As Burns Night approaches on January 25, whisky enthusiasts around the world prepare to honour Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Known for his evocative verses celebrating life, love, and the spirit of Scotland, Burns inspires the annual celebration that often includes haggis, poetry, and of course, a dram or two of Scotch whisky.
Whether you’re hosting a traditional Burns Supper or enjoying a quiet evening with your favorite poetry and a glass of Scotch, there’s a whisky to suit every palate. From smoky peat to sherried richness, here are the best Scotch whiskies to toast the Bard of Ayrshire. Slàinte mhath!
Highland Park 18 Year Old
ABV: 43%, £135 The Whisky Exchange Highland Park’s 18 Year Old single malt is a masterclass in balance and complexity. Utilising aromatic peat from Hobbister Moor and sherry-seasoned oak casks, this whisky offers ripe cherries dusted with bittersweet cocoa, honeycomb sweetness, and a hint of candied orange peel. Ideal for a sophisticated toast to Robert Burns.
Highland Park 12 Year Old
ABV: 40%, £41 The Whisky Exchange A younger, more affordable sibling to the 18 Year Old, the Highland Park 12 Year Old is a bold introduction to the distillery’s signature style. Intensely malty with lingering smoky depth, the bittersweet balance gives way to a honeyed finish. An approachable yet complex choice for your Burns Night dram.
Glen Grant 15 Year Old
ABV 50%, £65.75 The Whisky Exchange Crafted at batch strength by Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm, this 15 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky embodies all that’s exciting about this Speyside distillery’s signature style. Expect spiced pear, apricot, and vanilla on the palate, with a nutty exit and delicate notes of fruit.
Glen Grant, 18 Year Old
ABV 43% £125 The Whisky Exchange Stepping up in sophistication, this complex single malt Scotch whisky delivers delicate notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and raisins with hints of spice. The perfect celebratory dram, this whisky has a particularly long and poetic finish.
The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old
ABV: 43%, £72 Master of Malt Part of Macallan’s acclaimed Double Cask range, this 12 Year Old whisky marries classic Macallan richness with the gentle sweetness of American oak. Flavours of fudge, citrus, and soft spice create a well-rounded profile certain to pair with any indulgent Burns Night feast.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish
ABV: 48%, £60 The Whisky Exchange For fans of bold, peaty whiskies, Laphroaig’s 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish is a standout. Finished for over a year in Oloroso sherry casks, it combines the distillery’s signature smoky intensity with rich notes of dark chocolate and maple syrup. A fine choice for those who appreciate a dram with depth and character.
The Macallan Harmony Collection Vibrant Oak
ABV: 44.2%, £160 Master of Malt The fourth release in The Macallan Harmony Collection, Vibrant Oak is a celebration of the distillery’s relationship with oak casks. Developed in collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil (!), this whisky is a sensory journey, delivering notes of vanilla, lime, sweet oak, apple, and toasted almonds.
The Macallan: A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera
ABV: 40%, £103 The Whisky Exchange Inspired by Jerez de la Frontera, the birthplace of The Macallan’s sherry casks, this limited-edition single malt speaks of craftsmanship and tradition. Matured in European and American sherry-seasoned oak, it offers a luxurious profile of dried fruits, warm spices, and a lingering richness.
From smoky and peaty to sweet and sherried, these whiskies offer a range of flavours to complement any Burns Night celebration. So don your tartan, recite ‘Address to a Haggis’, and let the whisky flow.
A new collaboration pairs Scotland’s national drink with one of its oldest design traditions. Whisky and tartan have long travelled together. Now, Cask Trade and celebrated Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie have brought the two together in a limited-edition single cask release that celebrates the country’s enduring craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The collaboration marks the…
Cù Bòcan has introduced Creation #8, a limited-edition Highland single malt that explores a pioneering maturation using Canadian ice wine and Spanish Verdejo casks. Produced at Tomatin Distillery, Cù Bòcan is the experimental single malt brand created around the distillery’s lightly peated spirit. The name means ‘ghost dog’ in Gaelic, referencing a spirit said to…
Drinks by the Dram has unveiled The Whisky Library, an educational tasting collection created in collaboration with whisky expert Dave Worthington. Presented as a miniature bookshelf, the set contains 36 wax-sealed 30ml drams housed across six themed volumes covering Scotch whisky regions, single malt whisky, Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey, Bourbon and American whiskey, and sherry-cask…
The Luxe Review 
As Burns Night approaches on January 25, whisky enthusiasts around the world prepare to honour Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Known for his evocative verses celebrating life, love, and the spirit of Scotland, Burns inspires the annual celebration that often includes haggis, poetry, and of course, a dram or two of Scotch whisky.
