Isle of Arran Distillers sponsor new multi-arts Robert Burns Festival

Award winning scotch producer, Arran Distillers will be sponsoring Burns Unbroke, the inaugural multi-arts Robert Burns festival, at the Summerhall in Edinburgh this coming January.

The maker of the only official Burns Single Malt will be supporting the first Burns Unbroke festival as a headline sponsor alongside Creative Scotland and Scotland.org. They are also planning exciting events to celebrate the Bard including whisky masterclasses.

Running for six weeks from the 25th January 2018, the program will celebrate the plethora of artistic and performing talent in Scotland, and beyond, through the prism offered by new interpretations of the life and work of Robert Burns.

Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “As the producer of the official Burns Malt, it was a no brainer for us to get involved in a festival that shares our passion for the poet.

“As a distillery, we may take a very traditional approach to production – with an eye to the proud heritage of Scotch – but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t eager to experiement and introduce new people to the spirit.

“With Burns Unbroke, we’re really excited to be helping bring the Bard to a contemporary audience and give up-and-coming Scottish artists a much deserved platform.”

The inspiration for the Burns Unbroke title comes from the epigraph printed at the beginning of Burns’s first poetry collection, the Kilmarnock edition, published in 1786*.

The festival‘s innovative visual arts programme features over 30 visual artists and there will be newly commissioned work by four Scottish based artists. In addition, the programme of events includes an Alternative Burns Night, spoken word performances, children’s performances and a tailor made programme of music.

Sheilagh Tennant, Burns Unbroke Director, says “Burns Unbroke provides the opportunity, for the first time, to bring together such an impressive range of visual and performance artists under one banner.”

Burns Unbroke runs at Summerhall from 25 January – 10 March 2018, with the majority of performance events focussed around the weekend of 26-28 January. The exhibitions will be open to the public, Tuesdays to Sundays, throughout the six weeks and entry is free.

*The Simple Bard, unbroke by rules of art.
He pours the wild effusions of the heart:
And if inspir’d ‘tis Nature’s pow’rs inspire;
Her’s all the melting thrill, and her’s the kindling fire

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For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)
Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015.

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.