Bo’ness butcher cooks up the nation’s favourite speciality burger

Young Bo’ness butcher Luke Ross has proved he has the winning touch, bringing home a leading national industry award for the best speciality burger in Scotland.

 

Luke (21), fourth generation butcher with the family’s Thomas Burns & Son Butchers, has won the coveted top Diamond Award in the Scottish Craft Butchers Speciality Burger evaluations.

The tasty Nacho Cheeseburger Melt was judged the best in Scotland by a panel of experienced industry and consumer evaluators, awarding it a rare 100% in every category, ranging from appearance and texture to flavour, composition and overall appeal.

“This burger is unreal – super tasty,” they judged. “Love it!”

 

Thrilled owners, sisters Jane Ross and Emma Burns, acknowledged Luke’s innovation, agreeing he was the creative genius behind their popular artisan craft products.

Luke’s nation-beating gourmet burger consists of quality Scotch minced beef with a melted nacho cheese reservoir in the middle, topped by a flaky pastry lattice brushed with Mexican glaze.

 

And Luke admitted coming up with new products that would wow the customers is the favourite part of his work.

“I spend a lot of time working on different flavour combinations and testing out what works best,” he said. “I love coming up with something new. My guide being that if I wouldn’t eat it, I won’t make it for others.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have taken the best speciality burger in Scotland title. I thought the burger would do well – it’s really good – but to take the Diamond Award is something really special.”

 

This is the second time Luke’s creativity has earned a Diamond Award for the family butchers. Two years ago, he lifted the Make It With Pork title for Truffled Hogs and he has his sights set on securing a diamond hat-trick in the future.

 

Mum Jane said they were all “over the moon” with this latest industry accolade.

“We’re all so proud of Luke,” she said. “His late Grandfather and Great-grandfather would have thrilled in his success.

“Luke is so passionate about his work and he brings new and exciting ideas to the counter constantly – the customers love him and his products.

“This new product was already winning favour with customers and when the announcement was made and the event judges found out where the winning burger came from, they were phoning up to order some as they had loved it so much.”

 

Gordon King, Executive Manager of Scottish Craft Butchers, said he had tasted the winning burger and found it “a great eating experience”.

“This is exactly the type of innovative product that today’s customers are looking for,” he said. “As tastes change and customer demands heighten, our local craft butchers are pushing the boundaries beyond traditional favourites and experimenting with new and exciting flavour combinations.

“Luke is proving himself to be an expert in this field, with two Diamond Awards under his belt, and everyone at Thomas Burns & Son should take credit for his advancement and development and be very proud of this latest achievement.

“It’s not easy to create something original that will win favour with the judges and Thomas Burns & Son were up against some very strong opposition from all across Scotland.

“To earn full marks across the board with any product is just remarkable. Well done Luke.”

Colin Hewitson, partner with sponsors C&K Hewitson, said they were proud to be involved with such a prestigious competition.

“This Scottish Craft Butchers award has attracted tasty and exciting entries from across the whole of Scotland,” he said. “We are proud to be associated with this high standard of competition and innovation and look forward to tasting the winning burger from Thomas Burns & Son.”

Full list of awards here: 2026 Speciality Burger