Burns Evening – the annual celebration of the life and works of legendary Scottish poet Robert Burns – sees a lot Scotch whisky consumed as a part of the festivities. Every year, on January twenty fifth, the world commemorates the good wordsmith by studying his poetry, consuming haggis and sipping on a wee dram.
The primary Burns Evening is alleged to have taken place in 1801, simply 5 years after Burns’ dying on the tender age of 37. A bunch of pals and followers met at his former residence in Alloway, Ayrshire. Within the following two centuries, the occasion has grown to embody all issues Scottish. So, whether or not you’re internet hosting an occasion or just fancy a pleasant whisky to accompany your Burns Supper haggis, neeps, and tatties then we have now options for you.
The Blended One
Orchard Home by Compass Field
It may be really easy to get fixated on single malts. Nonetheless, most Scotch whisky bought across the globe sits within the blended class. There are numerous nice merchandise and well-known names on the market, which often supply nice versatility and worth for cash. Most may be sipped neat or over ice, however it’s value having a blended Scotch whisky in your arsenal as they’re good for mixing or making a cocktail.
Compass Field produce a number of the greatest small-batch artisanal blended whiskies on the market and so they have gained many awards worldwide during the last twenty years. Orchard Home is an beautiful instance of a blended malt and sits inside the core vary.
It’s a lovely, fruit-driven whisky. The blenders have collated a number of fruity single malts from round Scotland and created a effective dram. Consider crisp inexperienced apple and poached pear with hints of vanilla, peach and apricot. A chic whisky.
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The Gentle, Delicate One
Glenglassaugh Sandend
Lighter single-malt whiskies are sometimes ignored however may be simply as expressive as heavier, richer ones. They are usually contemporary, vibrant and uplifting with extra subtlety and a definitive understated class. This class contains a number of the largest promoting Scotch single malt manufacturers of all resembling Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Glenmorangie. However there are additionally many choices to select from which are much less well-known.
One such whisky is the Glenglassaugh Sandend. The Glenglassaugh distillery is situated on the North Coastline of the Highlands and has lengthy been an underrated gem. Sandend refers to crescent-shaped Sandend Bay, which the distillery overlooks.
The expression types a part of a revamped core vary that launched final summer season and options ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and ex-Manzanilla sherry casks. The brand new vary has given Glenglassaugh the eye and love from customers that it deserves.
Count on notes of honeycomb, vanilla fudge and sultana mingling with inexperienced apple, lemon zest, tropical fruit and a touch of salinity.
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The Wealthy, Fruity One
Lochlea 5 years outdated
Whereas the lighter types of Scotch single-malt whisky are inclined to mature predominantly in ex-bourbon barrels sourced from America, the richer single malts usually have half or full maturation in ex-sherry casks from Spain. These impart daring and candy flavours into the spirit and lead the whiskies in a heavier path. Macallan is the best-known of this fashion, together with Dalmore and Aberlour.
The Ayrshire farm distillery of Lochlea is a relative newcomer and one good for Burns Evening – Robert Burns lived and labored on the farm the place the distillery is situated. This 5-year-old celebrates their fifth anniversary and is launched for Burns Evening 2024. 5 completely different cask sorts are used – two ex-bourbon, two ex-Oloroso sherry and one ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry – together with two from the very first distillation in August 2018.
Lochlea 5 years outdated is laced with fruit – consider raisin, prune and baked pineapple with a twist of candied lemon. Add in toasted hazelnut and brown sugar and you’ve got a stunner that belies its youthful age.
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The Smoky One
Glen Scotia Double Cask
Smoky and peaty whiskies can divide a room – some will love them; some will hate them. Nonetheless, it’s value having one in your Burns Evening arsenal, particularly in the event you take pleasure in them. The important thing query is whether or not you need delicate smokiness or one thing with a full-on peaty punch. For this event, milder is healthier as heavy smoke can overpower even the spiciest haggis.
Very like Glenglassaugh, the Campbeltown distillery of Glen Scotia is considerably of an undiscovered gem. The city on the foot of the remoted Kintyre Peninsula was a whisky powerhouse throughout the Victorian period however fell on exhausting occasions. Glen Scotia was one in every of solely two to outlive and is thought for its malty fashion with underlying smokiness.
Double Cask is a wedding of ex-bourbon and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and offers flavoursome notes of toffee, vanilla and malted biscuits, all wrapped up in a whisp of light peat smoke. A splendidly layered whisky that doesn’t disappoint.
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The Deal with Your self One
Glenmorangie The Infinita 18 Years Previous
The earlier whiskies have all been round an identical worth level, however generally you could need to splash out to pamper your self and any Burns Evening friends. Due to this fact, it’s value having a bottle with a better price range. This could possibly be a high-end blended Scotch resembling Johnnie Walker Blue Label or an 18-year-old whisky from a single malt vary, of which there are various. Ask your self which fashion you need and go from there.
For this, the selection is Glenmorangie The Infinita 18 Years Previous. Most Scotch whiskies of this age are good however this one is phenomenal. With 100% maturation in ex-bourbon casks the whisky oozes class, magnificence and class. Glenmorangie is within the Highlands, method north of Inverness, and boasts the tallest single malt pot stills in Scotland.
Count on aromas and notes of vanilla pod, apricot jam and tropical fruits mingling with hazelnut praline, heather honey and zesty orange peel. Glenmorangie The Infinita 18 years outdated gives an exquisitely luxurious and heady mixture of aroma and flavour. Merely excellent.
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