Tips For A Fantastic Burns Night! From Brian & Freddie
Burns Night, held on January 25, is the perfect excuse to get together with friends and family and celebrate the much-loved Scottish lyricist and poet, Robert Burns.
While you don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy Burns Night, there is a traditional running order of events, including toasts, reciting poetry and addressing the haggis.
These all provide great opportunities for creating laughter, memories and enjoying togetherness with your nearest and dearest.
Brian Kinsman, Drambuie’s master blender, shares the best drinks to enjoy with a Burns menu
Brian Kinsman © Jo Hanley 2016
As Burns Night is about celebrating Scottish culture and heritage, the spirit for the toasts is traditionally Scottish whisky.
Drambuie as the oldest Scottish whisky liqueur, is frequently served and the sweetness of the liquid makes it very accessible to drink neat or over ice, and therefore a crowd pleaser after dinner for the many toasts.
For cocktail lovers, try the Drambuie Burns Night Coffee Crème which blends Drambuie with espresso, Scottish whisky, Crème de Cacao (brown) and single cream for an indulgent treat at the end of the meal.
It pairs beautifully with cheese, chocolates and desserts, particularly Drambuie’s Burns Night Cranachan Cheesecake or Tipsy Laird Trifle.
Alternatives to a dram
According to his poems, Robert Burns enjoyed ales too. I’d suggest serving other Scottish drinks, like a beer, favoured by Burns, to remain authentic. Innis & Gunn brewery or Broughton Brewery have some excellent choices.
If some guests don’t like whisky, make sure there are other options. You could serve gin and tonics, using gin from a Scottish distillery, or place wines on the table, particularly ones that complement savoury dishes.
To create the right Burns Night atmosphere and encourage participation, Freddy May, Drambuie’s global brand ambassador and drinks expert says:
Share plans in advance
As a host, share your plans for the evening ceremonies in advance. Suggest dressing up appropriately to encourage everyone to participate in the fun.
At both formal and informal evenings, guests have enjoyed dressing up in traditional Scottish attire, from a full kilt to something simple like a tartan tie or hair accessories.
Create easy roles for guests to adopt
Encouraging participation is essential! Attitude and atmosphere are just as important as the food on Burns Night.
Why not nominate a confident guest to make a short speech and toast the rest of the party? “The Toast to the Lassies” is traditionally given as part of the ceremonies and is an opportunity to commend the chef, celebrate women around the table and share jokes.
“Reply to the Toast to the Lassies” is then a great opportunity for one of your guests to provide a witty retort and toast the celebrations.
For a modern twist, guests can add what they like about their friends, in addition to spoken word or poetry.
Let guests embrace their inner acting talents and perform the traditional ceremonial roles suggested for Burns Night. Take inspiration from famous Scots to deliver the short Selkirk Grace with their best Scottish accent.
Don’t forget a touch of stylish décor
Styling your party brings an inviting Burns theme into your home. A warm atmosphere with lots of twinkly lights and candles and a table styled with thistle and touches of tartan, can set an inviting mood complete with a Scottish theme and atmosphere.
Opt for statement pieces to make a real focal point for guests. Beautiful whisky tumblers or a ‘quaich’, a traditional shallow drinking cup or bowl used in Scotland, offer great talking points and keep to the Burns theme.
About Drambuie
Drambuie is a whisky liqueur which mellows aged Scotch whisky with a secret recipe of soft spices, fragrant herbs and rich, smoky heather honey.
The Isle of Skye liqueur has a velvety smooth, malty nectar when sipped neat or over ice, and pairs beautifully with coffee, chocolate, desserts, and cheese courses. Best served at the end of a meal occasion, with or after dessert as a digestif. Available in 50cl bottles at major supermarkets and Clink. RRP £18.
