Wednesday morning that I received a phone call from Scotland. It was Fiona Stewart from the VisitScotland Tourism organization calling. I immediately apologized for not planning a trip to Scotland for Homecoming Scotland. But I told her that I was planning at trip to Scotland for my BIG birthday for 2010.
Fiona asked if I was the organizer of Gung Haggis Fat Choy. She said that they really liked my website. And then she told me my Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner had been selected to recieve one of the very special 37 year old bottles of blended malt whisky created to celebrate the 250th birthday of Robert Burns. Only 250 bottles were made to celebrate each year since Burns' birth, and are being given to Burns Suppers around the world to help raise money for charity, by auctioning them off. In keeping with the
humanitarian spirit of Burns, these bottles, which are valued upwards
of £400, will be auctioned off at Burns Suppers all over the world
helping to raise a minimum of £10,000 for their chosen charities.
So… on Tuesday, January 20th, I will meet Chief Executive Phillip Riddle of VisitScotland, when he comes to Vancouver. Maybe I will treat him to some deep-fried haggis won ton, and haggis lettuce wrap?
NEWS RELEASE
January 6th, 2009
To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and
Homecoming Scotland 2009, The Famous Grouse has specially created 250
bottles of The Famous Grouse 37 year old blended malt whisky,
signifying every year of Burns’ extraordinary life.
Renowned
Scottish artist and playwright John Byrne was commissioned by The
Famous Grouse, to create an original drawing of Robert Burns to adorn
this limited edition whisky, making it a unique collector’s item as
part of The World Famous Burns Supper celebration.
This bottle of The Famous Grouse 37 year old blended malt whisky has
been specially selected by our master blender, John Ramsay, from a
range of casks first laid down in 1971. In keeping with the
humanitarian spirit of Burns, these bottles, which are valued upwards
of £400, will be auctioned off at Burns Suppers all over the world
helping to raise a minimum of £10,000 for their chosen charities.
read more click here
And there was even a poem writing contest to create a special toast for the event, to be printed on the bottle label.
Here's The Famous Toast, by Mary MacIntyre
Tae Rabbie Burns Scotland's Son
Wha's words a million hearts hae won
We fill oor glass o' golden grain
The Famous Grouse we proudly drain
So here's a toast in celebration
Tae Rabbie, tae whisky, tae Scotland Our Nation