Kristiane Sherry

Jan 14, 2025

Nine top whiskies for Burns’ Night

Grab the whisky, ready the haggis! Burns Night is approaching. The annual celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns is coming up fast. These are the bottles you need to make the festivities delicious come 25 January.

Have you ever met John Barleycorn? According to Robert Burns (Scotland’s national poet, 25 January 1759-21 July 1796), you most likely have. He wrote an entire poem as an ode to the character.

“Inspiring bold John Barleycorn! What dangers thou canst make us scorn,” he writes. The identity of this Barleycorn? Whisky. Burns was a big Scotch lover – which is why the drink is so associated with Burns Night.

The poet wrote about life in Scotland, the natural world and love, as well as the whiskies we all adore. Many Scots hold him in high regard – and as such his birthday has become known as Burns Night. What better excuse to pour a dram?

While for many Burns is an icon of literature, it’s also worth noting that recent readings of his work have suggested the poet could have behaved violently towards women. In a letter to a friend Burns spoke of giving his pregnant lover a “thundering scalade [a military attack] that electrified the very marrow of her bones”. As a result, some choose not to celebrate the day at all. Others opt to focus on only the cultural elements, separating them from the poet.

If you are planning on raising a dram to mark 25 January, here are our top Scotch whiskies to bring a taste of the nation to your celebration.

 And to get in poetic mood: A dram of Scotch, so smooth, divine, The taste of oak and peat entwine

OUR TOP PICKS FOR BURNS NIGHT

Lochlea Our Barley

Whisky from the farm where Burns lived – yes, really! According to the Lochlea team, records show that the poet lived at Lochlea farm from 1777 to 1784. We love Our Barley, the first permanent expression from the maker, which is aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels, Oloroso sherry casks and STR barriques.

Bowmore 12YO

Islay distillery Bowmore was founded in 1779, making it one of Scotland’s oldest whisky makers. It also lays claim to the country’s earliest maturation warehouse, too! Bring a taste of this history to your Burns Night with Bowmore 12 Year Old, which pairs juicy orchard fruit notes with the signature balanced Bowmore smoke.

Chain Pier Milroy's Exclusive

A historical dram from the other end of the timeline. When Chain Pier was producing, it was one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries. Now it has closed, its whiskies are some of the most highly sought-after. This expression was distilled on 9 May 2019, and fully matured in an Australian Shiraz cask for just over three years.

Craigellachie 13 Year Old

Speyside is often considered to be the epicentre of Scotch whisky production. And with good reason – there are over 50 distilleries crammed into the region. A wildly distinctive maker is Craigellachie, which crafts bold, robust whiskies thanks to its worm tub condensers. Craigellachie 13 Year Old is a wonderful introduction to its character.

Dewar’s 15 Year Old

Blended whiskies are by far the biggest-selling category when it comes to Scotch. It wouldn’t be a Burns Night celebration without one! We really rate Dewar’s 15 Year Old, a rich, sherried expression with toffee, berry and apple notes. A fantastic example of how expressive blends can be.

Williamson 10 Year Old 2013 Oloroso Finish Berry Bros Milroy's Exclusive

While we might be biased on this one (it is a Milroy’s exclusive bottling after all), this Islay single malt is a stunning example of a boldly peated whisky. Paired with Oloroso sherry casks the medicinal smoke turns all kinds of sumptuous, with dark chocolate, dates and beeswax in with the bonfire wafts.

Monkey Shoulder

Who says a celebration of Scotland has to be all about neat whisky? Get mixing with Monkey Shoulder. The blended malt was developed by bartenders with cocktails in mind – and it works fantastically well in all manner of recipes, from Highballs to Old Fashioneds. Get creative this Burns Night!

Spirit of Scotland House of Hazelwood

If you’ve got the budget for something special this Burns Night, Spirit of Scotland from House of Hazelwood is surely the bottle for you. Breathtakingly luxurious, it’s made from a portion of whisky first blended in 1994 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the first mention of Scotch. With 28 years extra ageing, it’s a graceful, elegant dram.

Woven Experience No.14 Kaleidoscopic

Looking for something a little different? Check out Kaleidoscopic from Leith blenders, Woven. Its recipe brings together an array of delicate floral notes, alongside robust fruits and a whisper of smoke. Definitely a thinking whisky – this dram deserves your full attention. Perhaps one for perhaps a lower-octane Burns Night.

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