How to celebrate Burns Night in true Scottish style

15^th January 2021

The editorial unit

The editorial unit

15 January 2021

Traditionally, Burns Night involves a hearty supper, a generous serving of scotch over the drone of the bagpipes. This annual celebration, a memorial to iconic poet Robert Burns – and more broadly speaking, Scottish culture in general – is an excuse for donning your best kilt and getting together with loved ones. But though this year will not be such a social affair, there’s no reason why you can’t still drape the house in tartan and indulge in the best Scottish treats. From haggis to hand-picked whisky, here is a selection of our top alternative options to tide you over on the 25^th January.

Salon Burns Night special menu

Chef Nicholas Balfe from Salon has drawn upon his love for Scottish produce and ingredients to create a four-course menu of Scottish-inspired dishes for Burns Night. This starts with Potato sourdough with whipped butter and a Haggis scotch egg with housemade brown sauce. For starters are Venison and pork terrine with carrot salad, leeks, seaweed vinaigrette, herbs. The main event is Smoked salmon and haddock gratin with braised fennel and rainbow chard, and to finish a whisky sponge with prunes and toasted oats. Salon’s Burn’s Night feast is priced at £69 for two and a vegetarian option is also available. Order on Big Night by Tuesday 19^th January for nationwide delivery on Thursday and Friday.

Paxton and Whitfield’s January Cheese Treats Box

From Paxton & Whitfield, the UK’s oldest cheesemonger, the January Cheese Treats Box is perfect for celebrating Burns Night. This delicious selection stars a fine trio of artisan cheeses from different geographical areas of Scotland, all made by dedicated, award-winning cheesemakers (Clava Brie, Isle of Mull and Auld Reekie). Accompanying the three cheeses are a serving of Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch Whisky, two packets of hand-baked shortbread (including a deliciously warming stem ginger flavoured shortbread), a jar of Paxton’s Apple & Chilli Jelly, a pack of Biscuits for Cheese and a Paxton & Whitfield tote bag. It’s perfect to enjoy in January or to send as a gift. Order your box online for £60.

Craft Whiskey Club

Alternatively, you could try literally soaking up the Scottish spirit with a scotch subscription. Resident experts at the Craft Whisky Club handpick the finest small batch and artisan whiskies, carefully selecting exciting and innovative distillers from across Scotland. Each box includes up to two full-size bottles, as well as specially selected food pairings and plenty of information about the distillery and how the whiskies are matured, developed and brought to life. In this box bottles come from award-winning Kingsbarns Distillery and Craft Whisky Club members will be amongst the first to receive their brand new release. Check out your membership options here.

Townsend Burns Night delivery menu

Townsend at Whitechapel Gallery have devised a special one-off delivery menu this Burns Night. Nick Gilkinson and Head Chef Joe Fox have put together a traditional three-course gourmet-ready feast for this annual celebratory supper. Their Burn’s Night menu features a starter of Cullen skink with smoked haddock; a sharing main of Haggis with whiskey sauce complete with neeps and tatties; dessert is Rhubarb and ginger Cranachan infused with honey and whiskey. Townsend’s Burn’s Night feast is priced at £40 for two, with the Rob Roy cocktail and Scottish cheeseboard available for a small supplement. Order online by Thursday 21^st January.

The editorial unit