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What will you be drinking this Burns' Night?
So the 25th of January is swiftly approaching which means haggis season and of course celebrating Scotland’s national bard, Rabbie Burns.
Haggis for most people sounds horrible, especially when you list the ingredients, but honestly it tastes amazing. Make some mashed potatoes, Turnip mash and whisky sauce to accompany and voila you have Haggis neeps’n tatties. It’s very simple food but very tasty and satisfying.
So where do I get haggis I hear you saying and that would be O’Flynns on Marlboro Street, produced right here in Cork.
This would traditionally be washed down with either a Whisky (yes no E) or with a nice bold glass of Bordeaux in thanks to our old buddies of the Auld Alliance.
What to drink
Surprisingly Haggis is very versatile when it comes to wine pairing, from dessert wines to light and heavy reds.
After testing a few bottles these were my winners.
Jean-Luc Baldes Triguedina Esprit de Flore Cahor Malbec, France
Esprit de Flore is a rich, ripe and fruity wine bursting with red and blackberry flavours and smooth tannins. This tasty red wine is ideal on its own as an aperitif or for a match made in heaven pair with your peppery haggis. €15Château Deyrem Valentin’s 2006 Margaux, France
From Margaux this beautiful Bordeaux, Château Deyrem Valentin’s 2006 blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot bringing a fairly chunky dark fruit based wine with nice gentle tannins, acidity and spice. That works perfectly with the spicy earthiness of haggis. €32
So if you’re looking for an excuse to have people round to the house for a wee drink and a bite to eat, accompanied with a wee bit of theatrical poetry reciting then why not celebrate Rabbie and the “great Chieftain of the puddin race” from Bonnie Scotland.
So the 25th of January is swiftly approaching which means haggis season and of course celebrating Scotland’s national bard, Rabbie Burns.
Haggis for most people sounds horrible, especially when you list the ingredients, but honestly it tastes amazing. Make some mashed potatoes, Turnip mash and whisky sauce to accompany and voila you have Haggis neeps’n tatties. It’s very simple food but very tasty and satisfying.
So where do I get haggis I hear you saying and that would be O’Flynns on Marlboro Street, produced right here in Cork.
This would traditionally be washed down with either a Whisky (yes no E) or with a nice bold glass of Bordeaux in thanks to our old buddies of the Auld Alliance.
What to drink
Surprisingly Haggis is very versatile when it comes to wine pairing, from dessert wines to light and heavy reds.
After testing a few bottles these were my winners.
Jean-Luc Baldes Triguedina Esprit de Flore Cahor Malbec, France
Esprit de Flore is a rich, ripe and fruity wine bursting with red and blackberry flavours and smooth tannins. This tasty red wine is ideal on its own as an aperitif or for a match made in heaven pair with your peppery haggis. €15
Château Deyrem Valentin’s 2006 Margaux, France
From Margaux this beautiful Bordeaux, Château Deyrem Valentin’s 2006 blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot bringing a fairly chunky dark fruit based wine with nice gentle tannins, acidity and spice. That works perfectly with the spicy earthiness of haggis. €32
So if you’re looking for an excuse to have people round to the house for a wee drink and a bite to eat, accompanied with a wee bit of theatrical poetry reciting then why not celebrate Rabbie and the “great Chieftain of the puddin race” from Bonnie Scotland.
