.
Here we have the Feering Blended Malt from the team at the Cabrach Distillery. A lightly peated Speyside Blend. It's creamy, sweet texture warms the palate and combines well with both the creaminess of a Cullen Skink and the barley backbone of Cock-A-Leekie.
It's also a nod to the farm-based culture of whisky making. The Cabrach was a small community of farmers growing their own meat and grain to eat, as per the Selkirk Grace, so it's only right that the whisky should celebrate those same ideals.
The Haggis
The most recognisable part of any Burns' Night event. The Chieftain O The Pudding Race is piped in to great applause, and the Address to the Haggis is perhaps the most violent, loud and raucous toast ever performed!
Once that knife is driven deep into the Haggis' gut the smell that oozes through the
room is the most prominent and hunger-inducing aromas around. Paired with Bashit Neeps and Mashit Tatties (Turnips and Mashed Potatoes) and perhaps a whisky sauce, this rich, spiced meat is a joy.
So we need something that is going to stand up to, and compliment the flavours, while also nodding an affiliation to the great man himself. We've gone for Lochlea DIstillery and their Cask Strength release.
Big, powerful and robust - with a spice and richness to compete and compliment the main course. If you wanted, it also makes a great whisky sauce too, tying in the flavours wonderfully.
Lochlea, or Lochli as it was known, is synonymous with Burns' upbringing. His father moved to a farm here in 1777. Robbie is said to have thatched the roof himself, as well as entertain his younger siblings with his own stories such as The Marriage of Robin Redbreast and the Wren. The family left the farm in 1784.
Dessert
A traditional dram that comes with Burns' Night is Cranachan. Laden with Raspberries, Oatmeal, Cream and a splash of good whisky, this light and refreshing dessert goes a long way to softening the palate after a heavy main course.
Given the notes of the Cranachan, we couldn't not recommend a Port Cask whisky for this pairing. A huge favourite of us at Inverurie Whisky Shop is Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Cask release.
Light, creamy and full of bittersweet redcurrants, it simply works so well as a pairing.
If you are having Clootie Dumpling as your Burns' Night Dessert, I'd recommend the Dalaruan Blended Malt Whisky from The Lost Distillery Company. An excellent dram, heavily influenced by the most famous of Campbeltown whiskies and a good helping of Rum Casks.
A tenuous link to Burns, it is blended in Ayrshire, by the Lost Distillery Team based in Dumfries House - however the flavour pairing is outstanding. Expect a lot of rum n raisin notes and a touch of sweet smoked goodness.
The Immortal Memory
This toast is a celebration of Burns' life, and traditionally looks at all aspects, sometimes comedic, sometimes melancholy. For such a young man, he managed to achieve a lot in his time, and because of this our Immortal Memory dram comes from the Arran Distillery, and their Bodega Sherry Cask Release.
Like Burns, the Arran Distillery has achieved something extraordinary in its short lifespan.
Creating some of our favourite whiskies, expanding beyond their original course and becoming a household name in a little under three decades.
While packing a punch at Cask Strength, this sherry-laden whisky is the perfect match to help the meal settle, and jovialities begin. Arran is also heavily linked to the life of Rabbie, and was his route during his time plying a trade as an exciseman!
A Toast to the Lassies
As per tradition, this toast should be a light-hearted lampoon of the lassies' (few) shortcomings. If you can find any, and it takes a brave man to stand and announce them out loud!
As an olive branch for forgiveness, we recommend a truly female inspired dram, and have gone for the Nc'Nean Organic Single Malt. The creation of Annabelle Thomas, the name comes from the Gaelic meaning "Queen of Spirits".
It's a light, elegant dram with notes of ginger, rye and fruit. An easy sipper that goes well across the board and will be well enjoyed by both male and female members of the audience.
The Reply
This is usually the best speech of the evening, where the ladies are given the chance to berate, I mean reply to the men of the room. Traditionally presented with grace, charm and wit, making the contents even more exceptional.
Given the idea of the blog, to recommend 6 whiskies for your Burns' Night, we would recommend one of the two whiskies that are suggested for your Dessert.
The grace and elegance of the Tomatin Port Cask given with a slight bitterness, or the sweet and slightly salty combination of the Dalaruan will raise a laugh given the context of the reply.
So there you have it, your perfect Burns' Supper line up of whisky - paired perfectly with your meal. Don't forget, these are available as a personal tasting pack so you can enjoy on your own, or in smaller groups without having to buy full bottles! Simply click here to order.
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