Whisky has long been central to Burns Night, the annual celebration of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, held each year on January 25. Traditionally marked with haggis, poetry and music, the evening is also an opportunity to explore Scotch whisky in all its variety, from approachable blends to characterful single malts.
For Burns Night 2026, this selection brings together a small group of whiskies that reflect different aspects of Scotland’s whisky-making heritage. Some have direct literary or historical links to Burns, while others echo the landscapes, folklore and regional styles that shaped the world he wrote about.
Together, they offer a considered range of styles and price points. Slàinte!
Cutty Sark Original Blended Scotch Whisky, £23.95 Few whiskies wear their Burns connection as openly as Cutty Sark. The name itself is lifted directly from Tam O’Shanter, widely regarded as Burns’ finest narrative poem, and its literary roots run deeper than many realise.
The Cutty Sark clipper – after which the whisky takes its name – was launched in 1869, its builders turning to Burns’ poetry for inspiration. In Tam O’Shanter, the ‘cutty sark’ is the short nightdress worn by the witch Nannie Dee, whose dance prompts Tam’s famous exclamation, “Weel done, Cutty-Sark.” The image proved so enduring that Nannie, clutching the tail of Tam’s horse Meg, became the ship’s figurehead, still visible today on the preserved vessel in London.
The whisky itself reflects a similarly approachable spirit. Cutty Sark Original is a blended Scotch, marrying selected single malts with grain whiskies, matured primarily in American oak casks. Bottled at 40% ABV, the result is light, smooth and clean.
On the nose, expect vanilla, citrus peel and a cereal sweetness. The palate is mellow and easy-going, with soft oak, hints of toffee and a whisper of spice.
Caoineag The Weeping Spirit Ben Nevis 2019 6 Year Old, £59.95 Leaning into Scotland’s darker folklore, this dram draws inspiration from the Caoineag, a spectral figure said to foretell tragedy through mourning cries heard near lochs and rivers.
Distilled at Ben Nevis and bottled non-chill-filtered, this six-year-old single malt has been matured in oak casks and bottled at 55% ABV.
The nose opens with earthy peat, damp soil and dark chocolate, followed by citrus notes of singed orange peel and lime. On the palate, sweet loaminess gives way to fruity bitterness and smoky depth.
Torabhaig Sound of Sleat, £58.25 Part of Torabhaig’s Legacy Series, Sound of Sleat is named after the narrow stretch of water separating Skye from the mainland, visible from the distillery.
Matured in a combination of new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels, this island single malt has an ABV of 46% and offers a maritime nose, with citrus zest, stone fruit and seaweed. On the palate, bonfire smoke is woven through honey, vanilla and soft spice.
There’s a cultural echo here too. Skye’s Gaelic traditions, particularly its music, were part of the wider Scottish cultural landscape Burns inhabited. Local lore suggests Burns was introduced to Highland bagpipe music by a MacArthur piper with Skye connections…
The nose offers treacle toffee, crystallised fruit and stem ginger, with layers of dark chocolate, walnuts, dried mushrooms, cinnamon and nutmeg on the palate. A fitting conclusion to any Burns Night gathering.
If you’ve ever raised an eyebrow at a champagne bill and thought, “Well that escalated quickly,” you’re not alone. A new Champagne Index from global chauffeur service Blacklane has crunched the numbers on what a single glass of bubbly actually costs around the world – and the results are fizzing with surprises. Researched by drinks…
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
The Luxe Review 
Whisky has long been central to Burns Night, the annual celebration of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, held each year on January 25. Traditionally marked with haggis, poetry and music, the evening is also an opportunity to explore Scotch whisky in all its variety, from approachable blends to characterful single malts.
For Burns Night 2026, this selection brings together a small group of whiskies that reflect different aspects of Scotland’s whisky-making heritage. Some have direct literary or historical links to Burns, while others echo the landscapes, folklore and regional styles that shaped the world he wrote about.
