A guide to the perfect Burns Night

You’ll want to be stocked up on your favourite Scotch whiskies by Saturday, January 25, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns’ birthday.

Burns Night has been celebrated across Scotland for centuries now, with the tradition starting shortly after Burns’ death in 1796, when his friends made a pact to celebrate his life every year on July 21 – the date of his death.

The first Burns Supper was held in 1801. However, over the years it became tradition to celebrate the Scots poet on his birthday instead, which is why we now toast away the cold January weather with warming whiskies, hot Scottish food and the coming together of a community.

Don’t be confused if you hear Auld Lang Syne on Burns Night - the song traditionally associated with New Year’s Eve may play out as the lyrics are taken from a Burns poem.

Recreations of Burns’ poems, Scottish music and plenty of community spirit is at the heart of your typical Burns Night celebrations, culminating in the Burns Supper.

A special occasion such as Burns Night deserves a special dram. But what to pick? Ewan Gunn, global ambassador for luxury whiskies, weighs in with three exceptional selections.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

"Burns Night is celebrated across Scotland and indeed the world, so what better dram for raising a toast to the Bard than a whisky that is enjoyed across the world and that has been crafted by bringing together whiskies from all four corners of Scotland. Whether you enjoy the sweet honey notes of the Highlands, the orchard fruits of Speyside, the delicate floral flavours of the Lowlands, or the smoke of Islay, you’ll be certain to find the flavour you love encapsulated in this whisky."

Mortlach 20 Year Old

"The ideal match for the pepper spice of haggis, the “Beast of Dufftown” has rich, intensity and bold flavour at it’s core. At 20 years old, Mortlach evolves into a sophisticated dram with great complexity and depth whilst retaining the power for which it is adored. Try pouring a small amount onto the haggis to enhance the flavour."

Clynelish 14 Year Old

"With sweet honeysuckle notes and an unctuous creamy texture, Clynelish is the perfect accompaniment to the traditional Scottish dessert of Cranachan (made with whipped cream, whisky, oatmeal, honey and raspberries), and even works brilliantly as part of the recipe. Even if you’re not serving this dessert as part of your Burns Night celebrations, Clynelish will still work as the perfect dram to round off your evening."

Haggis is typically a big part of a Burns Night feast as Burns, true to his patriotism, was a fan of the national dish, describing it as the ‘great chieftain o’ the puddin-‘race’ in his ode to the dish, titled Address to a Haggis.

Any stereotypes of Scotland usually involve mention of haggis, a dish which boasts such ingredients as the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (usually, but it could be another animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. This mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.

If you like the idea of doing something steeped in Scots history, but haven’t the stomach for traditional haggis, you can modernise the recipe.

Vegetarian haggis can be served up for a more inclusive Burns Night supper.

You can also serve up simpler dishes, including:

• Neeps and tatties (also known as turnips and potatoes)

• Roast beef

• Steak pie

• Salmon

• Soups

• A cheeseboard.

If you really want to impress any guests, as well as serving up some fine Scottish whiskies like Glenkinchie (a Lowlands whisky which is a nod to the time Robert Burns spent living in Edinburgh), serve it up with the Selkirk Grace, a traditional speech ascribed to the famed poet.

Before you feast, raise your rocks glasses or whisky cocktails and say,

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat,

Sae let the Lord be Thankit!

Celebrating Burns Night at a Scottish distillery offers a unique and immersive way to honour the life and legacy of Robert Burns. What better way to celebrate the man himself than with a wee dram, direct from the source?

In 2025, two of our distilleries are opening their doors for dedicated Burns Night celebrations. Both The Singleton and Clynelish will welcome visitors from far and wide (and nearby too!) to raise a toast to Rabbie.

The Singleton - Burns at The Singleton (a ticketed event)

Co-hosted by The Singleton and renowned Scots speaker Willie Cameron (Mr. Loch Ness), guests will revel in the immortal memory of Burns and partake in the tasting of three exceptional Singleton drams paired with three traditional Scottish canapes.

Clynelish - Poetry and Music (a free event)

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of poetry and traditional Scottish music in celebration of Robert Burns. From 1.30pm - 3.30pm, enjoy a complimentary dram at the Clynelish bar while listening to some of The Bard's best works.