If you’re anything like us, at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, you’ll be arm in arm, belting out ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the top of your lungs—without a clue what it even means.
That’s the thing about traditions.
We follow them without always knowing why.
Turns out, we have Scottish poet Robert Burns to thank for this New Year’s anthem.
Written in Scottish dialect, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ translates to “old long since” or, less literally, “long long ago.”
A song about friendship and nostalgia, there’s something powerful about singing it together, as if we’re all sharing a moment, remembering old memories and looking ahead to new ones.
But this old Scottish bard wasn’t just famous for poetry; he was a bit of a revolutionary.
He used his pen to challenge the establishment.
He spoke out against class inequality, injustice, and social oppression at a time when these ideas were considered radical.
In his famous poem A Man’s a Man for A’ That, he declared that all men, regardless of wealth or status, are equal.
A message that, 400 years on, still resonates today.
He was ahead of his time when it came to women’s rights, too.
Burns had a deep respect for women and often wrote about them as equals, not just subjects of love or beauty.
He called out the double standards of his time and celebrated women for their strength, intelligence, and spirit.
And, of course, he wouldn’t be a true Scotsman without celebrating the art of drinking whisky.
He certainly wasn’t shy about praising Scotland’s national drink in his works.
In his famous poem John Barleycorn, he writes:
‘Twill make your courage rise.
‘Twill make a man forget his woe;
‘Twill heighten all his joy.
It certainly will, Robert.
Today, people all over the world will be raising a glass to the poet who gave us much more than just ‘Auld Lang Syne.’
This Burns night; to honour Robert Burns and his legacy, we’re offering a single cask of Ardmore Distillery’s iconic peated Highland whisky.
Crafted using traditional techniques and aged in an ex-bourbon cask, this whisky balances gentle smokiness with fruity and floral Highland notes – a perfect tribute to Burns’ appreciation of Scotland’s finest.
With the era of peated whiskies nearing its end by 2030 (more about that in our upcoming newsletter), this is your chance to own an incredibly rare piece of whisky history – one that may never be replicated again.
There’s only one cask available, so act quickly if you’re interested.
