THE world’s biggest whisky brand, Johnnie Walker has teamed up with Unique Events to celebrate Scotland’s national poet at the new Burns & Beyond Festival.

Running from January 22-27, Burns & Beyond with Johnnie Walker will see live music, poetry and performance from Scotland and abroad throughout Edinburgh city centre.

Designed to offer something for everyone, the festival will host a vibrant programme of events, as well as a special Rabbie Ramble along Rose Street and a traditional Burns supper, where guests can toast Scotland’s national poet with a dram.

Alan Thomson, director at Unique Events, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Johnnie Walker to deliver the inaugural Burns & Beyond festival for the city, placing Scotland’s national drink at the heart of the celebrations.”

Following successful partnerships with Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay in 2018, Johnnie Walker continues to celebrate Scotland’s winter festivals. Both Robert Burns and Johnnie Walker are from Ayrshire and are celebrated and loved around the world.

David Cutter, president of global supply and procurement at Diageo, said: “Burns Night is synonymous with whisky, with people all over the world raising a glass to the great bard – and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate two Ayrshire greats, toasting to the life and legacy of Robert Burns with a dram of Johnnie Walker.”