Do you know what Burns Night is? No? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. If you weren’t born in the UK, chances are you might never have heard of Burns supper, Robert Burns Day or more commonly Burns Night, happening on January 25th. Needless to say, I decided I needed to brush up on my history and literature studies as soon as I noticed the events press talking about whisky and haggis celebrations. Mystery solved: Burns Night is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scottish poems. Here’s how London is celebrating it.
Party specialists Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings are hosting a Burns Night Party – and if B&H are organising it, it’s got to be good. If you haven’t been to their Prohibition or Halloween parties, it’s time to get yourself to their classy Islington restaurant and bar for a night of tartan attire and sophisticated whisky cocktails, ceilidh dancing and banqueting. Their Scottish feast will be the perfect way to break Dry January.
For the occasion, B&H Buildings have created the Smoked Heather Dram cocktail, concocted from Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Pierre Ferrand dry Curacao, sweet Vermouth, apple juice and orange zest. Hand picked Scottish heather is ignited in the glass infusing the flambéed cocktail with the flavours of the Highlands. Served warm, this is the ultimate cold-busting Burns Night cocktail.
B&H Buildings
42 Northampton Road
EC1R 0HU
London
At The Gallery in West Hampstead, guests will be transported on a whisky-based exploration of the Lowlands, Highland and Islands of Scotland in the restaurant’s Whisky 101 event. The evening will consist in sampling the finest Scottish Single Malts, compiling your own tasting notes and learning about the history and origin of each distinct whisky while tasting haggis.
The Gallery
190 Broadhurst Gardens
West Hampstead
London
NW6 3AY
If it’s Celeb chefs you’re after, head to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen. The restaurant pays homage to Robert Burns with a supper club where you can enjoy a four course meal from head chef Paul Shearing with whisky pairings to boot.
Bread Street Kitchen
10 Bread St,
London
EC4M 9AJ
With the help from the boys at Cocktail Trading Company, R&B Distillers have created a pair of Burns Night cocktails to showcase the brand’s two new whiskies – ‘While We Wait’ and ‘Borders’. The two playful ginger-infused cocktails ‘Mac Daddy’ and the ‘Spicy Red Head’ will be available to sample at CTC Smithfield for one night only.
Cocktail Trading Company
The Basement
Inside Ask For Janice
50-52Â Long Lane
London
EC1A 9EJ
Pictures: Kapranos PR, Bread Street Kitchen
