Enter the Master of Malt Burns Night Poetry Competition 2026!

12th January 2026 9:00 am

The Master of Malt Burns Night Poetry Competition 2026 is here. Our annual competition promises big prizes while honouring the Scottish Bard.

On Burns Night, poetry is not only encouraged but expected. It’s not just a supper or an excuse to eat haggis. It is a celebration of language, creativity and the shared joy of gathering over whisky.

Once again, we are inviting you to step into Burns’ boots and put pen to paper.

Enter the Master of Malt Burns Night Poetry Competition 2026!

Can you write something that will still cut through centuries later, as the man did himself? Make us cry, or laugh?

This is not about perfect poetry or flowery clichés. It is about you showing us your personality, imagination and connection to whisky.

The best entries will be rewarded with bundles of whisky prizes, with FIVE winners across five categories.

GlenAllachie 15 Year Old at a Burns Night Supper

The prize bundle includes GlenAllachie 15 Year Old

Prizes

There are five bundles up for grabs, each bundle is the same, and contains six whiskies. Here’s the full list of whiskies that are waiting to be won this Burns Night:

A bottle of Loch Lomond 24 Year Old 2000 Open Course Collection – 152nd Royal Troon 2024
A bottle of GlenAllachie 15 Year Old
A bottle of Scapa 10 Year Old
A bottle of Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old
A bottle of The Glendronach – Ode to the Valley
A bottle of Ledaig 9 Year Old Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured

Winning categories

The categories are as follows. There are plenty of chances to win!

Best Shortie – Best poem under 50 words.
Best Patter – The poem that made us laugh the most.
Burns Would Say Excellent – The poem we think Burns himself would love.
Best Dram Raiser – The poem made us want whisky. Immediately.
The Best of the Best – The overall winner.

Where to enter

Submit your poem during the competition entry period via the form on our dedicated Burns Night page.

The Master of Malt Burns Night Tasting Set at a Burns Night Supper

Shop The Master of Malt Burns Night Tasting Set here

Rules and limitations for the Master of Malt Burns Night Poetry Competition 2026

To protect the integrity of the competition and encourage genuine creativity, the following rules will apply. Failure to comply means your poem won’t be considered. And we’ll all laugh at you behind your back.

The rules:

No AI allowed
Poems written by AI will not be accepted. Clear warnings will appear on the entry page.

1,500 characters maximum
Each poem must not exceed 1,500 characters.

Restricted terms
Certain phrases will be banned due to repeated AI usage in previous years.
Restricted terms include:
– amber hues
– in amber depths
– titles beginning with an ode to

Other than, have at it, and best of luck!

18+ AND UK ONLY. T&CS APPLY. ENTRIES CLOSE 23:59:59 25 JANUARY 2026.

View Full Terms and Conditions.

