Centuries have passed since Scottish poet Robert Burns died, but his legacy still rings through the glens of Scotland
Choosing whisky for Burns night is always a fun endeavour: how do you match a trio of pours with the legacy of the great Scottish poet? Burns Night, held each year on the great bard’s birthday, Jan 25th, is a celebration of a man who came from poverty and a farming background, had little formal education but grew to become a lasting symbol of Scottish culture.
Before he died in 1796 he rose to represent the common man (and woman) in Romantic poetry, song and verse, recording folk songs in Scots Gaelic and inspiring other poets throughout the world, including, William Wordsworth and Percy Shelley. He was a young man when he died – only 37 years of age – but in those few short years of adulthood he managed to carve his voice deep into the Scottish landscape.
Historic Flavours
The whiskies for this Burns night flight are chosen for historic reasons and flavour-driven ones. The first, an Oban whisky, won’t be one Robbie Burns got to sample, but he may have heard if its existence, as the distillery opened just two years before his death.
The second is from Tamdhu. A distillery that had almost disappeared before its current owners , Ian Macleod Distillers, brought it back from the brink.
The last then is Glen Scotia, in Campbeltown, a whisky region that would have been in full flight when Burns was hard at work.
Oban 10 2022
This bottle appeared in the 2022 Diageo Special Release series. It’s a cask strength bottling of 57.1%, and stands as an elegant sherry-forward Highland whisky. It’s a terrific pour that allows the drinker to begin to explore the Oban personality and flavour profile.
This limited edition single malt is themed around the Celestial Blaze, a reference to the northern lights which can often be seen from Oban. With distinct maritime notes and a subtle orange taste in the background, this bottle more than holds its own within an edition of the special releases series but also as an opener in this poetic flight.
Tamdhu Batch Strength 7
This is the seventh edition of the Tamdhu Batch Strength series – a collection that is quickly ramping up fans for this higher strength single malt release. Bottled at 57.5%, it quickly caught the attention of fans who relish the deeper texture and flavour that comes with a higher ABV. As with its siblings, it’s matured in oloroso sherry casks, hand-picked to create the dark tones and spice that have become a signature of the brand.
Creamy vanilla and honeycomb dominate the aroma, before layers of red berries and citrus peel flood the palate. The finish is full of spice and black pepper with plenty of oak carrying figs and raisins through the finish.
Glen Scotia 18
Campbeltown today is a shadow of its former glory when it dominated the world of whisky but, with a terrifically loyal following for its remaining distilleries, it is slowly returning to form. Glen Scotia is a leading light in the region and this exceptional 18-year-old single malt tells a wonderful tale of its home distillery.
Matured for its first 17 years in refill and first-fill bourbon casks it then received a 12-month finish in oloroso sherry hogshead. This delivers its deep gold colour, but also enhances its coastal flavour profile.
The vanilla and fruit of the refill bourbon comes through first, followed by a wave of tropical notes from the oloroso, including lashings of apricot, pineapple and raisin. This is a whisky to savour while dreaming of Scotland.
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