A history of Hogmanay
Hogmanay is simply a reason to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but it includes plenty of Scots specific traditions.
For example, as part of the preparations for the new year, there are several rituals to carry out, such as 'redding the house.' This involves a thorough clean the house, making sure to get rid of any ashes from the fireplace as well as clearing all your debts before midnight on December 31. It symbolises a clean start in the new year.
Where does Hogmanay come from?
You ask a simple question, you get a simple answer. Well, not with Hogmanay. It’s not uncommon for properly ancient history to get blurred - look at the origins of whisky itself, with many still not agreeing if it comes from Ireland or Scotland - and Hogmanay is so steeped in a variety of civilisations both past and present that the origins cannot quite be certain.
For some historians and scholars, they expect the word comes from the French word ‘hoginane’, which means Gala Day. Mary, Queen of Scots, who, despite the title, lived in France from the age of five and went back to Scotland when she was 18 years old in 1561, is thought to be the person who brought this term and its traditions to Scotland upon her return.
Another connection with Normandy and the French is the ‘hoguignetes’ - gifts exchanged during New Year’s in Normandy.
There are other theories about the origins, though, including the Scandinavians, who had a Norse rule in Scotland between the 8th and 15th centuries. Their term for the Yule season, ‘hoggo-nott’ might have influenced the celebration. And then there’s an Anglo-Saxon phrase - haleg monath, which means holy month - and was likely brought to Scotland as they settled in the fifth century.
How to host a Hogmanay party anywhere in the world
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to visit Scotland in the winter, you might have got to celebrate Hogmanay with one of the many iconic parties that take place throughout.
And if you’re planning to visit Scotland in future years, some of the most famous Hogmanay events include:
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party is a booked event that is arguably the biggest Hogmanay celebration in the world, including fire shows, ceilidhs (a traditional Gaelic gathering with music, food and drink) and more
The Stonehaven Fireballs parade in Aberdeenshire is a powerful spectacle to behold. It's a free Hogmanay event which has been celebrated for over 100 years and it always attracts a large crowd
Ceilidh and community drams in Dufftown - In Dufftown in Speyside, a local ceilidh takes place and is traditionally followed with a gathering in The Square where drams of whisky and pieces of shortbread are shared out.
Still, you can bring Hogmanay from the heart of Scotland to the hearth of your home wherever you are with a selection of inspired dishes, twee traditions to try out and, of course, curating the perfect drinks menu.
Whisky cocktails for Hogmanay
For a tradition steeped in history, you can’t go wrong honouring the occasion with some of the finest classic whisky cocktails. An Old Fashioned adds a touch of quiet sophistication to any event, and a Rob Roy reinvents a Manhattan with the full character of a classic Scotch.
But if you did want to host a party that brings a true taste of Scotland, there are a few options to consider you might find being generously poured out across Edinburgh and beyond.
Atholl Brose: the nectar of the Scots
Atholl Brose is often served at Hogmanay, and it’s one of those drinks that feels quintessentially Scottish. Bringing together flavours like whisky, oats, honey, and cream, it’s deceptively simple while still feeling festive.
For many Scots, Atholl Brose isn’t just any other cocktail - it’s one that is alive with the stories of their ancestors and fables from centuries gone by.
One legend of the drink’s origins involves the oft-told tale of Dougal and the Giant of Atholl. As the stories go, the Giant of Atholl would terrorise the lands, depriving the locals of their oats and honey. Dougal - a brave clansman - decided the bigger they are, the harder they’ll fall. Sneaking into the Giant’s land, the legend has it that he filled the Giant’s drinking cup with a mixture of honey, oats and whisky. So delicious was the nectar - and so greedy the Giant - that he overindulged, fell asleep and was slain by Dougal.
The first recorded recipe for Atholl Brose dates back to 1475, when Iain MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles, led a rebellion against King James III. Tasked with capturing the rebels, the Earl of Atholl discovered the troops used a specific well, and decided to fill the will with whisky, oats and honey.
The rebel troops - much like the Giant before them - were so taken with the recipe that they indulged and became a bit hapless to fight off being captured.
Atholl Brose recipe
If you’re planning on serving this legendary drink to your party guests, here’s how to do it the proper way.
If you’re making individual pours for a smaller gathering, you’ll need:
40ml Scotch whisky (while you can use any Scotch that takes your fancy, a smoother, sweeter one like a Johnnie Walker Black Label or The Singleton 12 is recommended to blend well with the honey and the oats)
Two teaspoons of honey
30ml oat milk or oatmeal water
5ml Drambuie (or any equivalent honey liqueur)
10ml single cream
Optional: 5ml amaretto (the almond flavours can blend really well with the traditional flavours and gives this a modern twist)
To make:
In a cocktail shaker, stir honey with your choice of whisky until the honey dissolves
Add the rest of your ingredients, fill with ice and shake hard
Fine strain into a coupe glass.
