ROBBIE Burns, Scotland's premier poet and songwriter, had the presence of mind to be born exactly one month after Christmas Day in 1759.

This is celebrated with haggis - the recipe for which is perhaps best forgotten (neaps and tatties) - and, thank goodness, masses of good Scotch whisky.

But which whisky?

This year my choice is a 10-year-old Ardbeg, a single malt that is filtered without chilling and comes from near Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay, off Scotland's rugged west coast.

It is a whisky with spectacular style, powerful flavours and tremendous length.

Visitors are seldom struck by Islay's beauty; it is rather flat and covered with peat bog.

But it does have a hidden secret for those tempted to follow the winding road that runs beside the rocky edge of the Sound of Jura.

On the way you will pass two of Islay's better known distilleries - Laphroaig and Lagavaluin - but keep following the road towards Kildalton, and there beside the sea you'll find Ardbeg, a traditional distillery opened in 1815, which produces sublime peaty whiskies.

The 10-year-old is held in casks for the full 10 years before selecting and blending, the wild spirit being tamed to a more acceptable 46 per cent abv before bottling.

A number of casks are shipped out to go into blended whiskies while others are left for a further eight years and are then bottled at a massive 54.8 per cent abv, but 10-years is widely accepted as the ideal age for a fine sipping whisky.

This is not a whisky for the faint-hearted; the colour is pale but the nose positively reeks of peat, iodine, seaweed and even sawdust. Add just a little cold water; never ice, until you see an oily slick start to appear within the glass.

This shows that the spirit has relaxed and opened up, allowing all the mouth filling flavours to escape.

Now, is the time to capture them on your palate and savour them as you toast Robbie Burns, who will be just 246 years young on January 25!

You'll find Ardbeg at Oddbins (£24.99), Upton-upon-Severn Wines ( £23.40) and Worcester Wines - which have without doubt, has the best selection of whiskies for miles around (£25.99)

However, one fortunate Evening News reader will be able raise a glass to the Immortal Memory with their very own bottle of Ardbeg, if they win my January competition

n The question is:

Robert Burns wrote the words for Auld Lang Syne, but which of the following three songs did he also write....

1. The Song of the Flea.

2. Oh Bailie Nicol Jarvie.

3. A Red, Red Rose.

The winner will be the first correct entry drawn on Friday, January 21.

Send your entry to Philippe Boucheron's January Competition, Features Desk, Evening News, Hytlon Road, Worcester WR2 5JX.

Don't forget to add your name, address and a daytime telephone number.

The usual Newsquest competition rules apply, but you must be aged 18 and over to enter.