In Scotland, whisky plays a part in many celebrations, but none more so than Burns Night on January 25. The annual event celebrates national poet Robert Burns, who wrote widely in the Scots dialect. His compositions often provided sharp, incisive commentary on social and political issues, but also encompassed humor, love, and epic storytelling. You probably already know one of his most famous works: Auld Lang Syne, sung every New Year’s Day (which is called Hogmanay in Scotland).
On Burns Night, people gather to recite the bard’s poetry, sing songs, eat haggis, and give multiple whisky toasts. Although at one time he served as an exciseman, which did not endear him to the distilleries compelled to pay the tax, Burns was a devoted whisky drinker and featured it in many of his works.
You don’t have to be Scottish to celebrate Burns Night, and doing so requires no elaborate planning or preparation—though feel free to go as big as you feel like. The essential elements are poetry, food, whisky, and a spirit of celebration.
And if even that’s too much to manage during pandemic times, no problem: Scotch expert (and “Braveheart” actor—really!) Andrew Weir is hosting a virtual Burns Night you can stream from anywhere. The event will include all the traditional parts of the evening, plus special guests like Outlander star Steven Cree, to immerse guests in the world and story of Robert Burns. The full experience ticket even includes four whisky samples and haggis-flavored chips—as close as most people will want to get to the Scottish delicacy. Tickets are available at burnsdistilled.com.
Everything You Need for Burns Night
Food
The traditional meal at a Burns Supper always includes haggis, a Scottish dish traditionally comprising chopped sheep’s heart, lungs, and liver, mixed with oats and spices, cooked inside a sheep’s stomach. Authentic haggis is illegal in the U.S., where consuming lungs is forbidden, but you can purchase a modified—or vegetarian—version from Scottish Gourmet USA. Often the haggis is introduced as part of a procession with bagpipes, then a master of ceremonies recites Burns’ “Address to a Haggis” before the dish is served to guests. “Neeps and tatties”—boiled and mashed turnips and potatoes—usually accompany the haggis, along with a whisky-cream sauce.
Attire
This is the occasion to break out a kilt, which can be rented from a number of online merchants. Or dress up in your finest formalwear, accented by something plaid, if possible.
Poems and songs
Other than “Address to a Haggis” and “Auld Lang Syne,” which usually closes out the evening, no particular Burns poems are mandatory. He wrote over 550 works, so there are plenty of options. Encourage guests to choose a poem, and deliver it with plenty of emotion. Robertburns.org has a complete list to peruse.
Toasts
Anyone can offer a toast on Burns Night, but the Toast to the Lassies is most common. It should be humorous but heartfelt, meant to praise the work of women both in general and those in attendance, while gently teasing as well. The lassies are then entitled to make a reply to the laddies with their own clever retorts.
And for all those toasts, of course, you need whisky. Choose any scotch you like, or check out one of the recommendations below.
5 Best Scotches for Burns Night
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1. Arran Burns Malt
Truly the most fitting scotch for a Burns Night celebration, this single malt has been officially endorsed by the World Burns Federation since 1998. It’s made at Isle of Arran Distillery, located on an island within sight distance of the village where Burns was born.
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2. Kilchoman Machir Bay
Packed with smoke and peat and bottled at a beefy 100 proof, this Islay whisky stands up to even the most pungent bites of haggis, though you don’t need to eat anything to enjoy it.
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3. Highland Park 15-year-old Viking Heart
Cool, damp, and windy year-round, the Orkney Islands are home to ideal maturation conditions, helping this lightly peated 15-year-old achieve a perfect mix of strength and elegance with full flavor.
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4. Compass Box Artist Blend
A balanced, easy-drinking blend that works equally well for sipping neat and cocktails—really. Slip in a few ice cubes or a generous glug of sparkling water to lengthen your pour for a long evening.
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5. Benromach 10-year-old
This Speyside distillery is committed to old-fashioned methods of production as well as flavor profiles. The result is a gentle, smoky whisky with full body and complementary sweet flavors, great for multiple rounds of toasting.
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There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
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1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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