Burns Night cocktails
Burns Night, on 25 January, celebrates the poet Robert Burns with haggis, poetry and Scotch. Most guests will want a dram neat, but these cocktails give the whisky a different setting.
A good blended Scotch will make all of them; a smoky Islay malt is only needed for the Penicillin.
8 recipes
Planning drinks for a Burns supper
A traditional Burns supper centres on haggis, neeps and tatties, the Address to a Haggis, and a series of toasts. Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759, which is why the date is kept. With that much going on, drinks should be easy to make. Pour a dram neat for the toasts, and choose one or two cocktails for guests who prefer something mixed.
A blended Scotch is enough for all of the drinks below. Save an Islay single malt for the Penicillin float, where just 10 ml adds peat smoke on top.
Scotch cocktails from easiest to most work
The Rusty Nail is the simplest: 50 ml blended Scotch and 25 ml Drambuie over ice, with a lemon twist. Drambuie is a Scotch-based liqueur, so the drink stays in the family. The hot toddy is also easy, with 50 ml whisky, 15 ml honey, 10 ml lemon juice and 100 ml just-boiled water.
The Rob Roy is a Manhattan made with Scotch: 50 ml blended Scotch, 25 ml sweet vermouth and two dashes of Angostura, stirred and strained into a coupe. The Bobby Burns adds a barspoon of Bénédictine. It is named after the poet, though the inventor is unknown, and it appears in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930.
The Blood and Sand takes a shaker. It uses 25 ml each of Scotch, sweet vermouth, Cherry Heering and fresh orange juice. The Penicillin is a modern Scotch sour that needs a honey-ginger syrup, so make that ahead.
Serving tips for a long evening
Keep measures exact for stirred drinks, as a Bobby Burns goes wrong if the Bénédictine is heaped. Store opened vermouth in the fridge, because old vermouth tastes flat and will spoil a Rob Roy. Put the coupes in the freezer before dinner so they are ready, and set out a jug of water and a bowl of ice for the drinks that go over rocks.
A Burns supper has many toasts, so pace the evening. Serve food first, put water on the table and offer an alcohol-free option for anyone who does not want whisky. The mocktails page has warm and cold drinks that suit a winter table.
Questions people ask
What is Burns Night?
Burns Night is celebrated on 25 January, the birthday of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who was born in 1759. People hold a Burns supper with haggis, neeps and tatties, poetry and toasts. Scotch whisky is the usual drink, and cocktails are a lighter way to serve it.
What do you drink on Burns Night?
Scotch whisky is the traditional drink on Burns Night, usually served as a dram, and it is the base for every cocktail on this page. For a mixed drink, a Rusty Nail, Rob Roy or hot toddy is simple to make for a group.
What is the best Scotch cocktail for beginners?
The Rusty Nail is the best Scotch cocktail for beginners, because it needs only two ingredients and no shaking. It is 50 ml Scotch and 25 ml Drambuie over ice, finished with a lemon twist.
What cocktail is named after Robert Burns?
The Bobby Burns is named after Robert Burns. It is a close cousin of the Rob Roy, with Bénédictine added for honey and spice, and it appears in The Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930. Who created it is not known, and the exact origin is unclear.
Do I need an expensive whisky for Burns Night cocktails?
No. A good blended Scotch is enough for every drink on this page. Do not use a heavily peated whisky in a Rusty Nail, as it can clash with the sweetness of Drambuie. Keep an Islay malt for the Penicillin float.
Is there a warm Burns Night drink for a cold night?
Yes, the hot toddy. It is 50 ml whisky, 15 ml honey, 10 ml lemon juice and 100 ml just-boiled water, with cloves and a cinnamon stick. Let the water stand for a minute after boiling, or it will flatten the whisky and scorch the honey.