Robbie Burns Night

[Muskrat Portage]

January 25 is the anniversary of the Bard's birth and many Scots, Scots descendants and "wish I was Scots" get together to celebrate Robbie, and all things Scottish, including Haggis, Whisky, Tatties and Neeps.
How do you propose to celebrate this year, it being the 248th anniversary?

[Mustardhead]

I don't need an excuse to drink Scotch

Haggis is usually vile. Boiled potatoes and boiled swede are the real reason Scots ran away to Canada and America and England and everywhere else in the world

What next, another night when we sit down to a fish supper and a bottle of buckie?

[vitara7]

ill be having a dram and drining some irn bru and having haggis for dinner, and prob stovies for ma lunch

[vitara7]

o, and ill be watching braveheart at some pint during the day.... freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[les taylor]

South of the border we will be as always be treating the occasion with the utmost dignity. As always the Haggis will be piped into the room with all incumbents upstanding. The Keeper of the Quaich will address the Haggis and does his business. It is one of the finest things that a group of people can do together.

Slainte.

[TheLaddie]

I will be attending the second annual Burn's Night whisky tasting at the Crown Hotel in Bawtry. Looks like another cracking line up from Douglas Laing. Can't wait...

I rented a neutral kilt outfit last year. Cost me about £90. I decided as this was going to be an annual event I would buy myself the outfit with my Clan kilt (Macdonald of the Isles: through my late Paternal Grandmother) I was put off by the cost of about £700 but through patience and waiting for the right items to come up on ebay I've managed to do it for a little over £200. If you are not a fan of hairy knees I suggest you avoid the area.

I have been asked if I will do a reading this year. I'm not sure how Burns will sound in a Yorkshire accent. May have to get a few drams down me first...

[Muskrat Portage]

...I would buy myself the outfit with my Clan kilt (Macdonald of the Isles: through my late Paternal Grandmother) I was put off by the cost of about £700 ... I've managed to do it for a little over £200. ..

TheLaddie:
As I recall, the right to wear the tartan comes through the "Sept", or the female side of the clan, so wear your family tartan wi' pride. I personally will be in Brodie regalia and anticipate a variety of a dozen different SMs to sample along with some excellent entertainment.
Muskrat

[Deactivated Member]

I expect to be having a pint and a dram with Ron in Seattle prior to boarding the Clipper for Victoria the next morning. --Unless there's some Burns Night stuff going on...Ron?

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Is he a mate of Rab C Nesbitt

[Paul A Jellis]

Not sure yet what I shall be doing, but it will probably involve a haggis, several drams and me in a skirt!

[rthomson]

I expect to be having a pint and a dram with Ron in Seattle prior to boarding the Clipper for Victoria the next morning. --Unless there's some Burns Night stuff going on...Ron?

I think there's some group that holds a Burns dinner on Mercer Island (connected by bridge to Seattle). There are a couple others as well. However, it looks like they all are scheduled for various Saturdays this month, rather than on the 25th. I'll look into it a little more.

Ron

[martin grant]

I'll do my usual - a few close friends and family round to the house for haggis dinner. Usually served with a tower of haggis and neeps with some shredded fried leeks on top. Don't usually bother with any tatties, just oatcakes. Got to have a wee bit of sauce though, so take some double cream, splash of ardbeg and some finely chopped leeks. All washed down with even more ardbeg of course

[Deactivated Member]

I expect to be having a pint and a dram with Ron in Seattle prior to boarding the Clipper for Victoria the next morning. --Unless there's some Burns Night stuff going on...Ron?

I think there's some group that holds a Burns dinner on Mercer Island (connected by bridge to Seattle). There are a couple others as well. However, it looks like they all are scheduled for various Saturdays this month, rather than on the 25th. I'll look into it a little more.

Ron

Might be as well to have a quieter night on the eve of the festival, anyway!

[Quaichuser]

Our An Quaich Robbie Burns dinner has been delayed til the 1st, however is looks like it is worth it.

Our fare:
Robert Burns World Federation Arran Island 40.0% Isle of
Arran Distilleries

Scotch cured & smoked organic salmon with creamed red char

Glenmorangie 15 yo Highland Single Malt 43.0% Macdonald &
Muir Ltd.

Duncan Taylor Auld Reekie 12 yo Islay Single Malt 46.0%
Duncan Taylor & Co.

Braised Australian lamb shanks with parsnip sage whipped
potatoes - table platters of Haggis

20 Bees Late Harvest Vidal VQA 12.8% Niagara Vintners
Inc. $18.95

Caramelized banana & mascarpone crespelle with house made
coconut ice cream

Coffee and tea

Does anyone know anything about the Duncan Taylor?

[Deactivated Member]

I do believe it has been remarked on more than once here--try a search for "reekie".

Ah, lamb; for me, the essential Scottish meal. I guess you can be forgiven for having Aussie lamb. What boggles my mind is getting New Zealand lamb in Scotland, when the buggers are wandering in the street outside the restaurant window.

[Quaichuser]

Thanks Mr T.
Found the Auld Reekie buried in the Mystery Malt section. Certainly sounds interesting.

As to the lamb, there are more than a dozen sheep farms within 10 miles of my town here in Ontario. Don't know why we get Aussie lamb either, apart for a supposed cachet.

[GreyArea]

Shortly before Christmas my father invited us to join him in Yorkshire for Burns' Night. There's a pub there that gets into the full spirit of the thing, with recitals and the piping of the haggis. My father will be reciting the Selkirk Grace.

He also got me the complete works of ol' Rabbie for Christmas (as well as a rather nice 10yo Mortlach in a stone bottle).

Really, really looking forward to it.

Since I'm Scottish on my father's side I'll be kilted in the clan tartan (Ross). Spent rather a lot of money on the full formal gear back in October..!

[Wendy]

It sounds like a very special night for a number of you. I hope the evening surpasses your expectations and that you will return to this thread and let us know how it all turned out. That evening, I will be flying into Victoria, BC and expect that there will be a couple of drams waiting for me. I can't think of a more appropriate occasion to kick off the Victoria Whisky Festival.
Cheers,
Wendy

[Muskrat Portage]

Wendy:
Oh, I am so very, very jealous. I'll just have to make the most of Lochaneil/ Robbie Burns night. This will be the Kenora Whisky Fest, I guess.
Peter

[Wendy]

Hi Peter:
I am sorry you won't be able to join us this year. But, I have heard that Kenora has been known to throw a few good parties in it's time! Especially this year...I love your signature.

We will have to exchange stories (Robbie Burns Night and VWF) in the weeks to come.

Cheers,
Wendy

[Deactivated Member]

That's an awfully long drought. What are the Thistles' chances this year?

[Muskrat Portage]

That's an awfully long drought. What are the Thistles' chances this year?

As good a chance as the Springfield ERGs have!
Muskrat