Burns Night

Besides whisky, the poetry of Robert Burns has to be one of Scotland’s most famous exports. But what is Burns Night?

The 25th of January, Burns’ birthday, sees Scots and poetry aficionados all over the world celebrate his life and poetry on Burns Night.

Traditionally a Burns Supper consists of a simple meal of haggis, neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) accompanied by recitals of some of Burns’ works, possibly a bit of ceilidh dancing and more than likely a dram or two. There is no shortage of ceremony with the haggis often piped into the room by a bagpiper and a theatrical rendition of Burns’ ‘Address to a Haggis’ (you can read the full text here) marked by the piercing of the haggis.

Burns was known to be fond of a dram or two himself, and whisky was mentioned relatively often in his poetry, on occasion even noting its helpful effects on getting the creative juices flowing;

Leeze me on drink, it gies us mair

Than either school or college:

It kindles wit, it waukens lear,

It pangs us fu’ o knowledge.

From ‘Leeze Me on Drink’

Aside from drinking the odd scotch, Burns had further links to the amber nectar with his work as an exciseman. In need of a solid income to support his family, he took on a post with Scottish Excise and its responsibility for, among other things, collecting taxes on whisky and tobacco, inspecting distilleries and preventing smuggling.

By all accounts, while he was conscientious in his work for the excise, he did sympathise with the smugglers and was very aware of the social injustice and class division of the time as well as why the high excise duties drove poor rural people to smuggling. These ideals were portrayed in his works and like many Scottish folk songs, smugglers were often portrayed as heroes rather than criminals.

Burns held his excise post right up till his death in 1796 at the age of 37.

Given that both Burns’ works and whisky have a strong national identity, it’s unsurprising that his image has been used in many a marketing effort and we often see bottles and memorabilia, such as this 1913 Dewar’s magazine advert or this Songs of Robert Burns book from Grant’s, appear at auction. Significant anniversaries always bring commemorative bottles such as this Arran 1998 10 Year Old or this Macallan Robert Burns Semiquincentenary, both released in 2009 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Burns’ birth.

I’m sure there are few users of Whisky.Auction that require an excuse to fill a glass, but why not pour a special dram on the 25th and join us in toasting Scotland’s bard.

O thou, my muse! Guid, auld Scotch Drink!

Whether thro’ wimplin worms thou jink,

Or, richly brown, ream owre the brink,

In glorious faem,

Inspire me, till I lisp an’ wink,

To sing thy name!

From ‘Scotch Drink’

Slàinte mhath!