Haggis 'ISN'T SCOTTISH': Master butcher claims 'imposter' dish should be made of DEER
MILLIONS will tuck into it tonight, accompanied by bagpipes, poetry and a wee dram of scotch.
Callaghan's butchers in Argyll claim haggis (l) was originally made from deer (r)
But anybody who thinks their haggis supper a true Scotsman's meal could be in for a shock.
Robert Burns's "great chieftain of the puddin'-race" is actually nothing of the sort, according to a Scottish master butcher.
According to experts at Callaghan's butchers in Helensburgh, Argyll, haggis as we know it is an "imposter".
Callaghan's is marketing deer-derived 'staggis' (l) in contrast to the widespread sheep version (r)
They argue the dish was first made from deer innards instead - and is making a comeback.
Callaghan's recently launched a gamey alternative, nicknamed staggis, which has a claim to being the most authentic haggis on the market.
Joe Callaghan argued that Robert Burns wouldn't be seen anywhere near a supermarket haggis
Joe Callaghan, who owns the 150-year-old family business, told Express.co.uk: "Haggis comes from a Viking word which means bag.
"When the Vikings came across to Scotland in 700AD, venison would have been the key meat product of that time."
A Scotsman addresses the haggis - a traditional part of the Burns Night ceremony
It was later, he said, with the rise of organised farming the sheep took over as the predominant source of offal.
We cannae keep up with demand
To add insult to injury, Mr Callaghan says that even sheep haggis has been "hijacked" by mass producers and supermarkets.
He said: "If you walk into a supermarket today and buy a haggis, it's highly unlikely any of the meat content has come from Scotland.
Top 10 Facts About Haggis
"In some cases the skins are made in South America.
"On a day like today, there's one thing for sure - Rabbie Burns wouldn't want to be eating a haggis from Asda or Tesco that came from Spain, Poland - maybe at best England.
"The point I'm getting at here is how Scottish is your haggis? Whereas the staggis product is all free-range, made on the banks of Loch Lomond.
"We launched the product in November - now we cannae keep up with demand."