MoM Burns Night Poetry Competition 2026 T&Cs

PROMOTER: The promoter is Atom Supplies Limited (company registration number 03193057), trading as Master of Malt (MoM) and having its registered office at Unit 1 Ton Business Park, 2-8 Morley Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1RA, United Kingdom.
THESE TERMS AND PRIVACY POLICY: By entering this competition, entrants confirm they have read and understood these terms and the MoM Privacy Policy (and the way we process personal data), and agree that these terms and the MoM Privacy Policy are binding to them. MoM reserves the right to amend these terms and to hold void, suspend, cancel or amend this competition at any time.
ELIGIBILITY: This competition is only open to private individuals acting in their capacity as retail consumers who are 18 years or older and are residents of the United Kingdom. To be eligible, the shipping address for the winning entries must be in the UK. Ineligible entries (howsoever received) will be discarded. The competition is not open to any employees of MoM or any of its associated companies (nor their immediate families). MoM reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and entrants (including an entrant’s identity, age and place of residence) at any time and reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual or entrant who it believes has breached any of these terms, tampered with the entry process or engaged in any unlawful or improper conduct which may undermine the fair and proper conduct of this competition, and to discard any entry which reflects any such conduct.
ENTRY PERIOD: This competition opens at 09:00:00 UK time on 12 January 2026 and closes at 23:59:59 UK time on 25 January 2026 (the entry period).
HOW TO ENTER: To enter, individuals must within the entry period complete the following steps (subject to the remaining terms of this competition):
write an original poem with a maximum of 1,500 characters that is inspired by whisky; and submit their poem to MoM via our dedicated entry webpage, which can be accessed by visiting www.masterofmalt.com/burns-night-poetry-competition-whisky.
WINNER(S): All eligible entries received within the entry period will be reviewed and judged by a selected panel at MoM shortly after the entry period closes. MoM will choose five winners out of all the qualifying entries after the entry period ends. MoM will choose one winner for each of the following categories: 1 – Best Shortie – Under 50 words; 2 – Best Patter – Made us laugh the most; 3 – Burns would say “Excellent” – The poem we think the man himself would like best; 4 – Best Dram Raiser – The poem that most made us want to drink whisky after reading; 5 – The Best of the Best – The overall winner. The selection of the winners made will be final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into. The selection of the winners will be at MoM’s absolute discretion and will be final. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
THE PRIZE(S): Each of the five winners will win a prize bundle containing the following: A 70cl bottle of Loch Lomond 24 Year Old 2000 Open Course Collection – 152nd Royal Troon 2024 Whisky; A 70cl bottle of GlenAllachie 15 Year Old Whisky; A 70cl bottle of Scapa 10 Year Old Whisky; A 70cl bottle of Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old Whisky; A 70cl bottle of The Glendronach – Ode to the Valley Whisky; A 70cl bottle of Ledaig 9 Year Old Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured Whisky. The prizes are provided by MoM and are strictly non-negotiable, non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for any equivalent cash value, cash alternative, or for other items. MoM reserves the right to substitute any of the prizes with alternative prizes of equal or greater value in the event that any of the prizes are not available for any reason.
UK SHIPPING ONLY: The prizes can only be delivered to a valid United Kingdom address provided by the winners.
CLAIMING THE PRIZE: The names of the winners will be announced on MoM’s blog as soon as practicable following selection. MoM will make reasonable efforts to contact the winners via email or by telephone as soon as practicable. If any winner cannot be contacted, or is not available or has not claimed the prize within 5 days of MoM contacting them, MoM reserves the right to select an alternative qualifying entry and to offer the prize(s) to another entrant. MoM cannot accept any responsibility if any of the winners are unable to claim the prize within the time limit set out above. MoM may contact the winners and entrants for feedback in respect of the competition and/or prizes and may use any feedback provided when announcing the results and promoting the competition or subsequent competitions.
ORIGINAL ENTRY CONTENT ONLY: Let’s be sensible, people. Any content submitted to MoM, howsoever submitted, for the purposes of entering the competition must only be original material. By entering this competition, entrants warrant and undertake that their entry does not infringe any third party rights. Entrants agree to indemnify MoM from and against any and all third party claims or liabilities relating to or arising out of the content submitted by them or their breach of any of these terms.
ACCEPTABLE ENTRY CONTENT: All entry content must strictly comply with MoM’s Acceptable Use Policy and the rules set out on our entry page for the competition. Any material which fails to comply with these rules or depicts, describes, encourages, endorses or normalises the excessive consumption of alcohol; the consumption of alcohol by those under the age of 25; anti-social behaviour (including any criminal activity) or irresponsible drinking (including rapid drinking); links the consumption of alcohol with popularity or other social success, bravado, technical skill, good fortune, the operation of vehicles or other machinery or therapeutic benefits; or which depicts the consumption of alcohol whilst potentially dangerous activities are being undertaken will be disqualified. In addition, any entries that MoM believes have been created with the help of artificial intelligence (in MoM’s sole and absolute discretion) or which include the phrase “amber hue(s)” shall be discarded.
ENTRY OWNERSHIP: By entering this competition, entrants agree that all rights, title and interest in their entries will belong absolutely to MoM. Entrants agree to irrevocably assign with full title guarantee and free from all third party rights, all intellectual property rights in and to any content submitted with their entry. MoM shall have the right to use, exploit, adapt and edit any content submitted (or part thereof) throughout the universe in perpetuity. By entering this competition, entrants waive all moral rights which they are or become entitled to under Chapter IV of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (or any similar right or entitlement anywhere in the world). Entrants agree to sign any additional documentation which may be required to give effect to this paragraph.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: MoM will not be responsible for any entries that are delayed or lost for any reason (for example, due to technical error or connection failure). MoM shall not be responsible for delivery of any prize to an incorrect address. MoM will not be able to ship the prizes to any winner who is not able to provide a valid shipping address in the United Kingdom, in which circumstances MoM will offer the prizes to another eligible entrant. Insofar as is permitted by law, none of MoM, its agents, employees, and/or representatives shall be responsible or liable to compensate any competition entrant and/or the winner for any loss, damage, personal injury or death whatsoever and howsoever caused, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with their participation in this competition (including in taking up any prize), except where caused by the proven negligence of MoM, its employees, and/or its authorised representatives. Competition entrants’ statutory rights are not affected.
GENERAL: All decisions relating to this competition will be made in MoM’s absolute discretion and will be final. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into. Should a social media channel be used for this competition, MoM confirms that this competition is not sponsored or endorsed by the social media platform identified herein and said social media platform is in no way affiliated to or associated with MoM. By entering this competition, users agree to release that social media channel from any and all liability related to this competition. These terms shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

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13 Comments

Ekaterina Crawford says:

12th January 2026 at 3:09 pm

Good afternoon,
I have a poem that might suit the subject. It didn’t win any prizes, but was published in an anthology in 2022. Would it qualify for entry? Thank you.

Reply
Alan McIntosh says:

12th January 2026 at 4:15 pm

Yer rules are nae sae affy clear.
Or I jist cannae find it here.
Can I send mair if I think I can?
Or only jist submit the wan?

