As the chill of January sets in, there’s no better way to honour the legacy of Scotland’s most beloved poet, Robert Burns, than with a glass of the finest whisky. Burns Night, celebrated on the bard’s birthday, January 25th, is not just an occasion to recite his timeless poetry, but also to indulge in Scotland’s most famous export: whisky. Whether you’re a seasoned whisky connoisseur or new to the spirit, our whisky suggestions promise to enhance your Burns Night celebration with rich, complex flavours that embody the spirit of Scotland.
Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition
The Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Harris Reed Edition stands out as a unique and celebratory whisky offering this Burns Night. A collaboration between Royal Salute and fashion designer Harris Reed, this limited edition bottle combines expertly aged and blended whisky with a striking design inspired by Reed’s distinctive style. Its signature blend, which has been matured for 21 years, delivers a complex and refined flavour profile, featuring notes of sweet fruits, subtle spices, and a long, smooth finish. Presented in a beautifully designed bottle adorned with a Harris Reed-inspired motif, it makes an ideal choice for those seeking an exceptional whisky that honours both craftsmanship and creativity.
The Glen Grant 15 Year Old
A fine example of Speyside craftsmanship, Glen Grant 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an exceptional choice for celebrating Burns Night. This well-aged expression is bottled at 50% ABV, delivering a bold yet beautifully balanced dram that whisky enthusiasts will appreciate. Matured in first-fill American oak casks, this whisky is renowned for its rich, honeyed character, offering layers of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruits. The palate unfolds with vibrant notes of spiced apple, citrus, and toffee, followed by a long, warming finish with hints of almonds and baking spices. Its natural cask strength enhances the depth of flavour, making it a superb whisky to savour on special occasions.
Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask
Tomatin 12-Year-Old Sherry Cask is matured exclusively in first-fill sherry casks for 12 years. It opens with a rich bouquet of caramelised apples and pears, accented by sultanas, orange peel, apricots, and subtle hints of aged leather. The palate delivers indulgent flavours of chocolate fudge and manuka honey, intertwined with dried fruits and nuts, creating a decadent experience. Its warm, rounded finish leaves a lingering sweetness with notes of cinnamon spice. Perfect for celebrating Burns Night, this whisky exemplifies Tomatin’s commitment to quality and tradition.
Loch Lomond Whiskies Waypoint 16 Year Old
The Loch Lomond 16-Year-Old Waypoint Series Falls of Falloch is the first release in Loch Lomond’s new Waypoint Series, paying tribute to the stunning Falls of Falloch in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. This unpeated single malt showcases Loch Lomond’s innovative Swan Neck stills, offering a unique character. Matured for 15 years in a combination of three types of ex-bourbon American oak casks, it is then finished for an additional 12 months in ex-Cognac barrels, delivering a well-rounded and complex whisky. On the nose, expect delicate aromas of soft citrus and honey blossom, leading to a palate brimming with stewed apple, honeysuckle, and a drizzle of honey. The finish is medium in length, leaving behind a delightful impression of waxy fruits and a subtle honeyed sweetness. A superb whisky for those seeking a refined and elegant dram.
Old Pulteney Harbour
Old Pulteney, known as “The Maritime Malt,” has introduced “Old Pulteney Harbour” as the latest addition to its award-winning collection. This new single malt, named after the connection between Wick and the North Sea, embodies the brand’s maritime heritage while offering a modern and vibrant touch. Matured in a combination of hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon casks by the sea, it features a unique flavour profile with notes of vanilla, coconut, citrus fruits, lemon drizzle cake, and a spicy oak undertone. With a 40% ABV, it balances sweet raisins and tropical fruits with darker tones of toffee and tobacco leaf, culminating in Old Pulteney’s signature mellow sea brine finish, making it an accessible choice for whisky enthusiasts embarking on a journey with Old Pulteney.
