For our 2016 Burns Night celebrations, we were inspired by the boom in Scottish craft brewing and worked with some of our favourite beers to create some suitably Scottish cocktails fit for a "bardie's gratefu' thanks".
"Let other poets raise a fracas, 'Bout vines, an' wines, an' drucken Bacchus, An' crabbit names an'stories wrack us, An' grate our lug: I sing the juice Scotch bear can mak us, In glass or jug." - Robert Burns, Scotch Drink, 1785
Scottish mythology tells us that Robert Burns, the country's best-loved poet, was a hard-drinking womaniser, and given the lines he penned in praise of Scotch whisky, and the fact that he (allegedly) died of rheumatic fever after falling asleep (drunk) at the side of the road aged just 37, we have no reason to doubt this.
However, even if the bard was fond of the odd night off the rails or two, there are many today that would tell you that a fine single malt should never be 'wasted' on a cocktail. Doubtless, there are many more that would say the same about a fine Scottish ale. However, over here, we believe that a quality whisky and a perfectly paired beer can go together like a country lassie and mawn hay.
Sláinte mhath!
"Let other poets raise a fracas, 'Bout vines, an' wines, an' drucken Bacchus, An' crabbit names an'stories wrack us, An' grate our lug: I sing the juice Scotch bear can mak us, In glass or jug." - Robert Burns, Scotch Drink, 1785
