EVENT : Annual Burning Bear event at Lindores Abbey Whisky Distillery, Scotland

Lindores Abbey, a Lowland Whisky, is known as the spiritual home of Aqua Vitae (whisky). There is written reference to Aqua Vitae being made here as early as 1494. In 2017 the water of life once again flowed through the copper pipes and stills, and their first whisky from the new distillery was born in 2021.

ANNUAL BURNING BEAR EVENT AT LINDORES ABBEY WHISKY DISTILLERY, SCOTLAND

The Burning Bear event has been around since 1980 when an outline of a bear and a tree was carved into the landscape for a community festival to help celebrate Newburgh as a Royal Burgh. The Burning Bear is located on farmland close to the Abbey and is said to be a depiction of a stone called the bear stone which was originally set into the abbot’s residence at Lindores Abbey.

This next extract was taken from www.newburghsailingclub.org as I could not word it any better ~

“The origin of the legend of the bear goes back to the time of Arthur and the round table. One of his knights was Arthgal whose name in the British language was Arsh meaning bear. The ragged staff is attributed to Morvidus, an earl of the same family who slew a giant with a young tree which he had pulled up by the roots.

In 1076, the bear and ragged staff became Norman property when Henry de Newburgh was created Earl of Warwick He was the second son of Roger de Bellemonte, a knight of William the Conqueror and a commander in his army during the 1066 invasion. The male line of the Newburgh family ceased in 1242. A female descendant of Henry de Newburgh named Isabel was mated to Simon de Lis, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon. They had no family and on the death of Earl Simon, the King offered the title to William 'The Lion', King of Scotland who gave it to his brother David the founder of Lindores Abbey.”

In May, to celebrate International Whisky Month and International Whisky Day, on the 19th May, Lindores Abbey co-incide this celebration with the Burning Bear event. I headed along with my partner, who is a 1494 member of Lindores Abbey, to the event on Saturday evening.

LINDORES ABBEY WHISKY DISTILLERY GROUNDS

The distillery and visitor centre that is Lindores Abbey is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful but it is the Abbey grounds that will captivate you. Just wandering around the abbey, it’s easy to take a step back in time and imagine a time of 1298 when William Wallace and his men drank from the Holy Burn after the Battle of Blackearnside, or cast yourself back to 1559 when the abbey was plundered by John Knoxs men and villagers used the bricks from the abbey to build their own houses.

Lindores Abbey now have a Preservation Society; custodians who are committed to protecting this beautiful landmark. Tours of the distillery are available with the Apothecary, Visitor Centre and Abbey Gardens available for private events and weddings.

LINDORES ABBEY WHISKY DISTILLERY BURNING BEAR EVENT 2022

The Burning Bear is a sight to see and it is lit and controlled by local farmers. The outline of the bear is filled in with coffee grounds and pieces of cloth are placed every few feet apart. Once the shallow trench is filled in with coffee grounds and cloth, the bear is lit from the top, with the fire catching flame as it works its way downhill along the outline.

It’s not a raging fire but rather a bright orange beacon set against the green grass. The contrast works well, being seen for miles.

It’s a lovely way to toast to another year of whisky making. Slainte!

Lindores Abbey, Abbey Road, Newburgh, KY14 6HH www.lindoresabbeydistillery.com