Bo’ness Butcher Wins Scotland’s Best Speciality Burger Award

A young butcher from Bo’ness has claimed one of Scotland’s top food industry honours after creating what judges described as the nation’s best speciality burger.

Luke Ross, a 21-year-old fourth-generation butcher from Thomas Burns & Son Butchers in Bo’ness, secured the prestigious Diamond Award at the Scottish Craft Butchers Speciality Burger evaluations.

His inventive creation, the Nacho Cheeseburger Melt, impressed judges with its combination of Scotch minced beef, melted nacho cheese centre, and flaky pastry lattice finished with a Mexican-inspired glaze.

The burger achieved a rare perfect score, with evaluators awarding 100% across every judging category including flavour, texture, appearance, composition, and overall appeal.

“This burger is unreal – super tasty. Love it!” judges commented during the tasting sessions.

Award-Winning Burger Innovation

The gourmet burger combines quality Scotch beef with a molten nacho cheese filling, creating a rich and indulgent centre. The pastry lattice topping adds crunch and visual appeal, while the Mexican glaze brings extra flavour to the finished product.

Luke says experimenting with flavour combinations and developing new products is one of his favourite parts of the job.

“I spend a lot of time working on different flavour combinations and testing out what works best,” said Luke.

“I love coming up with something new. My guide is simple — if I wouldn’t eat it myself, I won’t make it for others.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to win the best speciality burger in Scotland title. I knew the burger was good, but receiving the Diamond Award makes it even more special.”

Family Business Pride in Bo’ness

Thomas Burns & Son Butchers is a long-established family business, with Luke representing the fourth generation behind the counter.

Sisters Jane Ross and Emma Burns praised Luke’s creativity and passion for producing artisan products that stand out from the crowd.

This latest accolade marks Luke’s second Diamond Award success. Two years ago he won the Make It With Pork title for his “Truffled Hogs” creation, and he is already aiming for a third major award in future competitions.

“We’re all so proud of Luke,” said Jane Ross.

“His late grandfather and great-grandfather would have been thrilled with this achievement.

“Luke constantly brings fresh ideas and exciting products to the counter. Customers love seeing what he comes up with next.

“The burger was already proving popular locally, and once the judges discovered where it came from, they were phoning the shop wanting to order more.”

Scottish Craft Butchers Praise Innovation

Scottish Craft Butchers Executive Manager Gordon King described the winning burger as “a great eating experience” and praised the innovation shown by independent Scottish butchers.

He highlighted how local butchers are increasingly creating bold new products to meet changing customer tastes.

“This is exactly the sort of innovative product customers are looking for,” said Gordon King.

“Luke has shown incredible creativity and skill. Achieving full marks across every judging category is remarkable, especially in such a competitive field.”

The competition attracted entries from butchers across Scotland, showcasing creative burger recipes and modern flavour combinations.

Competition sponsor Colin Hewitson of C&K Hewitson also praised the quality of entries and congratulated Thomas Burns & Son on their success.

Where To Find The Winning Burger

The award-winning Nacho Cheeseburger Melt is available from Thomas Burns & Son Butchers in Bo’ness, where demand is expected to soar following the national recognition.