Haggis – Is this how you know it?
We’re delighted to announce that some of our producer favourites scooped up a highly coveted 2014 Excellence Award at this year’s Scotland Food & Drink Awards. But who won Scottish Product of the Year?
Well, for those of you who have already joined us you’ll know that our food and drink tours and tasting events offer the chance for you to enjoy a complete multi-sensory experience like no other. And there is no doubt the same can be said for this year’s double prize winners Macsweens.
This Edinburgh based producer has been making handcrafted haggis and black puddings to traditional family recipes for the last 60 years and was the first to bring a vegetarian haggis onto the scene 30 years ago.
To reflect the diamond anniversary the Macsween family created 2 new limited editions But what do these haggis puddings taste like?
Innovative | Interesting | Three Bird
First up, the Three Bird Haggis. Grouse, pheasant and duck are smoked and combined with quince, lavender and spice.
The result is a succulent and fragrant haggis that works equally as well as a stuffing or on its own. This is definitely one for the curious palate and with 3 more new limited edition products due for launch in October 2014 you would have to agree that this sets a innovative and interesting benchmark.
Heritage | Inspired | Venison
The Macsween venison haggis is a refined version to what would have been produced in the past, with a blend of port, juniper, redcurrants and spices combining to give a balanced, rich and robust meaty flavour.
The Macsween family have long been extoling the virtues of the versatility of the haggis, and we have to agree. Regardless of where we are on tour in the country there is always an opportunity to try our national dish. It works well as a canapé, as a stuffing, wrapped in puff pastry as a wellington or served up the traditional way with bashed neeps and tatties.
So, Product of the Year (and the Meat Retail prize) went to MacSween for these two additions to their range, giving strength to the argument that like dogs for Christmas, haggis most certainly is not just for Burns night celebrations.
Fancy a taste? We can and regularly do include a haggis tasting in our events or when we are out on a food and drink tour through Scotland. Why not contact us and let us custom design a food/whisky/culinary based experience to suit your interests, timescales and budget.
