A short guide
on how to host your own Burns Supper,
including poetry, food and of course one
of Burns loves, whisky, in fact three
whiskies from a distillery which would
have been local to Burns had he been
alive today, Bladnoch.
 Burns Suppers can take on either a
formal or light-hearted tone, depending
on the organisers. Events coordinated by
"Burns clubs" tend to lean towards
formality, often adhering to programs
outlined below.
A classic traditional Burns Night
typically involves haggis, whisky,
bagpipers, and formal Scottish Highland
dress. However, I believe that with
great company, good quality whisky, and
a collection of the works of Scotland's
Ploughman Poet, you have all the
essentials for a wonderful celebration.
Various groups and
organisations such as whisky clubs
arrange Burns suppers, ranging from
highly formal gatherings to more casual
affairs organised by clubs or
individuals drawn to the bard's works
(or those simply looking for an excuse
to indulge with
"John Barleycorn").
Regardless, one can expect the
performers at a Burn's Supper to be
knowledgeable and dedicated, having put
considerable effort into preparing their
contributions to the evening's
entertainment.
Many of Burns' poems you may hear at a Burns Supper, such as
"Tam o' Shanter",
are extensive epics demanding commitment
and an excellent memory. Written in the
Scots dialect, much of which may be
unfamiliar even to Scots today, these
works present a unique linguistic
challenge.
The main ingredients for any Burn's
Supper is, whether formal or informal,
good food, which is traditionally haggis, tattie's and neep's (turnip), plenty of
good whisky, good company and
of course readings of some of Burns
poetry and songs. The traditional Burns
Supper running order is as follows:
Traditional Burns
Supper Running Order
Piping In The Guests
Welcome Speech
Piping In The Haggis
Address To The Haggis
Toast To The Haggis (Whisky)
The Selkirk Grace
The First Entertainment
The Immortal Memory
The Second Entertainment
Toast To The Lassies (Whisky)
Final Entertainment
Reply To The Toast To The Lassies
Vote Of Thanks
Auld Lang Syne
I cant help you with the the guests, and
Burns poetry and songs speak for
themselves but I can make a few
suggestions for the menu and the
whiskies to toast the Bard..
Burns
Supper First Course Suggestions:
Traditionally soup is served, often with
either oatcakes, homemade bread rolls,
or scones on the side.
- Cock-A-Leekie soup
- Scotch Broth
- Cullen Skink
(a traditional hearty Scottish soup
made with smoked haddock)
Burns Supper
Main Course Suggestions:
At the heart of any Burns Supper is
Haggis, which is sheep's lungs, heart
and liver minced with onion, oatmeal and
spices and cooked inside the animals
stomach but these days it is more likely
an artificial casing. There is also a
vegetarian haggis option available
these days.
- Haggis or vegetarian haggis
- Tatties
(potatoes)
- Neeps
(Turnip)
Burns Supper Dessert Course Suggestions:
Something sweet to finish. More often
than not you will have Cranchan to
finish at a Burns Supper, this is a
traditional Scottish dish of cream and
fruit with whisky in it.
- Cranachan (layers of toasted
oats, raspberries and whipped cream
laced with honey and whisky)
- Clootie dumpling (rich fruit
clootie dumpling is a classic
Scottish steamed pudding, serve with
clotted cream)
- Whisky fruitcake
Burns Supper Whisky
As you know Burns was fond of a wee dram
or two and traditionally Scotch whisky
will be flowing throughout the evening
of any Burns Supper with toasts and
speeches and just to accompany
and compliment the food.
There are huge amount of Scotch whiskies
to choose from but I thought it was
appropriate to suggest three single
malts whiskies from Bladnoch distillery
in Dumfries & Galloway which is the
southernmost distillery in Scotland and
one of the closest to where Burns spent
much of his life and saw out his final
days. The water which gave life to this
historic distillery would have also
sustained the whiskies of Burns era,
making Bladnoch the ideal dram to
complement Burns Suppers this January.
The three whiskies which I am suggesting
to toast the Bard with are from The
Bladnoch Classic Collection, they are Bladnoch Vinaya, Samsara and Liora.
The Bladnoch Classic Collection is
expertly handcrafted by Master
Distiller, Dr Nick Savage and his team,
using water from the River Bladnoch
which flows alongside the distillery.
All three whiskies – Vinaya, Samsara and
Liora – are natural in colour and
non-chill filtered, to ensure the truest
flavours shine through. You will find my tasting notes for the
three Bladnoch Classic Collection whiskies via the links
below.
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