Latest news with #2025WorldChampionshipScotchPieAwards
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I'm the world champion Scotch pie AND haggis maker – there's a secret recipe that makes them the best
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A DOUBLE world champion butcher has revealed the secrets to the perfect pie and haggis. Third-generation owner of McCaskie's Butchers in Wemyss Bay, Nigel Ovens, bagged two World Championship titles for his Scotch pie and his haggis. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 McCaskie's Butchers in Wemyss Bay bagged two World Championship titles for their Scotch pies and haggis Credit: Perthshire Picture Agency 2 And owner Nigel Ovens revealed the secret to his success Credit: © Perthshire Picture Agency. The pie pro, 48, beat the best in the world for the prestigious accolade, also scooping gold for his steak pies. He picked up the gong for his haggis at Sunday's Scottish Craft Butchers Trade Fair in Perth Branding his win "the culmination of a lifetime's work", he added: "I've spent years watching, tasting, tweaking and learning from others and I'm absolutely thrilled to be lifting the World Championship – it's a dream come true." And amid all the excitement, Nigel revealed the secrets to his success. Making the perfect haggis pie is not an easy skill to master. Since taking over the business 29 years ago, the meat merchant has been refining his recipe before striking the "perfect balance between offal and spice". Speaking to The Scottish Sun, he said: "The haggis and black pudding and dry-cured bacon are like my missions to get perfect. And it doesn't happen overnight. "I mean, years of trying, years of tweaking. You've got this rich, creamy texture. The oatmeal colour, it's not clawy or gooey. It's just the perfect balance we seem to have struck." He added: "Let's just say lamb fat probably helps sweeten the haggis and give it broader appeal." Just hours before his haggis triumph, Nigel's Scotch pie was crowned the best in the world at the 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards on Saturday at the Hilton, Glasgow. I tried the new 'Glasgow pie', it's like nothing I've ever tasted before For his award-winning Scotch pie, it's all about the top-notch ingredients. McCaskie's sources their meat from the best of the best. Nigel said: "You've got to put the top ingredients in. The lamb in the pie is from the Isle of Bute, Scalpsie Bay. It's organically reared. "And the beef - 100% Aberdeen Angus that we do exclusively at our shop. 100% Scotch, the best of ingredients. That's the key." But the finishing touch that ties it all together is a perfect golden ring encircling the top of the pie. Nigel added: "It's always fired the same. Always the gold ring around the top, perfectly fired and the meat and the seasoning have something special."
Scotsman
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
The 17 Edinburgh and Lothians winners at 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards
This year's awards, which were held at the Hilton Glasgow on Saturday (May 10), saw over 539 products entered by 88 companies from the country's finest butchers, bakers, and pie makers, each showcasing their skills, passion, and craft in pursuit of the coveted titles. Following an intense (and filling!) judging day, 50 expert judges assessed entries for taste, appearance, smell, and texture across multiple categories – from the iconic Scotch Pie to Football Pies & Savouries, Macaroni Pies, Steak Pies, Sausage Rolls, Hot and Vegetarian Savouries, Haggis Savouries, Bridies, and Apple Pies. Reflecting the ever-evolving pie industry, the 2025 competition also introduced two exciting new categories, Lighter Options and Retailer Pie Product of the Year, further raising the bar for innovation and excellence. Take a look through our photo gallery to see all the winners from Edinburgh and the Lothians. 1 . 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards - local winners Take a look through our gallery to see all the local winners at 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards. Photo: Third Party Photo Sales
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'World Scotch Pie Champion' crowned at prestigious awards
The winners of the 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards have been announced. Scotland's best Scotch pie has been named as part of a prestigious award ceremony. An Inverclyde butchers took home the top prize at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards. On Saturday, May 10, the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards were held at the Hilton Glasgow. The awards recognise the best of the best from more than 500 entries submitted by the top bakers, butchers, and pie makers across Scotland. The coveted World Scotch Pie Champion 2025 award went to James Pirie and Son of Wemyss Bay. The first runner-up for the gong was WF Stark in Buckhaven. According to the judges, a Scotch Pie must consist of a machine-raised, automatic or manual round shell of pie pastry. Ingredients for the filling must feature minced beef, lamb, mutton or a combination, with the addition of seasoning, rusk, stock, or water. In addition to being crowned World Scotch Pie Champion 2025, James Pirie and Son took home another top prize at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards. The butchers also received a Gold award for their family -sized steak pie. Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers Lesley Cameron commented: "This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 25 years of the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards. It's a true testament to the passion, skill, and dedication of our butchers, bakers, and pie makers who continue to set the standard for quality and innovation in our industry. "Our winners should be incredibly proud—to stand out in such a fiercely competitive field is an outstanding achievement. We're delighted to celebrate Scotland's pie makers, our 'Pieoneers', who keep our rich culinary heritage alive while pushing the craft forward." Scottish Bakers is the association supporting Scotland's bakery trade. It organises the competition to showcase the skills behind the nation's much-loved pies. Presenting the awards to the winners, Carol Smillie stated: "I am always thrilled to be part of the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards, celebrating the incredible talent and dedication of Scotland's butchers, bakers and pie makers. "Every year, I am amazed by the passion and craftsmanship that goes into creating these delicious pies, and it's fantastic to see both familiar faces and exciting new talent taking part. The high standard of entries proves that the industry continues to thrive, with more professionals than ever showcasing their skills. "Congratulations to all of this year's winners, your hard work and commitment to quality truly deserve to be recognised." The 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards were officially launched at Hampden Park, with football legend Kris Boyd kicking off the countdown. It also saw the introduction of Scottish Bakers' 'Pieoneers' campaign, celebrating 25 years of craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication in Scotland's thriving pie industry. This year's World Championship Scotch Pie Awards saw more than 539 products entered by 88 companies from butchers, bakers, and pie makers across Scotland. The competition consisted of an "intense judging day", during which 50 expert judges assessed entries for taste, appearance, and smell. Other categories at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards included Macaroni Pie and Sausage Roll. The top prize for the former was awarded to D.G Lindsay and Son in Perth, while David Stein Butchers in Bathgate won the Sausage Roll award.
The National
12-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish 'butcher king' wins two world championships in two days
Nigel Ovens took his first title – of world champion Scotch pie – at the 2025 World Championship Scotch Pie Awards at the Hilton in Glasgow on Saturday. The 25th anniversary of the grand prize event saw 50 expert judges assess more than 500 products from 88 different butchers, with prizes for everything from macaroni pies to bridies. READ MORE: I tried haggis from Aldi, Tesco, M&S and more — one of them reminded me of dog food Ovens, representing James Pirie and Sons, took home the top Scotch pie prize – as well as a gold award for their steak pie. And on Sunday, in Perth, Ovens then took home the world championship title for his haggis at the Scottish Craft Butchers Trade Fair. Ovens took home that award for McCaskie's Butchers in Wemyss Bay, beating 55 other producers. Nigel Ovens with his world champion haggis (Image: Supplied) McCaskie's Butchers completed the purchase of James Pirie and Sons butchers, in Newtyle in Angus, in April last year, our sister paper the Largs and Millport News reported. Responding to the haggis prize, Ovens said: 'This is the culmination of a lifetime's work to perfect our haggis recipe. 'I've spent years watching, tasting, tweaking and learning from others and I'm absolutely thrilled to be lifting the world championship – it's a dream come true.' Asked to reveal his recipe, Ovens remained understandably tight-lipped. READ MORE: Google AI claims haggis is a real animal in embarrassing blunder 'Let's just say lamb fat probably helps sweeten the haggis and give it broader appeal,' he said. 'But after a lifetime spent perfecting the recipe, I'll keep the rest a secret.' Lesley Cameron, the chief executive of Scottish Bakers, said: "This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 25 years of the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards. 'It's a true testament to the passion, skill, and dedication of our butchers, bakers, and pie makers who continue to set the standard for quality and innovation in our industry. 'Our winners should be incredibly proud – to stand out in such a fiercely competitive field is an outstanding achievement.' Carol Smillie joins the winning butchers on stage at the Scotch pie awards (Image: Supplied) TV host Carol Smillie, who presented the awards, added: "I am always thrilled to be part of the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards, celebrating the incredible talent and dedication of Scotland's butchers, bakers and pie makers. 'Every year, I am amazed by the passion and craftsmanship that goes into creating these delicious pies, and it's fantastic to see both familiar faces and exciting new talent taking part. The high standard of entries proves that the industry continues to thrive, with more professionals than ever showcasing their skills. 'Congratulations to all of this year's winners, your hard work and commitment to quality truly deserve to be recognised."
