The Scottish Craft Butchers Awards for the categories of Speciality Burger, Make It With Haggis and Pork Sausage went to retailers in Banff, Newton Stewart and Dumfries.
A perfect score for haggis
John D. Owen & Son secured the Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB) ultimate Diamond Award for their “Haggis Nest”, wowing the judges in a rare 70 out of 70 score.
Owner Kenny Owen learned the news of the product’s nation-beating success while on route to holiday in Italy and immediately forewarned his staff that they would have to up production of the Diamond winner.
“This product has sold well since we first introduced it around a year ago but I guess it’s going to sell even better now that it’s a champion,” he said.
“I’m absolutely gobsmacked to know we achieved the perfect score. It’s a surprise and a thrill to win the top Diamond award for the haggis nest but to take maximum points is just amazing. We’re absolutely delighted.”
SCB Executive Manager Gordon King said Kenny and his team had delivered: “The perfect product.
“To achieve the perfect score with our panel of independent judges is just remarkable,” said Gordon. “It didn’t drop a single point when up against a strong field of some amazingly good rivals.
“The range of products entered for the ‘Make It With Haggis’ evaluation shows just how versatile haggis is and the many innovative and delicious ways our local independent butchers are adapting it into versatile and popular dishes.”
Speciality Burger
John Stewart Butchers’ Nacho Cheeseburger beat off competition from over 160 contenders in the Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB) Speciality Burger evaluation to lift the coveted Diamond Award.
Delighted owner Andy Grant immediately dedicated the country’s top prize to his team at Banff who worked together to create the national winner.
“This is absolutely wonderful,” he said, collecting his award at the SCB Trade Fair in Perth at the weekend. “The Nacho Cheeseburger is a new concept created by a few of the guys who tweaked and perfected the recipe between them.
“It hasn’t gone on sale to the customer yet, but I guess that’s all about to change.”
Gordon King said the Banff creation had proved an outright winner with the independent judges.
“They enthused about the taste, the balance of flavours and the quality of ingredients,” he said. “They agreed it was an outstanding burger and a worthy winner.
“The standard of entry was extremely high in what proved to be a fiercely contested category,” added Gordon. “Andy and his team created something different that not only looks great but tastes great as well.
“The high standard of entry showed the innovation and craftmanship of our independent local butchers which ensures our customers get the very best products every time.”
Pork Sausage
A Dumfries butcher who returned to the family business just two months ago can now officially say it makes the best pork sausages in Scotland.
Daniel West (30) took over Mogerleys in Friar’s Vennel from his uncle Gordon Little earlier this year and decided to use his grandfather’s 30-year-old recipe in a bid to beat the best pork sausages in the business.
And the family’s banger has done just that by securing the Scottish Craft Butchers (SCB) ultimate Diamond Award in the biennial Scottish Pork Sausage Championship.
New Scottish champion Daniel said he was “over the moon” when he collected his trophy at the SCB Trade Fair in Perth at the weekend.
“I didn’t expect to hear my name called out,” he said. “I was absolutely shocked – but I’m ecstatic now that it’s sinking in.
“To produce the best pork sausage in Scotland is unbelievable. We turn over hundreds every week and it’s a top seller with our customers. Word is already out that it’s a Scottish Champion, however, with new orders coming in from all over.”
Gordon King said Mogerleys championship-winning sausage came up against stiff competition in a field of around 70 entries from all over Scotland.
“It’s one of the most coveted and most fiercely contested championships in the business,” he said. “And we’re thrilled to see it go to Daniel and his team at Dumfries just weeks after him taking on the business.
“The standard of entry was extremely high and Mogerleys excelled in a fiercely competitive field,” added Gordon. “The standard reflects well on our local independent butchers who supply this household staple food as one of their key products on a daily basis.”
Other SCB awards being presented to Dumfries and Galloway butchers include:
- Ballards Butchers, Castle Douglas:
- Two Gold for Chaggis Pinwheel and Beef and Haggis Scotch Egg and four Silver for Sweet Chilli Chickenburger; Beef, Haggis and Peppercorn Sauce Burger; Chicken, Haggis and Peppercorn Pie; and Pork, Irn Bru and Haggis Link Sausage.
- J Hall & Sons, Kirkcudbright:
- Gold for Burns Bomb and Silver for BBQ Pork and Mozzarella Burger.
- John D Owen & Son, Newton Stewart:
- Gold for Steak and Haggis Pie and two Silver for Cheeseburger and Chicken and Haggis Pie.
- Neilson Brothers Butchers, Dalbeattie:
- Gold for Highland Chicken and Silver for Haggis Surprise.
- T H Carson, Dalbeattie:
- Two Gold for Mozzarella Melt and Chicken and Haggis Pie.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
