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, were auctioned off at Burns Suppers all over the world helping to raise over £10,000 for the chosen charities.

Primarily a visual artist whose artwork has adorned albums by The Beatles, Gerry Rafferty and Bill Connolly, John Byrne is also the author of the BAFTA award winning Tutti Frutti and The Slab Boys. Commenting on this commission, John Byrne said: “It is an honour as a Scottish writer and artist, to create a picture to adorn the bottle commemorating Scotland’s National Poet. It is fantastic to see that 250 years on Robert Burns’ legacy is still being celebrated both at home and abroad.”

The bottles have been created as part of The World Famous Burns Supper Celebration, which The Famous Grouse is organising in partnership with Homecoming Scotland 2009.

The special bottle which has the drawing of Robert Burns on the front also has The Famous Toast on the back label – which was written by Mary MacIntyre, from East Kilbride, Scotland. Mary won an international competition to write a toast commemorating the Bard and his favourite tipple, whisky, which was read out at the Homecoming official Burns Supper in Alloway by the First Minister on 24th January, 2009.

‘Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a year long celebration kicked off on Burns Night (25th January) and features more than 300 inspirational events that connect with the year’s themes of Burns, golf, whisky, great Scottish minds and innovations and ancestry. Spanning the length and breadth of the country, the programme of events has been created to encourage Scots, people with Scots ancestry and those who simply love Scotland to ‘come home’ and celebrate in 2009.’