Scottish Gins & Cocktails to celebrate Burns Night with

Scotland’s annual holiday, Burns Night, is just around the corner (25 January) and, just like last year, we have compiled a list of delicious to take the holiday in with. Whether it’s a Scottish gin to drink straight, or a tasty cocktail to get you in the Scottish spirit, here’s a few ideas of what you can enjoy.

Gins to drink straight:

Smugglers Gin

Smugglers Gin is the flagship London Dry expression for Smugglers Spirits. All its botanicals are grown and hand-harvested at the foot of the Pentland Hills in the Southwest of Edinburgh. The gin’s flavour is described as zesty lemon, and comes from refreshing lemon verbena and lemon balm grown in Scottish soil.

Old Sins Gin

Also from Smuggles Spirits comes their Navy Strength gin, Old Sins, a much bolder expression for those that have that preference. The gin sees a combination of opium poppy and geranium paired with more traditional Scottish-grown botanicals to create a flavour described as both unique and striking.

Gin cocktails to enjoy (all using Scottish gins):

Makar Original G&T

Ingredients:

• 50ml Makar Original Dry Gin
• 100ml Fever-Tree Tonic Water
• One fresh mild green chilli for garnish

Method:

Fill a glass (preferably highball) with cubed ice. Add 50ml of Makar gin and t op with tonic water. Garnish with the green chilli for a spicy kick.

Makar Dry Martini

Ingredients:

• 50ml Makar Original Dry Gin
• 10ml Dry Vermouth
• 15ml Honey syrup
• One green olive for garnish

Method:

Half fill a mixing glass with fresh cubed ice. Pour ingredients into mixing glass. Stir the contents together until ice begins to reduce. Strain the contents into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with the green olive.

Cranachan Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 35ml Caorunn gin
• 15ml Calvados
• 15ml Honey syrup
• 15ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 5 Fresh raspberries
• 20ml Pasteurised egg white
• Top soda

Method:

Shake first 6 ingredients and double strain into hi-ball. Fill glass with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with large cinnamon stick and cinnamon sugar dusting.