To celebrate the bard, a nationwide whisky poetry competition has been launched - and the winner will receive a rare, vintage malt.

Cask whisky stockists Whisky Investment Partners and BBC Radio Scotland presenter and whisky-lover, Vic Galloway, have teamed up to launch the contest for whisky fans.

The Spirit of Whisky invites connoisseurs from across the UK to submit their own seven-line poem, celebrating what they enjoy most about this beloved tipple.

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Coinciding with this year’s Burns Night celebrations, the competition will run from January 25 for one week only, with the winning poet receiving a rare, vintage bottle of whisky from Whisky Investment Partners’ prestigious collection, Annandale’s “Man O’Words”.

Inspired by Robert Burns, the winner can raise a glass with the unpeated, single ex-bourbon cask matured malt.

Alistair Moncrieff, managing partner at Whisky Investment Partners, said: “Burns Night is one of the biggest nights in the whisky calendar, and so we wanted to do something special to mark the occasion.

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"Inspired by the great Robert Burns, the competition gives budding poets the opportunity to tell us why they love whisky, in a fun, creative way. We’re thrilled to have presenter and whisky expert, Vic Galloway, kick things off with this fantastic Burns Night poem.”

To enter The Spirit Of Whisky competition, budding writers can email their seven-line poem submission to wip@hatchpr.co.uk along with their name and contact number.

The competition opens at midnight on Tuesday, January 25 for all residents of the UK over the age of 18, and closes at midnight on February 1.