£10k whisky cask from Burns' family farm raffled for the Bard’s birthday
One lucky raffle winner will own a whisky cask worth £10k and have access to a private tour of a family-run distillery.
A cask of whisky distilled on a farm once owned by the family of Robert Burns is to be auctioned off to mark the Bard’s birthday this weekend.
The National Trust for Scotland has partnered with Lochlea Distillery to celebrate Burns Night on Sunday with the raffle of an exclusive whisky cask worth up to £10,000
In the heart of Ayrshire, Lochlea Distillery sits on Lochlea Farm, once owned by the family of Robert Burns, who lived there from 1777 until his father’s death in 1784.
Today, it is one of a small handful of distilleries in Scotland that grow their own barley.
This single estate approach means that the laureate barley for Lochlea’s whisky is grown on the same land that Burns tended to when he lived at Lochlea, while nurturing his development as a poet.
The independent, family-owned farm and distillery have full traceability over the ingredients used to make their single malt whisky, harnessing a higher level of control to ensure a flavour profile bursting with fruit and a biscuity, cereal undertone.
The winner will get the rare opportunity to own a cask from Lochlea distillery and watch the new make spirit develop into a single malt whisky.
On-site warehouse storage and insurance is included for 10 years, after which the cask owner can either store their whisky for longer, bottle it under their personal label, or sell it back to the distillery.
The cask on offer is a first fill Bourbon barrel holding up to 200 litres of spirit. This will yield around 250 standard sized bottles if bottled at 46% ABV at 10 years of age.
The winner will also get a private tour of the distillery and a family day pass to Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway.
The collaboration between National Trust for Scotland and Lochlea supports the charity’s ongoing mission to protect Scotland’s heritage, which includes the legacy of Robert Burns.
The Trust is responsible for an internationally significant collection of manuscripts, personal items, and places that tell the story of the Bard’s life.
Ali MacLeod, head of fundraising at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “This spirited collaboration between the Trust and Lochlea Distillery will give one lucky winner far more than a prize – it offers the chance to step directly into the world of Robert Burns.
“To own and help craft a whisky on the very farm he once worked is to join a story that has been unfolding for centuries. Burns celebrated whisky as Scotland’s national spirit – a symbol of pride, resilience, and community – and now someone will experience that spirit in the most authentic way possible.
“Every raffle ticket is a powerful act of preservation. Each entry will fuel our work to safeguard places and stories, including those that shaped Burns’ life and continue to shape Scotland’s identity.
“From ensuring public access to thousands of personal items and manuscripts, to rethatching the roofs of Burns Cottage and the Bachelors’ Club, and restoring Souter Johnnie’s Cottage, this is heritage that belongs to everyone.
“Taking part is more than just entering a raffle, it is helping us to protect and share Scotland’s nature, beauty, and heritage for everyone. The legacy of Scotland’s greatest poet is an important part of this work and we’re ensuring his story continues to inspire generations to come.”
Tickets can be purchased online, and winners will be drawn on 24 April 2026. Full details about the raffle and how to enter can be found on the NTS website.
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