Burns Night as a non-scot
You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy Burns Night. You don’t even need to like haggis. But if you skip the whisky on 25 January, you’re missing the best bit.
I’m lucky – one of my wife’s oldest friends, John, is from Glasgow and hosts a Burns Supper every year. First up is Cullen skink, that comforting haddock soup. Then it’s haggis, neeps and tatties, served while John gives us his authentic rendition of Address to a Haggis.
It’s traditional to turn up with a decent bottle of Scotch. But choosing the right one can be daunting. Here are my five favourite malts, guaranteed to impress at your next Burns Night.
1. The crowd-pleaser
If you’re looking for a safe bet, you can’t go wrong with a Glenmorangie Original 12-year-old. It’s one of the most recognisable single malts, universally adored by Scotch fans. Expect a smooth, fruity dram with notes of vanilla, spice, honeyed peach and citrus. If you’re tasting a few whiskies on the night, this is a great one to start with.
What to say about it: Glenmorangie boasts the tallest stills in Scotland. This gives the whisky its fruity character – only the lighter spirit reaches the condenser, leaving the darker toffee notes behind.
2. The complex and oaky one
A rich, warming malt with a deep amber colour. As the name suggests, Balvenie DoubleWood is matured in two types of oak cask. After 11 years in ex-bourbon barrels, it spends a final nine months in Oloroso Sherry casks. That adds lovely richness and sweetness, with notes of dried fruits and toasted nuts. One to savour.
What to say about it: Most of the colour and much of the flavour of whisky comes from its time in cask. The secondary ageing adds an extra dimension to this fine malt.
3. The rule-breaker
Received wisdom says single malts are best, but the team at Compass Box thinks differently. They create superior blends that can match and even surpass single malts for quality and character. Compass Box's Artist’s Blend is versatile and smooth, made with bartenders and whisky fans in mind.
What to say about it: Compass Box HQ is in Edinburgh, and Artist’s Blend is their tribute to the city “and all of the painters and performers who call it home.”
4. The smoky one
In the depths of winter, there’s something comforting about a rich, peaty whisky like Port Charlotte. It’s from Bruichladdich, one of nine distilleries on Islay. Their signature malt, the ‘Laddie’, is one of Islay’s least peaty drams – but Port Charlotte is at the other extreme. Boldly peaty with a medicinal note, balanced by orange and candied lemon.
What to say about it: Peaty whiskies like Port Charlotte get their smoky character from the peat fires used to dry malted barley. Flavours range from salty and mossy to coal-tar, smoke and iodine.
5. The experimental one
Being one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries hasn’t stopped Glenfiddich from innovating. Part of their Experimental Series, the Glenfiddich Fire & Cane malt is matured in bourbon barrels (Fire) then finished in South American rum casks (Cane). A delicious, intriguing whisky with notes of toffee and campfire smoke, green fruit and baked apples.
What to say about it: Donald Trump once banned Glenfiddich from his resorts after the distillery named Michael Forbes ‘Scot of the Year’ for refusing to give up his home for a golf course.
Bonus suggestion
Not sure what style you like – or fancy trying a wide range? Go for this Drinks by the Dram tasting set. The box includes five miniatures (3cl each), showcasing five classic Scotch regions: Lowland, Highland, Speyside, Island (Skye) and Islay.
What to say about it: While most Scotch whiskies are distilled twice (a minimum requirement), Lowland whiskies are often triple-distilled. This gives them an especially smooth character.
