Restaurants

Haggis and Scotch Whisky Flights: The Rookery Hosts Robbie Burns Day

I was convinced I was Irish until Jamie corrected me. "McCrae," he says, "is Scottish. I'm a McCrae. If you're a McCrae too then we're from the same tribe." Lots of hugs and too many pints later, my pale brother from another mother is throwing a party on Troutman and I'm going to that thing. […]

By Christian Detres

Jan. 22, 2015 · 2 min read

Restaurants

Haggis and Scotch Whisky Flights: The Rookery Hosts Robbie Burns Day

Christian Detres January 22, 2015Jan 22, 2015 · 2 min read

I was convinced I was Irish until Jamie corrected me. “McCrae,” he says, “is Scottish. I’m a McCrae. If you’re a McCrae too then we’re from the same tribe.” Lots of hugs and too many pints later, my pale brother from another mother is throwing a party on Troutman and I’m going to that thing.

This Sunday marks the 200th or so annual Scottish traditional celebration of Robert Burns Day. The owner of The Rookery, former punk drummer and longtime LES bartender, Jamie Schmitz, has a wealth of history, arcana and genealogical factoids to fuel an intense conversation on the subject of Scotland. This weekend he’s turning his passion into a pretty dope party and remembrance of one of Scotland’s greatest heroes.

Robert Burns, or “Robbie” Burns (he’s cool with either,) is the National Poet of Scotland, the Poet Laureate of the Freemasons, a revered spokesman of the Scottish enlightenment and and…