Lorne sausage and brown sauce will be the latest flavour added to Mackie's crisp range - with the new limited edition snack hitting the shelves this month throughout Scotland.
The new creation follows on from Mackie's previous limited edition flavour and 'world-first', haggis, neeps and tatties, which launched last December and sold out ahead of all expectations.
While the new flavour is being hailed by the team at Mackie's as a clear and obvious summer successor to the Burns-inspired creation, they expect fans to be divided over whether it should have been called square sausage, rather than the more “refined”, Lorne sausage.
James Taylor, from the Perthshire based family business, said: “We trialled quite a few different concepts, but the lorne sausage and brown sauce combination became an instant hit with all of our team.
“It really does taste just like the real thing – regardless whether you call it lorne or square.
“The addition of brown sauce gives it a really savoury and complex flavour profile – and one we hope crisp - and sausage - fans will love in equal measure.
“We're quickly becoming synonymous for our patriotic limited flavours, but with good reason too.
"As Scots, we're too quick to put down our traditional foods, but in reality we have amazing produce and dishes we should be fiercely proud of.”
It is believed that the lorne or square sausage, as we know it, developed in the 19th century as improvements to metal making allowed for foods to be easily shaped or baked.
While the origin of the lorne name is disputed, evidence suggests it is not named after Glasgow comedian Tommy Lorne, who made disparaging remarks about the quality of sausages in the city.
The most likely explanation is that it was named after the ancient district of Lorne (now part of Argyll and Bute) or The Marquess of Lorne, who was famous in the 19th century for marrying Princess Louise, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.
Nowadays, lorne sausage is most often enjoyed in a breakfast roll, where its convenient shape allows it to be easily paired with other items and often includes brown or red sauce.
James added: “It will hit the shops throughout Scotland in the coming weeks and will only be available until the first - and only – batch of 150,000 bags sells out.
“We certainly hope that this new flavour proves as tempting as haggis, neeps and tatties did.
“We have enjoyed working on the development of this new flavour and limited editions will likely continue to play an integral role for our crisps business over the coming years.
“Those that prove popular amongst our customers could end up being added to our permanent range.”
James is the fourth generation to work at the Taylor farm – and is commercial director at Mackie’s at Taypack, which produces Mackie’s Crisps. He helps to run the family-owned business with his father, managing director George Taylor.
The crisps brand and Mackie’s at Taypack as a business were launched in 2009 as the result of a joint-venture between potato farmers the Taylor family and Aberdeenshire’s Mackie’s of Scotland, which is renowned for its ice cream and chocolate.
Its thick-cut and gently cooked potato crisps use the best varieties of crisping potatoes, grown on the farm, reflective of its “plough to pack” ethos.
The new limited edition crisps will be able to buy in Aldi from 29 June, Sainsbury's from 8 July (as part of a bumper 12-week promotion), Tesco from 20 August and SPAR stores from later this week (wc 22 June).
In addition, the brand has secured a listing with British Corner Shop – an online site that can ship worldwide – and means those throughout the UK can sample the new flavour.
Mackie's hopes stockists' appetite for its summer-special should see it reach more than £100,000 in retail sales – and the family-owned business will be keeping a close tabs on feedback from customers.
A history of the square sausage, including a recipe for making your own
