January Whiskies of the Month - Hogmany
As clocks across Scotland strike midnight on December 31st, the country comes alive with the traditions of Hogmanay, a celebration of endings and new beginnings steeped in history.
This month, our team have selected six drams, each with a connection to New Year’s Eve. From the poetic inspiration of Robert Burns at Lochlea Farm to the smoky essence of Islay captured in Mac-Talla Terra, each dram offers a story that’s as rich as its flavour.
Join us as we explore six whiskies, each uniquely tied to Scotland’s Hogmanay traditions.


Lochlea Our Barley
Lochlea Distillery is located on Lochlea Farm, once home to Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. It was here that Burns lived and worked, drawing inspiration from the land. In 1788, he wrote Auld Lang Syne, a poem about friendship and farewells. Later set to music in 1799, it’s now sung at Hogmanay around the world to mark the end of the year and welcome in the new. Lochlea links single malt Scotch to one of Scotland’s most celebrated cultural icons.
The nose opens with notes of pear syrup, fruit bon bons, warm cut grass, and marmalade. On the palate, golden syrup, pepper, rye bread, macadamia nuts, and cream soda come through. The finish is long, with lingering orange and beeswax notes.

Edinburgh Whisky Highland
Although distilled in the Highlands, this whisky is an independent bottling from the Edinburgh Whisky Company, based in Scotland’s capital. Edinburgh is renowned for its world-famous Hogmanay street party, which draws visitors from across the globe to celebrate the New Year. The bottle itself is tall, dark, and handsome—a nod to the Scottish First Footing tradition, where good luck is said to come if the first person to enter your home after midnight is tall, dark, and handsome. This whisky brings Edinburgh’s festive spirit and age-old traditions together in one elegant bottle.
The nose offers dried fruit, custard, Seville oranges, and toasted almonds. The flavours are rich and balanced, with a smooth, satisfying finish.

Benriach 16 Year Old
Benriach Distillery, located just outside the town of Elgin, sits at the heart of a significant piece of Scottish history. Elgin is home to the first-ever written reference to the word Hogmanay, the Scots term for the last day of the year. While traditionally marking New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay now refers more broadly to the celebrations spanning the final days of the old year and the first days of the new. This connection adds a unique historical touch to Benriach’s Speyside whisky, tying it to Scotland’s rich festive traditions.
Three cask maturation in bourbon, sherry and virgin oak brings layers of stone fruit, smooth creamy malt, wild honey and nutty oak spice.

Mac-Talla Terra
Hogmanay marks the celebration of the New Year in Scotland, with traditions that vary across the country. One common toast is “lang may yer lum reek,” meaning “long may your chimney smoke”—a wish for warmth, prosperity, and good fortune. Islay whiskies, famous for their smoky character, bring a more literal connection to the phrase. Mac-Talla Terra, part of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers’ independent Islay range, highlights this signature smoke. Named for the land, Terra showcases the rich, peaty flavours that Islay is known for, capturing the essence of the island’s rugged landscape. A dram of Mac-Talla ensures your lum will reek well into the New Year.
The nose brings warm hay, dusty furniture, turf, pear, and a hint of sea breeze. On the palate, black pepper earthiness is met with waves of peat smoke, softened by touches of sweet vanilla. The finish lingers with oaky cinders.

Woven Blended Whisky Experience N.15 Shindig
Woven Whisky Company, based in Leith, brings a fresh approach to whisky blending with their release, Shindig. The name itself is a nod to a shindig—a lively Scottish party, which perfectly describes our Hogmanay celebrations. As people gather across Scotland to see in the New Year, from grand events to house parties, whisky plays a central role in the festivities. Shindig reflects this spirit of celebration, offering a whisky designed to be shared, enjoyed, and toasted with friends as you welcome in the year ahead.
The palate generously offers pineapple, mango, lime, green banana and coconut. There’s a raspberry note, that even drifts toward Irn Bru for a few exciting seconds before mellowing to reveal notes of thyme and balsamic on the finish.

Eden Mill Art of St Andrews 2024
Eden Mill Distillery, based in St Andrews, is known for its innovative approach to whisky-making. St Andrews has strong connections to Scottish traditions, including the famous “Loony Dook” that takes place on New Year’s Day. Each year, brave souls gather in icy waters across Scotland for this daring dip, which is said to bring good luck for the year ahead. A dram of Eden Mill whisky, would be a fitting way to toast the new year and warm up after braving the freezing cold.