Enjoy Burns night with a whisky dinner

It's highly likely that, unless you are Scottish, your only connection to Robert Burns is that you sing 'Auld Lang Syne' at New Year, probably quite badly and with very of the lyrics to hand. Or perhaps you've got the quite beautiful Eddi Reader album, 'The Songs of Robert Burns', (and if you haven't got it, go and buy it).

So why is it that we celebrate the birthday of the North of the border bard? Whatever the reason, the traditional 'Burns supper' consists of haggis and whisky. Tasty? Mmmm.

But the head chef at the Doubletree's City Café, Daniel Benefer, has created something a bit more sophisticated for this coming Burns Night - a three course Burns supper of Scottish inspired food accompanied by carefully selected complimentary tasting whisky.

The evening will begin in Granary Lounge, home to Doubletree’s Whisky Library which stocks over 20 delicious whiskies. Your first taste experience of the night will be a speciality cocktail made with Glenkinchie 12, a masterful 12 year old malt whisky.

The main feast will take place in City Café, starting with oak-smoked Scottish salmon and baby prawns, matched with a refined but powerful 12 year-old Caol. To follow is a hearty Aberdeen Angus steak, with grilled mushrooms and truffle mash potato accompanied by a bold red wine. You'll then be introduced to the delights of single malts – a delicate Dalwhinnie aged 15 years served with a traditional dessert of creamy Cranachan with fresh raspberries and honey. The evening will end on a high with a Talisker 10 from the Isle of Skye to match the strong flavour of blue cheese on a platter of cheeses and biscuits.

After all of that, you might well be wanting to give Daniel 'Ae Fond Kiss' at the end of the night!

Burn’s Night Whisky Dinner, City Café, Doubletree Hilton Leeds, Sat Jan 24 at 7:30pm £29 per person.