With the dark nights of dreary January comes reason to throw a spectacular Scottish shindig; here’s where we’ll be celebrating Burns Night in London
By Jada De Cinque and Abbie Schofield
As enamoured in Scotland as our very own Shakespeare in England, the birthday of Scottish bard, Robert Burns, is embraced in raucous fashion each year on the 25th January with Burns Night suppers, an indecent amount of haggis and more than a fair few wee drams of whiskey. A pioneer of the Romantic movement and author of Auld Lang Syne, it seems fitting to don our tartan and toast the poet. We may be in lockdown, but we can still celebrate.
How to celebrate Burns Night in London
Burns Night in a Box
The Gladwin Brothers are collaborating with Bruichladdich Distillery to deliver a Highland feast to houses across the nation. Each box will include three Scottish courses including trout gravlax to start, haggis wellington with neeps and tatties for the main and whisky and marmalade Dundee cake for dessert. It wouldn’t be a Burns Night celebration without Scotland’s national drink, and the Burns Night box also comes with bottles of Bruichladdich Classic Laddie Whisky and The Botanist Gin.
Whisky Tasting
Craft Whisky Club is a whisky subscription service that delivers small-batch and artisan whiskies directly to your door. Each box includes up to two full size bottles that have been selected from Scotland’s best distilleries, as well as food pairings and plenty of information so you can hone your whisky expertise. The Burns Night box comes with a bottle of award-winning Kingsbarns Distillery’s new Balcomie whisky plus extra treats such as Chocolate Tree’s Winterspice hot chocolate.
Townsend at Whitechapel Gallery
The culinary team at Townsend has created a one-off delivery menu for Burns Night 2021. The gourmet three-course meal begins with cullen skink with smoked haddock followed by haggis in a whisky sauce with neeps and tatties. Dessert is rhubarb and ginger cranachan infused with honey and whisky, and there’s also the option of adding on a Scottish cheeseboard for extra indulgence. Order by 19 January for nationwide delivery.
108 Brasserie
Marylebone restaurant 108 Brasserie is offering a Burns Night takeaway for Londoners to enjoy a Scottish-inspired meal at home. The wonderful three-course menu includes Balmoral Estate venison and haggis wellington with tatties and neeps on the side. While it doesn’t come with any whisky, 108 Brasserie has teamed up with local drinks experts Phiglas & Swiggot to offer 10% discount on Scottish whisky.
Order Scottish Blooms
For a Scottish-inspired tablescape, Bloom & Wild’s beautiful Anoushka bouquet is the perfect finishing touch. The Anoushka includes 19 stems including heather, a native Scottish flower, and eryngium which is a traditional Scottish wedding flower, plus eucalyptus, roses and stocks. Bloom & Wild’s bunches are delivered through your letterbox for extra convenience, or you could send to a friend or relative as a Burns Night gift.
Salon
Brixton restaurant Salon’s chef Nicholas Balfe has created a four-course menu of Scottish dishes for Burns Night. Enjoy potato sourdough with whipped butter and a haggis scotch egg with housemade brown sauce followed by venison & pork terrine. The main event is smoked salmon & haddock gratin before the final course of whisky sponge with prunes and toasted oats. Order by Tuesday 19th January.
Whisky Cocktails
If a traditional straight whisky isn’t your thing, enjoy the Scottish spirit in a cocktail. Glasshouse Whisky is a bright and fruity whisky specifically designed for long drinks. The Glasshouse Highball is super simple to make; mix one part whisky to three parts soda water over ice for a more refreshing take on the drink.
Casa Calavera
Mexican and Scottish is not a combination you’d expect, but delivery-only restaurant Casa Calavera has created a haggis taco especially for Burns Night. The haggis taco will be made up of corn tortillas stuffed with haggis, potato, swede, hot sauce, chilli and herbs, and diners can also order bottled cocktails to enjoy.
hakkasangroup.com/casacalavera
Make Your Own Whisky Sauce
For those cooking their own Burns Night meal, Dewar’s Aberfeldy and Ballintaggart are hosting a virtual masterclass where they will demonstrate how to create a delicious whisky sauce to go with your haggis. The class will be conducted here on Facebook Live.
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