Reply
- Adam O'Connell says:
  
  14th January 2026 at 1:15 pm
  
  Hi Alan,
  
  The form can be found here: https://www.masterofmalt.com/burns-night-poetry-competition-whisky/
  
  Thanks,
  
  Adam
  
  Reply
Stewart Shaw says:

12th January 2026 at 6:30 pm

Please cancel the “ode title “..please

Reply
GERARD JARVIS says:

12th January 2026 at 8:03 pm

Where is the entry form for the poetry competition?

Reply
- Adam O'Connell says:
  
  14th January 2026 at 1:15 pm
  
  Hi Gerard,
  
  The form can be found here: https://www.masterofmalt.com/burns-night-poetry-competition-whisky/
  
  Thanks,
  
  Adam
  
  Reply
Nicholas P Clark says:

13th January 2026 at 3:44 pm

A Sang for the Heathered Hearth (Extra Poem For You)

We gather roond the heathered hearth,
Wi’ neeps an’ haggis steamin’ fair,
The winter wind blaws sharp an’ bauld,
Yet mirth sits warm in ilka chair.
Auld Scotland sings in cracklin’ fire,
In clink o’ glass an’ kindly ee,
An’ hearts, tho’ scaur’d by time an’ toil,
Beat licht wi’ shared fraternity.

The braes lie hushed beneath the mune,
Ben Lomond dark against the sky,
The burn rins clear o’er stane an’ root,
Whaur gowans sleep an’ rushes sigh.
Frae glen tae glen the echoes rin
O’ sangs our forebears lo’ed an’ kent,
An’ ilka hill an’ field o’ green
Bears witness tae their brave intent.

Here love is nae a courtly show,
But honest as the ploughman’s hand,
A lass’s laugh, a lad’s true vow,
A kiss at e’en on frosty land.
It bides in hearths o’ lowly cot,
In patient care an’ shared bread,
In faith that though the world be hard,
The heart may aye be kindly led.

We toast the sweat that tilled the soil,
The wit that sparred wi’ king an’ kirk,
The rebel spark, the roamin’ sang
That fand its truth in honest work.
Wi’ humour dry as thistle spine,
We mock oor ain pretensions braw,
For laughter, like a draught o’ ale,
Mak’s heavy cares seem licht an’ sma’.

O Scotland, land o’ mist an’ might,
O land o’ pipes an’ poet’s pen,
Thy spirit lives in common folk,
In shepherd, sailor, wife, an’ hen.
Nae throne nor siller keeps thee hale,
But hearts that mind their neighbour’s need,
An’ tongues that daur tae speak their truth,
Tho’ powers may threaten, glower, or plead.

Sae let the verses lilt the nicht,
Let rhythm tread like dancer’s feet,
While shadows waltz on wa’s o’ stane
An’ time seems loath tae seek retreat.
We drink tae friendship, auld an’ new,
Tae love that warms through wind an’ rain,
Tae freedom’s cry, still sharp an’ clear,
That rings across the moor an’ plain.

When plates lie bare an’ candles dwine,
The sang remains, the kindly glow,
For poetry, like shared guid cheer,
Is seed we plant that aye will grow.
Sae raise yer voice, baith low an’ high,
Let Scots words roll wi’ pride an’ grace,
An’ in their sound we’ll find again
Oor hame, oor hope, oor common place.

Reply
- Adam O'Connell says:
  
  14th January 2026 at 1:15 pm
  
  Hi Nicholas,
  
  Thanks for the submission!
  
  To be officially entered, however, you will need to submit your poem here: https://www.masterofmalt.com/burns-night-poetry-competition-whisky/
  
  Thanks,
  
  Adam
  
  Reply
James Rolph says:

13th January 2026 at 3:57 pm

There was an old lady from China,
Who had a sideways Virgina,
When she looked and she winked,
There was a terrible stink,
Of fish that came from inside her.

Reply
- Adam O'Connell says:
  
  14th January 2026 at 1:17 pm
  
  Five Hail Marys and three Our Fathers.
  
  Reply
Julia Bruce says:

13th January 2026 at 4:20 pm

Mistress of Malt

I married a poet.
This was my first mistake.

He came home drunk on words,
ink on his cuffs,
whisky on his breath,
and Scotland on his mind.

The bottle adored him.
Never asked where he’d been.
Never sighed when he promised
just one more verse.

They call whisky his muse.
I call it his alibi.

I drank it after he slept—
not to forget,
but to remember
why I stayed.

Whisky doesn’t argue.
It nods.
It understands genius
is seldom house-trained.

So here’s to loving a man
who belonged to the world,
and to the bottle and I
keeping him present enough
to write about it.

Reply
- Adam O'Connell says:
  
  14th January 2026 at 1:14 pm
  
  Hi Julia,
  
  Thanks for the submission!
  
  To be officially entered, however, you will need to submit your poem here: https://www.masterofmalt.com/burns-night-poetry-competition-whisky/
  
  Thanks,
  
  Adam
  
  Reply
Findlay Hickey says:

14th January 2026 at 1:41 pm

With reference to Clause 12 in your terms and conditions of entry: asking writers to pass over all intellectual property rights to a piece of work in perpetuity is too much to ask.

Reply