‘Freedom an’ whisky gang thegither / Tak aff your dram!’
Robert Burns is Scotland’s nationwide bard, recognized the world over, centuries after his loss of life, as a passionate ambassador of Scottish tradition. And he cherished writing about – and consuming – whisky.
Scotch is a golden thread working via Burns’ writing. It’s talked about in political poems – resembling The Writer’s Earnest Cry and Prayer, which is quoted above – in addition to lighter celebrations of the thrill of ‘John Barleycorn’ (his personification of whisky).
Burns died in 1796, however his identify lives on because of Burns Evening, the annual celebration held on 25 January, his birthday. What started as a low-key gathering of some pals has mushroomed into a worldwide extravaganza of bagpipes, haggis and – after all – whisky.
Selecting the ‘proper’ dram for Burns Evening is dependent upon private style and function. In the event you’re on the lookout for an accompaniment to haggis, neeps and tatties, you may want one thing highly effective sufficient to face as much as all these wealthy flavours.
However Robert Burns was nothing if not a champion of free considering – so the principles are undoubtedly there to be damaged. This number of single malts and blends beneath gives you some inspiration.
Greatest Scotch whiskies for Burns Evening
Balvenie 16 12 months Outdated French Oak, Pineau Cask End
From an awesome all-rounder of the Speyside single malt scene, this comparatively uncommon end in Pineau des Charentes casks explores the distillery’s unique facet, mingling pungent floral scents with lifted citrus sprinkled with shaved cinnamon. An preliminary maturation in American oak brings extra typical flavours of vanilla, runny honey and lightweight ginger. Alc 47.6%
Benriach ‘The Authentic Ten’ 10 12 months Outdated
Benriach’s richly fruited spirit fashion is arguably by no means higher than on this financially accessible core bottling, which marries spirit matured in three cask varieties: ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry and virgin oak. The latter is noticeably influential, bringing grip and an nearly smoky oak hit, but it surely’s the teetering stability between the trio of wooden varieties that the majority impresses. Alc 43%
Berry Bros & Rudd Blended Malt Sherry Cask Matured
Doug McIvor at Berry Bros is a Scotch whisky legend who is aware of a factor or two about whisky and casks – and right here he places that experience to wonderful use with a richly decadent Sherried blended malt, dripping with flavours of liquorice, chocolate-dipped prunes and perfumed spice. Not as OTT as some Sherry cask whiskies – though you wouldn’t guess that from the color. Alc 44.2%
Clydebuilt Sailmaker Blended Malt (Ardgowan)
One other blended malt, one other Sherried dram. Whereas we look ahead to Ardgowan’s deliberate Clydeside distillery to be constructed, grasp whisky maker Max McFarlane has give you this mixture of six Highland, Lowland and Speyside distilleries. There’s loads of unique fruit right here – wealthy tangerine, apricot – together with bagfuls of Christmas spice and darkish chocolate. Alc 48%
Eden Mill Artwork of St Andrews 2022 Launch
A tie-in with Fife-based artist Mairi Clark, showcasing Eden Mill’s sweetly appley spirit fashion, which additionally displays a drier fringe of cereal and buttered wholemeal toast on high of elusive floral scents. The casks convey a creamily wealthy texture to hold the youthful whisky throughout the palate, and a little bit of Sherried punch – darkish spices and a contact of treacle. Promising stuff from a distillery beforehand better-known for its gins. Alc 46.5%
Glen Grant 15 12 months Outdated Batch Energy
Glen Grant’s sometimes mild, apple-scented spirit could be so delicate when younger that you just may miss it fully. It hits its stride properly with age, although, particularly right here – the place the elevated energy creates an altogether extra ballsy whisky: plenty of spice, plenty of fruit – caramelised pear, zesty tangerine, mango – and a prolonged end of assertive oak. Alc 50%
Glen Scotia Victoriana
The whisky outpost of Campbeltown – as soon as an unrivalled distillery hotspot – is in full-on renaissance mode, with new distilleries deliberate. This cask-strength Glen Scotia is a good introduction to a particular, high-octane fashion: wealthy black fruits, roasted espresso bean, hints of candy smoke and much – and much – of oak. Definitely not shy, and all the higher for it. Alc 54.2%
Robert Burns Single Malt
Isle of Arran Distillery
Effectively, why not? Plastered with the picture of the good man, this bottle might have been a vacationer store catastrophe – however the experience of the persistently wonderful Isle of Arran Distillery ensures that it isn’t. As an alternative, it’s a candy, light dram to place a smile on the face of the harshest critic – hedgerow florals, orange zest, malted milk and lightweight honey, plus only a trace of black banana. Alc 43%
Smokehead Islay Single Malt
It says it on the tin (and the bottle). To peat freaks, it is a dependable and reassuring encapsulation of the Islay fashion – sure, there’s fruit, and a little bit of spice, and a contact of maritime salt, however actually that is all concerning the bonfire and the camphor. It’s now spawned a lot of variations (Terminado, completed in Tequila casks, is price a glance), however this stays a basic of its sort. Alc 43%
Tamnavulin Double Cask
Tamna-who? As costs rise, the hunt for worth in Scotch whisky is usually a tough one. Generally you need to look to unheralded names to discover a discount, and that is the right instance. Is it essentially the most advanced whisky you’ll ever style? No. However on the worth and with a even handed Sherry cask end, it is a properly poised glassful of dried citrus peel, baking spices and a bit of wood-derived smoke. When it was launched, it was additionally the primary official bottling from this Sixties-built Speyside distillery in a few many years. Alc 40%
