Yorkshire Whisky Distillery to Host Burns Night Whisky Dinner

January can be a bit of a grey month, can’t it? The festive sparkle has faded and summer feels miles away. But there’s a brilliant flicker of warmth and good cheer right in the middle of it: Burns Night. It’s a time for poetry, hearty food, and a dram of whisky. And this year, something special is happening.

A distillery in Yorkshire is taking this grand Scottish tradition and giving it a local twist. On the 23rd of January, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery is hosting an event that promises to be a proper celebration, blending the best of Scotland with a healthy dose of Yorkshire spirit, complete with a traditional haggis dinner and, of course, some exceptional single malt whisky.

A Yorkshire twist on a Scottish classic

So, what’s the deal with Burns Night? Well, it’s a massive celebration of a bloke called Robbie Burns. He was a poet from Scotland who lived over 200 years ago and wrote some of the world's most famous poems and songs (ever sung ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at New Year? That was him). Every year around his birthday, people get together for a Burns Supper to celebrate his life and work. It’s a huge part of Scotland's cultural heritage, almost like a second national day.

The team at the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery are big fans of this tradition, but they also like to do things their own way. It's the same approach they take to making their whisky. Brand Ambassador Amy Teasdale explains their thinking: “Our philosophy here at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery is all about respecting tradition but doing things our own way, and we apply this philosophy to Burns Night as well as whisky making for one of the stand-out events in our calendar.” This isn't about copying a Scottish event; it's about paying tribute to it while celebrating local Yorkshire pride. This unique Burns Night event is a true fusion of two strong cultures.

What's on the menu for this Burns supper?

Anyone heading to this special event is in for a treat. The evening kicks off with a special ‘Bobby Burns’ whisky cocktail – a perfect way to get into the spirit of the celebration. After that, it’s time for the main event: a three-course haggis dinner. If haggis sounds a bit strange, think of it as a super-savoury, peppery dish that’s the absolute star of any Burns Supper. It’s proper comfort food.

But what’s a meal without a good drink to go with it? The dinner is paired with four different drams of the distillery's own Filey Bay whisky. This means each course is matched with a whisky that brings out its flavour. To round off the night, there’s even a themed quiz. The whole package costs £45 per person. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s included:

• A 'Bobby Burns' whisky cocktail on arrival

• A delicious three-course traditional dinner

• Four drams of Filey Bay single malt whisky

• A fun, themed quiz to test everyone's knowledge

This fantastic celebration is more than just a meal; it's a full evening's experience dedicated to the poetry and spirit of Robbie Burns, all seen through a Yorkshire lens.

More than just a distillery

The Spirit of Yorkshire isn't just any old distillery. It’s what’s known as a single estate, field to bottle operation. What does that mean? It’s pretty simple, really: they do everything themselves, right on their own patch. It’s the result of a brilliant collaboration between Tom Mellor, a local farmer and brewer, and his business partner, David Thompson. They had a dream to create a truly Yorkshire whisky, something that had its own character and wasn't just trying to be a copy of Scotch.

Being a ‘field to bottle’ business means they grow their own barley on the farm. They take it from the field, turn it into spirit, and mature it into whisky, all on one site. They even have some of the most impressive distilling equipment around, including two enormous Forsyth pot stills, which are some of the biggest in the UK outside of Scotland. This commitment to home-grown ingredients and craftsmanship is what makes their whisky, and this Burns Night event, so special. It's a true product of the local land and a passion for quality.

A tradition worth celebrating

The tradition of the Burns Supper goes way back. The very first one was held by friends of Robbie Burns in 1801 at Burns Cottage, the little house where he was born. Since then, it has grown into a global phenomenon. It’s a key cultural heritage event for anyone with a connection to Scotland, a night filled with ceremony, poetry, and friendship. The reason it has lasted so long is because Burns himself was a man of the people.

As Amy Teasdale points out, there's a neat link between the poet and the drink: “Burns's poetry was accessible to the common person, and his celebration of simple pleasures and local customs mirrored the widespread enjoyment of whisky across all social classes in Scotland and now the world. Expect Scottish Burns Night traditions combined with special Yorkshire elements for an unforgettable evening.” It’s a perfect match. The poetry of Burns speaks to everyone, just like a good whisky can be enjoyed by anyone. This event is a chance to experience that connection first-hand—a memorable night where the traditions of Scotland meet the craftsmanship of a modern Yorkshire distillery.