Loch Lomond Whiskies Waypoint 16 Year Old
The Loch Lomond 16-Year-Old Waypoint Series Falls of Falloch is the first release in Loch Lomond’s new Waypoint Series, paying tribute to the stunning Falls of Falloch in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. This unpeated single malt showcases Loch Lomond’s innovative Swan Neck stills, offering a unique character. Matured for 15 years in a combination of three types of ex-bourbon American oak casks, it is then finished for an additional 12 months in ex-Cognac barrels, delivering a well-rounded and complex whisky. On the nose, expect delicate aromas of soft citrus and honey blossom, leading to a palate brimming with stewed apple, honeysuckle, and a drizzle of honey. The finish is medium in length, leaving behind a delightful impression of waxy fruits and a subtle honeyed sweetness. A superb whisky for those seeking a refined and elegant dram.
Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Sherry Cask
This distinctive blend from Laphroaig fuses the memorable taste of Laphroaig 10-Year-Old whisky with the rich, aromatic essence derived from Oloroso sherry casks. This combination yields a robust, full-bodied flavour, featuring notes of Manuka honey, bacon, and maple syrup, alongside Laphroaig’s signature smokiness, seaweed, and subtle saltiness. European oak sherry casks are meticulously chosen to enhance Laphroaig’s renowned flavour profile. The added sweetness and distinctive qualities of the Oloroso casks bring depth and harmony, crafting an exciting and novel expression that remains faithful to Laphroaig’s classic character.
Macallan Double Cask 12-Year-Old
The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old is a refined single malt whisky, blending flavours from American and European Oak casks seasoned with sherry in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It features a palette of milk chocolate raisins, creamy toffee, orange peel, and gentle spice. This expression highlights The Macallan’s expertise in whisky-making since 1824, combining the warmth of Oloroso sherry-seasoned oak casks with classic flavours of vanilla, citrus, butterscotch, and rich fruits. This whisky offers a harmonious balance of traditional Macallan characteristics and innovative flavours.
Benriach 16 Year Old
The Sixteen, a 16-year-old single malt from Benriach, is an incredibly complex whisky. Matured in a blend of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks, it has a delightful aroma of honey, creamy hazelnuts, baked apples, ginger and apricots. On the palate, it has notes of honeyed malt, toasted oak, stone fruits, cinnamon-baked apples, and wisps of smoke.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
The unique double maturation of Laphroaig Quarter Cask creates a delightful balance of intense and rich flavour. American oak barrels are used to mature whisky before it is transferred to smaller quarter casks and left to mature in the seaside warehouses. The smaller cask size increases contact with the oak, creating a smooth, rich edge to the signature Laphroaig peatiness.
Bowmore 15 Year-Old
After maturing in bourbon barrels, Bowmore 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is finished in Oloroso sherry casks, offering a fine example of a sherry cask finish. The final three years in these casks gives the whisky its rich, deep colour and robust, warming finish. With its award-winning flavour, Bowmore 15 Year Old features notes of raisins and gentle smoke, leading to a delicious chocolaty centre.
Macallan Double Cask 18 Year Old
The Macallan Double Cask Single Malt Scotch whiskies are aged in two types of hand-crafted oak casks: American oak and European oak. The American oak imparts sweet and light flavours like vanilla, citrus, and butterscotch, while the European oak adds a subtle spiciness. After the two whiskies are matured, they are combined to create a single malt with a sweeter and more robust taste, further enhanced by seasoning the casks with dry Oloroso sherry.
Singleton of Dufftown 12 Years Old
A relaunched Singleton, this time from Dufftown, to replace the now-retired Singleton of Auchroisk. This smooth, mellow dram is ideal for new whisky drinkers to the malt category with flavours of polished wood and nuts (toasted hazelnut), rich fruits, both stewed (baked apples) and dried (sweeet dates) intertwined with soft brown sugar.
Talisker 10 Year Old
A classic whisky from the Isle of Skye. Aged for a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks, this welcome member of Diageo’s Classic Malts series has been recognised numerous times for its excellence. Immensely satisfying stuff, with whiffs of warm peat blending with coastal air, balanced by orchard fruit and juicy barley. A spectacular whisky for Burns Night.
Aberlour 14-year-Old
Distilled and bottled in Speyside, this single malt undergoes a maturation process using a combination of oloroso sherry casks and first-fill American oak casks. With a nose of cloves, cardamom, toffee, milk chocolate and orange zest, it provides a palate of black cherries, mocha coffee and mint, for a fresh, yet smooth and rich whisky that’s perfect for wintertime.
