A word of warning:
this newsletter has some language and opinions that might be offensive to the more sensitive British readers. But come on, the British have done some bad stuff. That's just a fact. Anyway...
Rather than focus on a specific category of spirit, today we are talking about a writer. And if you think there is no connection between writers and spirits...well that is a discussion for another day. Today we are talking about Robert Burns, unofficial national poet of Scotland, and more specifically about the unofficial holiday associated with his birthday, Burns Night.
There is a rich tradition of writing throughout the Celtic world. I have always admired the unruly, ungovernable, and almost inevitably democratic approach that the peoples of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales have to education, language, and indeed thought in general. For the past thousand years or so, all of those cultures have been colonized, oppressed, bullied, and demonized by the British government at some point. The fact that the most difficult piece of real estate to colonize lies between one's ears has always been a galvanizing, almost sacred hallmark of Celtic culture. Try though they may, the British could never get these folks to think like "proper Britons". The languages of Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic, among others (and yes, all of those are essentially just different flavors of Gaelic), have all been banned over the years in their native countries. But people kept thinking in those languages, and thinking some rather rebellious thoughts at that. If you tell a Welshman, for instance, that he can't speak in his native tongue, you can be sure he will proceed to tell you, in Welsh, to go to hell. When the screws are tightened, actual laws imposed, and people imprisoned for teaching something like Irish in schools, well that is a surefire way to inspire those communities to teach and learn Irish in secret.
One wonderful result of this turbulent history of thought is the idea that education and learning are not viewed in the Celtic cultures as something available only to the wealthy or connected. You can prevent a poor child from entering a prestigious school, but you can't stop her from thinking. You can't stop her from reading. No matter how much wealth and power you have as an opressor, you can't stop her from out-thinking you. And the fragility of your power is exposed.
So that's a bit of background as to how the humble son of a partly self-educated tenant farmer from the Scottish lowlands could grow up to be a national hero and international icon based solely on his wits.
Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759 on the coast of Scotland, just south of the town of Ayr. He was the eldest of seven and born into poverty and hardship. His father actually had a bit more formal education than what was expected at the time and he clearly saw the value in it, sending young Robert to a local "adventure school" (a form of school which at the time in Scotland operated outside of the official school system and often catered to the specific needs of the community) in addition to teaching the children himself.
We won't go into every detail of his short life, but that combination of working class upbringing structured with what wound up being a solid educational foundation would allow Burns to expose to the world the beauty and lyricism of the seemingly mundane, often written in a Light Scots dialect that was somewhat accessible even to those who only spoke English, while maintaining the music of the Celtic languages. He was a supporter Scottish nationalism, the French and American revolutions, and a critic of clericalism and class inequality. He managed to wryly work these themes, among others of course, into his work, often without the reader even realizing it. It wasn't all serious, though. His work is peppered with humor and good times. That ability to combine the sacred and the profane, the high and low, is what endeared him so thoroughly to the Scottish temperament, and no small part of why he has always been a sort of ambassador of Scottish-ness to the world.
The first Burns Night celebration (originally called "Burns Supper") was held in 1801by friends of Burns to commemorate the 5th anniversary of his death. It then spread throughout the world. Traditionally, the host welcomes the guests, sometimes singing the song "O Flower of Scotland". And the "Selkirk "Grace" is said.
Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
Then a soup course is served. If you have never had cullen skink (a Scottish smoked fish chowder), you should really seek it out. Trust me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cullen_skink
Next comes the main show. The haggis is led in by bagpipes, Burns' "Address to a Haggis" is recited, a whisky toast to the haggis is proposed, and the haggis eaten (along with whatever else the host wants to serve). Don't be scared of haggis. If it's made well, it is delicious (really). Then it's just whisky, poetry, repeat. Part of the fun, though, is that you can do it however you want. If you simply want to lift a dram to Burns, have a full party, or just sing "Auld Lang Syne" (which Burns wrote) at the top of your lungs, it's all acceptable. You don't even have to do it on his exact birthday. If January 26th works better for you, go for it.
Now then, what to drink? Again, there are no strict rules other than the fact that I must insist that Scotch Whisky be consumed by someone present. Seriously, if you want to use Bourbon for Burns Night, just...don't. Though Burns was a Lowland Scot, his favorite whisky was known to be Ferintosh, a Highland distillery that unfortunately closed during his lifetime. He was so saddened by the news that he wrote the poem "Scotch Drink" in its honor.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/robertburns/works/scotch_drink/
So, if you want to be geographically faithful to the Lowlands, try one of these...
https://www.compasswines.com/clydeside-2023-limited-edition-lowland-single-malt-spclydltd700-48805/
https://www.compasswines.com/daftmill-winter-batch-release-2007-12-year-old-spdmwinte07750-38897/
But since he was known to favor Highland whiskies, try one of these (Speyside whiskies are totally acceptable and Highland adjacent) ...
https://www.compasswines.com/cadenheads-original-collection-ardmore-11-year-old-spcaar11750-46657/
https://www.compasswines.com/mossburn-blair-athol-10-year-old-spmossbl750-37610/
https://www.compasswines.com/compass-box-crimson-casks-750-spcbcc750-49911/
The important thing is just to have a dram, read some poetry, and have fun.
Here are some sites for the poetry...
https://www.scotland.org/events/burns-night/the-poetry-of-robert-burns
https://robertburns.org/works/
Slàinte mhath!
Thanks for reading,
Cory