If you don’t want to spend the night shaking up individual cocktails, here’s how to make a perfectly balanced batch serve. The recipe is slightly different because this will be a different finish. Instead of a specific cocktail, this Atholl Brose recipe will lend itself to being bottled and being poured over ice cream, added to fruits as a nice dessert, or poured over ice for a drink.
You’ll need:
A bottle of your choice of Scotch whisky (the same principles apply as above - think a sweeter, more balanced option than anything too peaty or smoky)
A half-pint of single cream
450g of honey
One handful of fine ground oatmeal
To make:
In a container, combine your oats and whisky, cover with linen and leave to sit - overnight is better, but a few hours is fine if you’re shorter on time
Once you’ve left it to sit, remove the liquids from your mixture. Use the linen or a spoon and strainer to squeeze every last drop of your mixture into your container before getting rid of the oats
Pour in your cream and stir
Next, whisk in your honey until it dissolves
Pour the finished mix into a bottle - it’s often best when left to mature a few days, but it’s ready to enjoy whenever you are.
Tips for Hogmanay cocktails
Lean into the versatility of Scotch - and Scotland: Celebrate the country and showcase the broad range of its national spirit by choosing single malt or blended Scotches that capture something unique and special across the major whisky regions.
Don't overthink the drinks menu: whatever cocktails you choose, keep them to crowd-pleasers that spotlight something great about a Scotch whisky. You can always also make easy punch-style drinks and batch cocktails to save you time as you wait for the big countdown.
A garnish makes all the difference: Even if you keep your drinks list classic, you can get creative with more festive and seasonal finishing touches - consider orange peels and twists, cinnamon sticks, cherries, seasonal herbs or dried flowers for a memorable addition.
Hogmanay food ideas: from the Black Bun to party dishes
Planning what to serve is always a tricky one, but when it comes to traditional Hogmanay dishes, a Black Bun should always be included.
Black Bun is a rich fruit cake that contains a variety of dried fruits, including raisins, sultanas, currants, warming spices, and flaked almonds. There are plenty of recipes available online, so find one that feels right for you, and get ready to tuck in alongside a pouring of Atholl Brose.
When it comes to what else to feed your guests at a Hogmanay party, truly, there’s very few ways to get it wrong. It’s a celebration! Any hearty dishes or party food will be warmly received as you partake in your own ceilidh and countdown to the big Auld Lang Syne singalong.
However, if you wanted to keep things more typical for a Scottish Hogmanay party, consider foods like:
Salmon and oysters (Scotland is known for its fresh, fine seafood!)
Neaps and tatties
Steak pie
Shortbread.
And for dessert, cranachan
Cranachan is arguably the national dessert of Scotland, full of rich raspberry flavours and dreamy cream flourishes. A perfect way to finish a lovely Hogmanay celebration with near and dear ones.
If you’re looking to merge dessert and drink options together, why not consider some cranachan inspired cocktails? Half the work for double the pleasure.
Hogmanay traditions to try out
Now you know what you’re eating and drinking, what can you do with your guests to create an authentic experience?
Why do we sing Auld Lang Syne?
No longer reserved for Hogmanay, Auld Lang Syne has become a go-to anthem for those celebrating New Year’s Eve in countries all around the globe.
The poem from Scottish icon Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns was first put to music around 1790. And ever since, people have sung the touching tale of old memories and old friends. The title - Auld Lang Syne - loosely translates to ‘for old time’s sake’, if you were ever curious,
First-footing, or why you should kick your guests out at midnight
Introverts might love the idea of kicking out their guests slap bang at the stroke of midnight, but there’s actually a historically significant reason to show some guests to the door rather rapidly.
First footing is the tradition where, after the bells, neighbours and friends visit one another's houses to wish each other a good New Year. Traditionally, the first person over your doorstep should be a tall, handsome man carrying a lump of coal. Our apologies if you’re short of tall, handsome men.
Kick out your guests and have them come back in as your first-footers, and you’ll be off to a cheery start to your new year.
You’ve got everything you need to know to bring a taste of Scotland to your celebrations now. But if you’d like to come and experience some of the wonder for yourself, why not plan a trip to one of our distilleries once you’ve finished off your Atholl Brose and Black Bun and waved off your first-footers.
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