The nectar of the gods (Barr Irn Bru)

Member Name: mackry

Product:	Barr Irn Bru
Date:	19/04/08 (407 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great tasting drink

Disadvantages: Unhealthy

It's Phenomenal. As the bottle says, bru'd in Scotland to a secret recipe for over 100 years. Irn Bru is manufactured by Barr's who also make Tizer amongst other soft drinks. It is the third best selling soft drink in the UK, after Coca-Cola and Pepsi. This just shows how much the Scots love it, as it can be hard to find elsewhere. Current sales between coke and Irn Bru in Scotland are roughly even. The spelling is often confused as traditional brew, and sometimes you can find supermarket own brands that carry the spelling 'iron brew'.

The fizzy drink is coloured bright orange (only comparable in colour to lucozade) and tastes oh, so sweet and heavenly. The taste cannot be compared to anything else on this world. I find it utterly addictive and without getting carried away, it is truly the stuff that dreams are made of! I don't drink much fizzy juice these days as I prefer a healthier alternative, but I cannot deny the thrill that opening a can of irn bru gives me, every single time I have one. The diet version of the drink provides a slightly better alternative if you are watching those calories. I don't like the taste of this as much.

It can also be a lot of fun introducing friends from abroad to a drink that they have normally never even heard of, for the first time. The common reaction is mostly positive. In Scotland, it is also considered to be a natural hangover cure, as the sugar levels will build you up again the morning after a heavy night.

When I was in New Zealand I found a shop that sold British sweeties, and it had a pyramid of Irn Bru cans in the window. Even though it cost more than the equivalent of what a 2litre bottle would be back home, I had to take the opportunity knowing that I may not find another out there. It stayed in my fridge for the duration of my trip, and got cracked open on the very last day - perfectly chilled and enjoyed to the max! It is fair to say, the ginger drink of Scotland is one of the few things from home that I genuinely miss when I'm away. I could easily go through a 2 litre bottle in one sitting quite happily. However, this would take me well over the recommended daily allowance for sugar which probably isn't so beneficial!

Another reason that Irn Bru is so famous is the genius marketing that goes into the advertising. They have produced some of the most well known and best loved adverts of all time. The ones that I remember from when I was younger involve a ginger haired lad sweeping the streets. When he drank his irn bru he could lift up the pavement and sweep the leaves underneath. These gave heed to the myth that it was in fact made in Scotland from metal girders. I can finally put this urban myth to bed as it comes from stronger stuff indeed. You're teeth need to be even stronger!
There were also black and white ones featuring the grim reaper who would tell you not to worry as there would be irn bru on the other side!
Other campaigns included accompanying songs, such as 'Made in Scotland from girders, unpronounceable too....'
There is also a Christmas ad based around 'The Snowman'.
Please check out some of these hilarious classics which can be found on youtube.



Diet Irn Bru and Irn Bru chew bars are also available.

It has also been discovered that Irn Bru is a great mixer with alcohol and can be found with vodka in bottles of WKD. The vodka connection is also a reason why Russia is currently the country that imports most of this drink, outside of Scotland.

Ingredients:-
Carbonated water, Sugar (carbohydrate), citric acid, flavourings (including caffeine & quinine), preservative (E211), colours (E110, E124), ammonium ferric citrate (0.002%)

Nutrition values - typical values per 100 ml energy - 182 kJ/43 kcal - protein trace, carbohydrate - 10.5g, Fat - 0g

Available in 330ml cans; and 500ml, 1litre, and 2 litre bottles.

2litre bottles usually retail at around £1.50, currently 2 for £2.20 in Tesco (snap up the bargain)!

Fun fact - Irn Bru has been the official sponsor of second division Scottish football team Queens Park, for many years.

PS Barr's have recently introduced an energy drink called Irn Bru 32 onto the market which I don't hold in the same esteem. You may recognise the drink from the accompanying adverts that promote it using a man dressed up in a blue cuckoo outfit. If you're lucky enough to be in Edinburgh at the right time, said man has been sighted roaming the streets giving out freebies!

Summary: A national treasure