Update:
Many thanks to those who attended the Burns Night zoom. It was a very informative and valuable session with great contributions from Lauren Hogg, VisitScotland; Andrew MacNair, CalMac Ferries; and Mary Jane Brett, Diageo plus a wonderful Address to a Haggis from Visit Arran’s Sheila Gilmore.
Presentations and extract from zoom video below:
Andrew MacNair, CalMac Ferries
CTA members are invited to attend a special zoom event which will be a great warm up for Burns Night on Monday 25 January. The event is curated with our Partner members CalMac Ferries and VisitScotland, and will highlight the very special welcome that awaits your groups once we can start touring again, as well as music and verse and a free sample of Talisker whisky, kindly donated by Diageo. A special rendition of the ‘Address to a Haggis’ will be part of the fun, delivered by VisitArran’s Sheila Gilmore.
The event will run from 11am-noon – yes, we know that is not Burns Night – think of it as a warm-up! You need to register for the event through the link below. The Talisker miniatures have now all been sent out and the deadline for receiving one has passed, but you can still register for the session and join in the fun.
VisitScotland has some great resources explaining more about the National Bard, Robert Burns and Scotch Whisky. See videos and links below.
https://ebooks.visitscotland.com/burns-night-guide/
https://www.scotland.org/events/burns-night
https://www.visitscotland.com/about/famous-scots/robert-burns/
The ebook even has links for buying a haggis to accompany your Talisker sample. If you want to have a go at making your own haggis, here are links to a couple of recipes for you to have a go at making it. (You’ll need to talk nicely to your butcher to obtain ox bung and lamb pluck if you’re opting for the meaty version!)
https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/traditional-haggis-recipe
https://thepeskyvegan.com/recipes/vegan-haggis/
Talisker
The Talisker Whisky is kindly being supplied by Diageo and a miniature single malt will be sent to those who request it on the registration page along with some other goodies. To whet your appetite, here are the tasting notes for the Talisker 10-year old, and the Talisker Skye. (Those registering will receive one of either of the whiskies – it’s a lucky dip which one you get, but they are both excellent.)
Talisker tasting notes
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Talisker 10 year old
APPEARANCE
Brilliant gold.
BODY
Full and rich.
NOSE
Powerful peat-smoke with just a hint of the sea-water salt of fresh oysters, with a citrus sweetness.
PALATE
A rich dried-fruit sweetness, clouds of smoke, strong barley-malt flavours, warming and intense. Peppery at the back of the mouth.
FINISH
Huge, long, warming and peppery in the finish with an appetising sweetness.
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Talisker Skye
APPEARANCE
Bright 18 carat gold with polished copper lights.
BODY
Medium-bodied and softly textured.
NOSE
The first glorious citrus sweetness of fresh oranges develops into soft mango. Maritime air with seaweed, driftwood, and salt continue under.
PALATE
Soft and sweet at first, coating and tongue tingling, with light smoke. Quickly becomes more pungent and savoury with a hot spiciness.
FINISH
Drier and of medium-length, with a lasting, smooth aftertaste, in which light peaty burnt embers can be found.
[The registration process requires a postal address if you wish to receive the Talisker sample. This will be used only by CTA and the contracted distributor for the purposes of sending the sample Talisker to you and the personal posting data will be permanently deleted after use.]
We are very grateful for the support of CalMac Ferries, VisitScotland and Diageo in putting on this event.
