5 Traditional Meals for the Perfect Scottish Tour

Nestled at the top of the United Kingdom is the beautiful country of Scotland. The locals have been creating delicious food here for years and Scotland has long been proud of its livestock and produce.

Tucking in to a traditional Scottish dish will warm your bones quicker than any roaring fireplace.

No Scottish journey would be complete without plentiful helpings of the following iconic dishes and drinks. Are you ready to try some of them for yourself?

So, just how seriously do the Scottish take their whisky? They claim that the spirit evolved from a drink called uisge beatha, or the ‘water of life.’ So, it’s safe to say that the liquor is highly respected!

There are nearly 100 whisky distilleries spread across the five official regions of production in Scotland. Each distillery has its own unique taste, having nurtured the centuries-old practice like a beloved family recipe passed down over generations.

You could try the bold whiskies of Islay, which is dominated by peaty flavors and supposedly given a maritime nose by the seaside air that seeps into the maturing spirit.

Don’t miss the Speyside whiskies either. They tend to be sweeter and smoother thanks to their inland water supply from the beautiful river Spey.

So, what are you waiting for? Settle in at a local bar for the afternoon or evening and take a whisky tour of Scotland with a knowledgeable bartender. You’ll soon appreciate every delicate difference between the regions and see where your taste (and heart) lies.

Whisky on the rocks by SBSTNC

This simple sweet treat has been a Scottish staple since the 18th century. Sugar, condensed milk and butter are all that’s required, along with a steady stirring hand and a keen eye while boiling the candy.

Once set, tablet is brittle with a slightly grainy texture. As any cook will tell you, the best part of the simple recipe is the room left for experimentation. Tablet is quite often flavored with vanilla or whisky, but imagination is your only real limitation.

While in Scotland, have a go at tasting some of the more exciting flavors like chocolate orange, chili or ginger. Other favorites include fruit and nut or rum and raisin.

Fudge by j_ami

Is there a quicker route down memory lane than a warm bowl of porridge on a cold winter’s morning?

Oats are plentiful in Scotland, meaning they can make their way into most meals of the day. But our favorite has to be breakfast. Thick, velvety and greeting you every morning like a warm hug, there is no better way to fuel up for a day of exploration than with a bowl of porridge.

The best part of this dish is the opportunity to be creative with it. Keep it healthy with fruit like berries, bananas, apples or grapes. Or, mix it up with walnuts, honey, cacao nibs and toasted hazelnuts. It’s almost like dessert for breakfast!

Nutritious, tasty and packed with slow release energy, there’s a reason this humble yet delicious dish has been fueling the Scots for centuries.

Delicious porridge with baked pear by Monika Grabkowska

Pheasant is hunted for just twelve weeks between November and February, during the Scottish winter. Unlike chickens and other farmed birds, pheasants are released into the woods at seven weeks old and will spend most of their lives in the wild. Their natural lives in the wild and diet will eventually be reflected in their flavor.

The result? Each bird will vary in taste, making the classic Sunday roast an exciting affair. If you travel to Scotland during the winter, trying delicious pheasant is an absolute must.

Haggis has been served since 1430 and it takes a lot more than just long-standing tradition for a dish to find and keep its place on the family dinner table for over 500 years. It really is delicious!

It’s made from freshly minced sheep’s ‘pluck’ (the animal’s heart, liver and lungs) and mixed with suet, stock, oatmeal, onion, salt and spices. Traditionally it’s cooked in a sheep’s stomach but nowadays they’re more commonly bound in sausage casing. Earthy and spicy, this is a dish you cannot miss.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more Scottish experience than dining on this classic dish while enjoying a bagpipe performance.

Want to try some of these traditional Scottish foods? Explore tours through Scotland with Blue-Roads.

Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race by Stuart Chalmers