Together, they offer a considered range of styles and price points. Slàinte!
Cutty Sark Original Blended Scotch Whisky, £23.95
Few whiskies wear their Burns connection as openly as Cutty Sark. The name itself is lifted directly from Tam O’Shanter, widely regarded as Burns’ finest narrative poem, and its literary roots run deeper than many realise.
The Cutty Sark clipper – after which the whisky takes its name – was launched in 1869, its builders turning to Burns’ poetry for inspiration. In Tam O’Shanter, the ‘cutty sark’ is the short nightdress worn by the witch Nannie Dee, whose dance prompts Tam’s famous exclamation, “Weel done, Cutty-Sark.” The image proved so enduring that Nannie, clutching the tail of Tam’s horse Meg, became the ship’s figurehead, still visible today on the preserved vessel in London.
The whisky itself reflects a similarly approachable spirit. Cutty Sark Original is a blended Scotch, marrying selected single malts with grain whiskies, matured primarily in American oak casks. Bottled at 40% ABV, the result is light, smooth and clean.
On the nose, expect vanilla, citrus peel and a cereal sweetness. The palate is mellow and easy-going, with soft oak, hints of toffee and a whisper of spice.
Caoineag The Weeping Spirit Ben Nevis 2019 6 Year Old, £59.95
Leaning into Scotland’s darker folklore, this dram draws inspiration from the Caoineag, a spectral figure said to foretell tragedy through mourning cries heard near lochs and rivers.
Distilled at Ben Nevis and bottled non-chill-filtered, this six-year-old single malt has been matured in oak casks and bottled at 55% ABV.
The nose opens with earthy peat, damp soil and dark chocolate, followed by citrus notes of singed orange peel and lime. On the palate, sweet loaminess gives way to fruity bitterness and smoky depth.
Torabhaig Sound of Sleat, £58.25
Part of Torabhaig’s Legacy Series, Sound of Sleat is named after the narrow stretch of water separating Skye from the mainland, visible from the distillery.
Matured in a combination of new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels, this island single malt has an ABV of 46% and offers a maritime nose, with citrus zest, stone fruit and seaweed. On the palate, bonfire smoke is woven through honey, vanilla and soft spice.
There’s a cultural echo here too. Skye’s Gaelic traditions, particularly its music, were part of the wider Scottish cultural landscape Burns inhabited. Local lore suggests Burns was introduced to Highland bagpipe music by a MacArthur piper with Skye connections…
Glen Scotia 2014, 10 Year Old Whisky Show 2025 Exclusive, £87.95
This heavily peated 10-year-old, bottled at 55.9% ABV, and released exclusively for The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky Show 2025, has been matured entirely in a single first-fill bourbon barrel.
The nose offers soft grassy peat, jasmine, white flowers and a thread of liquorice, underpinned by warming oak spice.
On the palate, the smoke settles into the background, allowing herbal notes, dark chocolate and gentle sweetness to emerge.
Blair Athol 2007, The Seasons: Winter, The Whisky Exchange, £110
This 16-year-old Blair Athol, released as part of The Whisky Exchange’s Seasons: Winter series, has been matured exclusively in a single oloroso sherry cask, and bottled at 55.1% ABV.
The nose offers treacle toffee, crystallised fruit and stem ginger, with layers of dark chocolate, walnuts, dried mushrooms, cinnamon and nutmeg on the palate. A fitting conclusion to any Burns Night gathering.
Here’s where you can find the most affordable glass of champagne in the world
If you’ve ever raised an eyebrow at a champagne bill and thought, “Well that escalated quickly,” you’re not alone. A new Champagne Index from global chauffeur service Blacklane has crunched the numbers on what a single glass of bubbly actually costs around the world – and the results are fizzing with surprises. Researched by drinks…
Drink in 2026 with these Jamaican sherried rum, peated whisky, and high-strength bourbon exclusives
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
New Cask Strength Highland Park whisky puts Orkney heather front and centre
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
Share this: