Irn Bru proves that the dominance of Pepsi & Coca Cola is not absolute and that sometimes even the hegemons have to give way to local powerhouses - Irn Bru has been the most popular drink in Scotland for over 100 years, and in neighboring UK it is the third best-selling carbonated beverage - after Coke and Pepsi of course.
Whoever has been to Scotland has drunk Irn Bru - because being in Scotland and not drinking this iconic drink is like flying to New York and not seeing the Statue of Liberty. And whoever has drunk it once already knows that it doesn't stop for now, because once you open a can, it's hard to stop yourself from drinking it in one gulp and reaching for another can.
The taste of Irn Bru? Seemingly citrusy, the color suggests an orange flavor - but not obvious, as it has hints of Donald bubble gum and, although sweet, with an upbeat tonic bitterness coming from the quinine in the background.
In surveys, Scots regularly declare that most of them could not live without Irn Bru'? (/aɪərn bruː/ 'iron brew') and that it's a 100% effective hangover cure - which may not be a coincidence, as Irn Bru is extremely likely to be paired with alcohol, liqueurs, juices, or tonic; among the most popular combinations is pairing Irn-Bru with Scotch (yay!) whisky or Swiss Goldchlager, but inventive Poles in the islands suggest pairing it with Żubrówka or classic clear vodka.
The recipe of the cult Scottish Irn-Bru is a closely guarded secret, which is known only to two members of the Barr company's board of directors - the secret of the taste is hidden in the unique combination of flavors and its discovery by competitors has so far always ended in failure. Although the brand as such was only registered shortly after the end of World War II, its history is much longer and its roots go back to the 19th century - on the other side of the Ocean, in New York in 1889, the Iron Brew drink was produced by the chemical company Masa & Waldstein, the drink was very popular throughout the States and was often copied by other companies, and its popularity reached Europe, where in 1898 the London company Essen Stevenson & Howell produced a drink modeled in taste and color on the New York original, the British pioneer was followed by other bottlers creating their versions, but the most loved and well-known, however, became the one marketed under the name Barr's Iron Brew in 1901 by the AG Barr companies.
