Highly Acclaimed Whiskies To Celebrate Burns Night 2026: Raise a dram to honour Robert Burns’ 267th birthday around the world

Scotland, January 2026: The annual celebration of globally renowned Scottish poet, Robert Burns, is upon us. What better way to honour the man who gave us Auld Lang Syne, recently sung by millions on New Year’s Eve, than with a dram of exceptional Scotch whisky.

From the smoky depths of iconic Islay single malts to the malt-rich character of expert blends and the smooth, honeyed elegance of Highland favourites, this curated selection of world-class whiskies from Suntory Global Spirits brings tradition and poetry-in-a-glass to the occasion.

BOWMORE 27-YEAR-OLD TIMELESS

For those looking to celebrate with luxury

Timeless by name, timeless by nature, this single malt is a fitting centrepiece for Burns Night, echoing the enduring legacy of Scotland’s national poet. Much like Auld Lang Syne, Bowmore 27-Year-Old Timeless invites reflection, connection and celebration. Crafted from Bowmore’s most expressive aged stocks and matured in first-fill sherry casks, this luxurious expression delivers layers of flavour, depth, elegance and balance.

• Aroma: Grilled orange peel, smoked seaweed and dark chocolate-covered coffee beans.
• Taste: Bittersweet orange, espresso and chestnut honey, balanced by rich cocoa and coastal smoke.
• Finish: Long and resonant, lingering dark chocolate, gentle salinity and fading Islay smoke.
• Bottled at: 52.7% ABV
• RRP: £1,449
• Where to buy: Whisky specialists and luxury retailers, including The Whisky Shop.

BOWMORE 12-YEAR-OLD

For those looking for a vibrant and fruity single malt

Bowmore 12-Year-Old is the benchmark of Bowmore's expressive house style, crafted with expertise and intent to offer layers of flavour. Notes include honeyed lemon and driftwood embers, reflecting the Islay distillery’s signature style – rich and fruity flavours, with a delicate peated and tropical complexity. This multi-award-winning single malt is matured in hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon barrels and European oak Oloroso sherry butts and puncheons, before being expertly married together.

• Aroma: Fresh lemon and heather-sweet honey balanced by signature soft, earthy tones.
• Taste: Warming on the palate, fresh fruits drizzled with flakes of dark chocolate.
• Finish: Every sip leaves a lingering puff of sweet smoke on the tongue.
• Bottled at: 40% ABV
• RRP: £45
• Where to buy: Bowmore.com and select retailers

LAPHROAIG 33-YEAR-OLD STRONG CHARACTERS

For those drawn to whiskies with intensity

Burns often returned to the idea of character shaped by lived experience rather than status. In ‘The Ploughman’s Life’, the farmer’s resilience and independence reflect strength earned through work and time. This notion of slowly developed character is echoed in Laphroaig 33-Year-Old Strong Characters, a rare Islay single malt matured with patience and endurance.

With its unmistakable maritime smoke and intense flavour profile, this dram is ideal for those who like their whisky, and poetry, full bodied and fearless.

• Aroma: Intense peat smoke, iodine, sea spray and charred oak.
• Taste: Robust and smoky with notes of charcoal, salted caramel and dark cocoa.
• Finish:Long, dry and boldly phenolic, with lingering maritime smoke.
• Bottled at: 43.8% ABV
• RRP: £960
• Where to buy: Available via whisky specialists and luxury retailers, including The Whisky Shop.

LAPHROAIG 10-YEAR-OLD

For those wanting an unforgettable drinking experience

Laphroaig 10-Year-Old is one of the world’s most distinctive single malts – bold, peaty and full of maritime character. Just as Burns is enduring in the literary world, this expression remains a favourite for peated whisky lovers around the globe. An Islay icon, this is the perfect dram for those who appreciate a whisky with a robust and smoky profile, offering an unforgettable taste and drinking experience.

• Aroma: Peat smoke and seaweed, with undercurrents of honey, crème brûlée, orchard fruit.
• Taste: Medium‑bodied, oily. Starting with charcoal, grilled pork belly, sea‑salt and honeyed orange peel evolving into ash, liquorice and sweet cereals.
• Finish: Long and drying, dominated by smoked meat and charcoal, bitter dark chocolate notes, maritime brine and lingering phenolic intensity.
• Bottled at: 40% ABV
• RRP: £42
• Where to buy:< a href="https://www.laphroaig.com/" title="Laphroaig Website" target="_blank"> Laphroaig.com, the distillery Visitor Centre and select retailers.

GLEN GARIOCH 12-YEAR-OLD

For those wanting a dram seeped in heritage

Robert Burns famously shared a particular fondness for Highland drams, making Glen Garioch, one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, a fitting choice. Non-chill filtered and matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, Glen Garioch 12-Year-Old offers warmth, balance and approachability, making it ideal for sharing around the table during the country’s most celebrated literary evening.

• Aroma: Heathery floral notes balanced with richness of poached pears and sweetness of malted barley.
• Taste: Crème brûlée and sweet ripe banana first, followed by a light oakiness with pear fruitiness.
• Finish: Long smooth, creamy and fragrant finish.
• Bottled at: 48% ABV
• RRP: £40
• Where to buy: Specialist whisky retailers including Master of Malt and House of Malt.

ARDRAY BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY

For those looking for an approachable, expertly balanced dram

Burns Night showcases how Scotland’s culture continues to live, evolve and be enjoyed. Ardray reflects this, as an award-winning contemporary expression, rooted in heritage yet crafted for modern times. Created through a unique collaboration between Suntory’s Scottish and Japanese blending teams, Ardray draws inspiration from historic blending techniques coupled with a desire for further refinement, encouraging a greater appreciation for the art of blending.

• Aroma: Hints of apple, pear and plum, soft savoury smokiness.
• Taste: Gentle floral and citrus fruitiness provide lightness and elegance, which gradually give way to a silky vanilla custard creaminess. Complex, multi-layered and rich mouthfeel.
• Finish: Long-lasting and mellow with notes of soft smoke and hints of warming spices.
• Bottled at: 48% ABV
• RRP: £60
• Where to buy: Specialist whisky retailers, including Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange.

AUCHENTOSHAN 12-YEAR-OLD DOUBLE CASK

For those wanting smooth complexity

Offering the smooth and delicate triple-distilled signature style, Auchentoshan 12-Year-Old Double Cask is a fitting choice to reflect the sociability of Burns Night. With the distillery just 50 miles from Burns’ birthplace, this Lowland single malt is refined and bold. It is double matured in ex-bourbon American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, crafting a balanced profile, enriched with subtle fruit notes and a depth of flavour that unfolds with every sip. This makes it an excellent starting point for those new to whisky, offering complexity without being overwhelming.

• Aroma: Sweet pastry, with a burst of citrus, signature nuttiness and green leafiness.
• Taste: Smooth whisky taste with sweet vanilla notes. hints of hazelnut, tangerine and lime.
• Finish: A gingery and slightly dry finish with a pleasant, lingering nuttiness.
• Bottled at: 40% ABV
• RRP: £38
• Where to buy: Whisky retailers, including The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop.