Scotland’s Other National Drink

Scotland’s other national drink makes some surprising appearances,

Made from Girders and a cracking hangover cure. Baffling to the English and cherished by everyone north of the border, Irn-Bru is a Scottish tradition as loved as Rabbie Burns and deep fried everything. With its luminous tinge and a taste that leaves its mark from the first sip, Irn-Bru sits atop the sales lists of soft drinks in Scotland, one of the few countries where another drink outsells Coca Cola.

Irn-Bru’s manufacturers Barr guard the secret recipe with unparalleled security. Only 2 people the world over know the identity of its secret ingredient and its Chairman Robin Barr is himself responsible for the adding of this mysterious substance. Even the recipe is stored under lock and key in an Edinburgh bank, such is the protection given to Scotland’s ‘other national drink’. However the company is happy for their creation to be used in other ways. “Of course we’re happy for Irn-Bru to be used in other ways, we’re proud of our product and we’re confident that it can enhance many recipes with its unique flavour.” Says A.G. Barr media officer, Barbara. “We feel Irn-Bru is something Scotland should be proud of, it’s a unique drink and we’re a unique nation”

Irn-Bru is indeed enjoying a growing reputation and with sales up in lands as far a field as the USA, Portugal and Pakistan where it is extremely popular. So is Scotland’s national soft drink about to take the world by storm as our famous whisky’s have? Well it seems that while the drink is less loved by the rest of the world as a thirst quenching tonic to get over the night before, it is being seen as a possible ingredient in many a chef’s pantry.

And it is this phenomenon that we are seeing all over Scotland today. The loveable ginger drink is popping up in many a surprising recipe. From sausages to Irn-Bru cake even ice cream makers are getting in on the act with Irn-Bru sorbet a favourite at Edinburgh and Musselburgh Ice Cream parlour S.Luca.

“It’s definitely one of our most popular flavours, the kids really enjoy it and we actually have quite a few older people coming in and ordering it. It’s definitely a unique flavour and it’s one of my favourites”. Said Richard, a worker in Luca’s Musselburgh branch.

One customer who was ordering the curious delight, even in the chilly temperatures, described it as “magnificent, just goes to show you that Irn-Bru is more than just a magic way to wash down the chippie”

Who can forget the classic adverts?

The first thing that hits you upon tasting the Irn-Bru Sorbet that is so popular is indeed its unique flavour, like nothing else you have ever tasted except perhaps the fabled Irn-Bru energy bar. And after one serving you’re hooked, much like the ingredient which makes this extra special desert one of a kind.

One of the first uses of Scotland’s other national drink was in sausages, that’s right you heard me, sausages! The traditional British banger has certainly undergone some interesting changes over the years. From simple pork and beef to venison and apple, you can try pretty much any type you can imagine but Irn-Bru sausages, really?

Award Fife winning butcher, Stuarts of Buckhaven certainly didn’t think it was a step too far and created the delectation to celebrate their 150th anniversary. Managing director and great grandson of the founder of the butchers, Alan Stuart says of the unusual creation “It’s a real winner; we created it a few years back for the anniversary but it really took off and it’s a real treat. It only gets brought out for limited periods but when it does it always goes fast, most people seem to love it.”

And it’s not just in Scotland where unusual ingredients are being added to traditional recipes. Celebrity chefs from Nigella Lawson to Heston Blumenthal celebrate the notion of using fizzy drinks in cakes, poaching fish and even in cooking meat. With Lawson’s Cola baked Gammon and Blumenthal’s Red Cola Cake it seems the fizzy drink is becoming commonplace in the world of fine cuisine.

So is Irn-Bru destined to become more than a “magic way to wash down the chippie”. Well we at Fusion have tested out some of the best recipe’s we could locate to find out if Irn-Bru really is a legitimate ingredient in some of our favourite foods.