How to Host a Burns Supper

When hosting a Burns supper, it's important to consider all the aspects — food, drink, music and the recitals. Follow our easy guide to a festive and fun Burns supper in honour of Scotland's national poet, Robbie Burns.

Food

A traditional Burns supper includes cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes) and for dessert, cranachan.

Take a look at these Burns supper recipes.

Drink

Malt and blended whiskies are the drink of choice at Burns suppers. Try the Glenfiddich 15 year old, the Bruichladdich Organic 5 year old, the Ardbeg 10 year old or the Bowmore Tempest.

Adding a little water to your whisky can actually improve the flavours of the dinner and some people like to a little whisky over their haggis. But don't go overboard, or the haggis will be cold and soggy.

If whisky is not your thing, red wine is a good choice as well. Look for wines that are higher in tannin such as the Fontanafredda 2008 Piemonte Barbera Briccotondo, the Mission Hill 2008 Reserve Shiraz, the CedarCreek 2008 Syrah or the Temple Bruer 2006 Grenache Shiraz Viognier.

Music

Music plays a big role in a traditional Burns supper — the haggis is "piped in." If you or your guests don't own/play the bag pipes — and we'd be very surprised if you did — consider investing in a CD of bagpipe music for the occasion. It is tradition to close the evening with a chorus of 'Auld Lang Syne.'

Recitals

Recitals are an important part of the ritual of Burns suppers.

The 'Selkirk Grace' is recited to start off the meal. After the haggis is piped in, someone reads the 'Address to the Haggis' and then all guests should toast the haggis. After the meal is finished, one guest may deliver 'The Immortal Memory,' which is a speech about and toast to Robbie Burns. After that, 'The Toast to "The Lassies"' is delivered, followed by 'The "Reply" to the Toast to the Lassies.' Finally, the evening is concluded by singing 'Auld Lang Syne.'

Of course, you and your guests may choose to do all or none of these recitals, but they do contribute to the spirit of evening!

Take a look at this complete list of the works of Robbie Burns for the words to the Burns supper recitals.

Photo: Richard Milnes