HERE are some single malt whiskies to pipe in a classic Burns night menu on January 25.

A whiff of stardom surrounds Arran Malt Robert Burns Single Malt (£29.99, 70cl, arranwhisky.com). The official Burns whisky and named after ‘The Bard’ is certainly in tune with a celebratory supper. Smooth and delicate with floral notes and a deliciously creamy mouthfeel, it’s rounded off by sweet, nutty fruits, vanilla and spice on the finish.

The orangey, signature style of Dalmore 12 Year Old Whisky (£34.50, 70cl, 31dover.com) is another great choice if you like the sound of a rich, fruity style with orange marmalade, candied orange peel, spice and creamy toffee. Dalmore is complex yet approachable and the stag’s head emblem on the label can be found in the world’s best whisky bars.

However, following the recent trend for no-age statement Scotch, it’s not always easy to distinguish your favourite single malt based on how long it’s matured in the cask.

According to Ewan Lacey, general manager of the International Wine and Spirit Competition, there’s a movement away from whiskies which are categorised by how old they are, and a movement towards the style the whisky follows, like Highland Park Dark Origins (£64.95, 70cl, thewhiskyexchange.com) to make it easier for consumers to find something they like.

With the focus on character rather than age, Dark Origins takes its name from the distillery’s founder, Magnus Eunson, a smuggler who used to work in the dead of night to craft his golden liquid. This new expression uses twice as many first fill sherry casks than the classic Highland Park 12 Year Old to create the rich mahogany colour and richer palate with sherried spice and signature sweet smoke.

Guilt-free fizz... An excellent substitute if you want to raise a toast but dry January is preventing you from popping the champers, Echo Falls Tisane Sparkling Infusion (Alcohol Free), USA (£3.49, Asda) is a zero percent alcohol drink made from fermented white grape juice and a green tea infusion known as Tisane; it’s tangy, fruity and crisp.