"101 bottles of whisky on the wall, 101 bottles of whisky..." would be a terrible nursery rhyme. But it's apt in the case of Whisky 101, Hampstead pub The Gallery's weekly, whisky-specific events, where you can learn the art of pairing drams through matchings with some of its 101 bottles (hence the name). For its Burns Night special, bar manager Daniel Pavey will take guests on a whisky journey from the Highlands to the Lowlands, Speyside, Islay and more.
We couldn't talk about Burns Night without mentioning Boisdale, and the quintessential Scottish restaurant has come up trumps this year with a big old tartan party, featuring a five-course, paired meal. What's more, the evening will be hosted by Ranald Macdonald, the restaurant's founder, who knows his way around a good cèilidh.
Things tend to get tasty when Mark Hix is around (and not in a Danny Dyer way) – and the restaurateur is collaborating with comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli for an evening of food and drink that will include the chef's legendary 'Snax' menu (think Glenmorangie-cured salmon and Blackface haggis fritters). It'll all be washed down with lots of wine. And lots of whisky, naturally). Can't make the 25th? The hotel's 10-day celebration of all things Burns runs from 20 February from 6pm, when there'll be a whisky takeover of the Library Bar with more than 40 bottles on offer.
Scottish game expert Mac & Wild won't disappoint this January, with a balls-out Burns Night special supper that'll include bagpipes and readings of Robbie Burns' poetry to go alongside a food and whisky blowout. If you're tied up on the big night, it's also hosting a pop-up from 23-30 January, which will feature a different interpretation of haggis each day, as well as its venison and other game dishes.
