大象传媒

by Julie Lin

What would Burns Night be without haggis, neeps and tatties? This simple recipe is made all the more enjoyable with a rich whisky sauce. If you'd like to have a go at the whole experience, check our beginner's guide to hosting your own Burns night supper.

Main course

Buyer's guide

Single-malt whiskies (often just called 'malts') are whiskies made purely of malted barley. What makes them special and so distinctive is where they come from and how they are distilled. So, for example, a malt from the island of Islay will be quite briney, almost salty, while a Speyside malt will be slightly sweeter and more delicate. A malt from the likes of Deeside will be slightly more smoky and a little more peaty. The ageing process helps to accentuate each single-malt whisky's individual characteristics. A blended whisky, conversely, is a mix of some mature malts, along with some very young grain whisky.

As with wine, it takes time to get to know the complexities and personalities of different types of whisky, particularly single-malts.

Preparation

Whisky is best enjoyed on a cold night. The addition of (room-temperature) water is said to enhance the flavour of single malts. Bourbon is often served on ice.

It is used to flavour some classic dishes such as the Scottish dessert cranachan. The sweeter, vanilla-flavoured American bourbons are suited to cakes and desserts (as an alternative to brandy).