Made in Scotland from Girders, Unpronouncable too (Barr Irn Bru)

Member Name: unnameable

Product:	Barr Irn Bru
Date:	09/09/04 (4016 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very tasty, and a great hangover cure (as most Scots and students will tell you!)

Disadvantages: Gassy, and nowhere near as nice if it isn't ice cold

Ever since meeting my wife I have been hooked on this most peculiar drink. So here it is... a review on Scotland's 'other' national drink from an English point of view!

Irn Bru is a sweet fizzy drink with an indescribable taste (although I shall try my best later on), which is much copied, but no-one else ever comes close.

Brief history:

Robert Barr's company started producing soft drinks back in 1880, but their big discovery (Irn Bru of course) was not launched until 1901 under the rather ordinary name 'Iron-Brew'. This single handedly changed their fortunes almost overnight!

During the Second World War it was withdrawn from sale as it was a non-essential item. Thankfully when the war ended, non-essential stock started to gradually reappear in the shops (meaning you could make cakes without using mashed potatoes again!). By this time the British government had introduced new labelling legislation, and Barr were forced to rethink the naming as Iron Brew wasn't an actual brewed drink. As you can see, the government haven't just got picky recently!

With some quick thinking from the Company Chairman, Irn-Bru was born as a brand!

In 1959 Robert Barr's company was bought by A.G Barr & Co Ltd (incidentally owned by Robert Barr's brother). This company became A.G Barr PLC in 1965.

To this day, sales of Irn Bru have increased steadily each year, making it the best selling soft drink in Scotland (up until this year, when Coca Cola overtook), and a good seller worldwide.

It is exported to many countries and is actually produced under license in the USA and Russia of all places! One thing that may hurt Scottish national pride is the fact that the UK's production is entirely Manchester based.

They are still rapidly expanding as we speak down to their widely reknowned advertising campaigns (whether people love them or hate them, they always get people tal
king!)

Packaging:

Whether you buy it in cans, plastic bottles, or the much preferred glass bottle, Irn Bru always has the same orange and blue label with what seem sto be a kind of strongman symbol striped across the orange part.

Available in 330ml cans, 500ml and 2 litre plastic bottles, and 750ml glass bottles (also various multipacks).

As almost any Scot will tell you, Irn Bru is always best ice cold and out of a glass bottle. Don't ask me why, as I still do not know myself.... it just seems to taste so much better!

Nutrition:

Amongst the usual ingredients, Irn Bru contains Flavourings (god knows what they are!), A good deal of Caffeine (not a lot of people realise that!, Some pretty brutal colourings, and 0.002%Ammonium Ferric Sulphate (basically liquid rust!).

There are no nut or gluten allergy warnings, which is good, and also I see no reason why it wouldn't be suitable for vegetarians. It can enhance hyperactivity though (my wife is a prime example!)

And as labelled this product DOES stain. Not only clothing, carpets, but faces as well!

One interesting thing to add. A diabetic workmate of mine tends to favour this to Lucozade for medicinal reasons (although I could be way off the mark).

I cannot find any info on values such as kcal, carbohydrate, protein etc. right now, but I will add when I do find out!

Taste:

Extremely difficult to describe, but I will try my best.

Irn Bru is a very fizzy, refreshing drink which I'm certain used to be labelled as a 'sparkling fruit flavoured soft drink', but has now dropped the 'fruit' part. This makes it even more difficult to describe.

I suppose I can start by saying there's a hint of cough syrup in there (much like Root Beer), but also what seems to be lemon, or maybe lime. Also I'm sure there's a hint of bubblegum and maybe even cream soda!

The Am
monium Ferric Citrate add's the Iron, which is the only bit that is actually good for you! Perhaps this is why it tends to react with metal tooth fillings, making your mouth taste like a battery....

Also available in a Diet version, which actually doesn't taste all that different to the full sugar type (as long as it is ice cold!)

Cost:

Latest offer I have seen is a 24 can pack for £6.45, but you can pick up these packs for a tiny £4 in Safeway if you are lucky!

An idividual can costs around 55p, 500ml bottle is 79p and 2 litres usually £1.09. Glass bottle prices are a bit different. 89p for the bottle, but you get back 20p when you return the empty bottle!

In fact, around where I live these glass bottles are delivered much like milk, along with Tizer, Orangine, Ginger Beer and Barr's Lemonad & Cola. Absolutely ingenious.

Contact details (if anyone is interested):

A.G. Barr PLC,
Freepost SCO1572,
Glasgow,
G31 1BR

and of course... there is the rather bizarre website www.irn-bru.co.uk (doesn't work unless you have shockwave/flash installed)

To sum up (and other info):

Irn Bru is a very distincive, and almost mystical concoction that is both refreshingly satisfying and strangely addictive. A long standing favourite in Scotland, it can be found in the pumps at many fast food restaurants up here! I am yet to find someone up here that doesn't lik ethe stuff.

I always seem to have a bottle of it in the fridge, and get through at least two cans while sitting here at work. My favourite drink by far.

As many Scots (and students I must add) will tell you, it is also a very effective hangover supressant, which makes it ideal for 'the morning after'. I really do not know why this is, but try it! I swear by it these days.

Recently Red Square have brought out a very welcome edition of their vodka based bottled drinks which is
mixed with real Irn Bru! I have tried the stuff and I can tell you, you really cannot taste the alcohol in it. Quite scary, but good in the same breath!

Give it a try.... to gratuitously steal a catchphrase "what's the worst that could happen?"


Thanks for reading

Marc (honourary Scot)

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