Whether you’re hosting a traditional Burns Supper or enjoying a quiet evening with your favorite poetry and a glass of Scotch, there’s a whisky to suit every palate. From smoky peat to sherried richness, here are the best Scotch whiskies to toast the Bard of Ayrshire. Slàinte mhath!
Highland Park 18 Year Old
ABV: 43%, £135 The Whisky Exchange
Highland Park’s 18 Year Old single malt is a masterclass in balance and complexity. Utilising aromatic peat from Hobbister Moor and sherry-seasoned oak casks, this whisky offers ripe cherries dusted with bittersweet cocoa, honeycomb sweetness, and a hint of candied orange peel. Ideal for a sophisticated toast to Robert Burns.
Highland Park 12 Year Old
ABV: 40%, £41 The Whisky Exchange
A younger, more affordable sibling to the 18 Year Old, the Highland Park 12 Year Old is a bold introduction to the distillery’s signature style. Intensely malty with lingering smoky depth, the bittersweet balance gives way to a honeyed finish. An approachable yet complex choice for your Burns Night dram.
Glen Grant 15 Year Old
ABV 50%, £65.75 The Whisky Exchange
Crafted at batch strength by Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm, this 15 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky embodies all that’s exciting about this Speyside distillery’s signature style. Expect spiced pear, apricot, and vanilla on the palate, with a nutty exit and delicate notes of fruit.
Glen Grant, 18 Year Old
ABV 43% £125 The Whisky Exchange
Stepping up in sophistication, this complex single malt Scotch whisky delivers delicate notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and raisins with hints of spice. The perfect celebratory dram, this whisky has a particularly long and poetic finish.
The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old
ABV: 43%, £72 Master of Malt
Part of Macallan’s acclaimed Double Cask range, this 12 Year Old whisky marries classic Macallan richness with the gentle sweetness of American oak. Flavours of fudge, citrus, and soft spice create a well-rounded profile certain to pair with any indulgent Burns Night feast.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish
ABV: 48%, £60 The Whisky Exchange
For fans of bold, peaty whiskies, Laphroaig’s 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish is a standout. Finished for over a year in Oloroso sherry casks, it combines the distillery’s signature smoky intensity with rich notes of dark chocolate and maple syrup. A fine choice for those who appreciate a dram with depth and character.
The Macallan Harmony Collection Vibrant Oak
ABV: 44.2%, £160 Master of Malt
The fourth release in The Macallan Harmony Collection, Vibrant Oak is a celebration of the distillery’s relationship with oak casks. Developed in collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil (!), this whisky is a sensory journey, delivering notes of vanilla, lime, sweet oak, apple, and toasted almonds.
The Macallan: A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera
ABV: 40%, £103 The Whisky Exchange
Inspired by Jerez de la Frontera, the birthplace of The Macallan’s sherry casks, this limited-edition single malt speaks of craftsmanship and tradition. Matured in European and American sherry-seasoned oak, it offers a luxurious profile of dried fruits, warm spices, and a lingering richness.
From smoky and peaty to sweet and sherried, these whiskies offer a range of flavours to complement any Burns Night celebration. So don your tartan, recite ‘Address to a Haggis’, and let the whisky flow.
New Nc’nean Cask Trade bottling celebrates Scottish craftsmanship through whisky and tartan
A new collaboration pairs Scotland’s national drink with one of its oldest design traditions. Whisky and tartan have long travelled together. Now, Cask Trade and celebrated Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie have brought the two together in a limited-edition single cask release that celebrates the country’s enduring craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. The collaboration marks the…
Cù Bòcan Creation #8 becomes first peated Scotch whisky matured in ice wine casks
Cù Bòcan has introduced Creation #8, a limited-edition Highland single malt that explores a pioneering maturation using Canadian ice wine and Spanish Verdejo casks. Produced at Tomatin Distillery, Cù Bòcan is the experimental single malt brand created around the distillery’s lightly peated spirit. The name means ‘ghost dog’ in Gaelic, referencing a spirit said to…
The ultimate whisky tasting set: The Whisky Library puts 36 premium drams on your bookshelf
Drinks by the Dram has unveiled The Whisky Library, an educational tasting collection created in collaboration with whisky expert Dave Worthington. Presented as a miniature bookshelf, the set contains 36 wax-sealed 30ml drams housed across six themed volumes covering Scotch whisky regions, single malt whisky, Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey, Bourbon and American whiskey, and sherry-cask…
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