Alloa, Scotland, and Glasgow, Scotland
Many places around the globe have their specific regional drink that they call their own. Here in North Carolina, we actually have two beloved regional beverages in Cheerwine and Sun Drop. For a state that was the birthplace of Pepsi Cola, that is quite an impressive feat. For Scotland, the regional beverage of choice is Irn-Bru.
Irn-Bru was first created in 1901 in Glasgow by Robert Barr, in a second division of his father’s company based in Falkirk. The original recipe included 32 flavors and was designed for laborers rebuilding Glasgow Central Station to “get the workers through a hard day’s graft.” The beverage was originally marketed as “Iron Brew.” Still, the label was changed in 1947 because it was not actually brewed, and the company had to comply with truth-in-labeling laws. The orange-colored beverage includes iron and has prompted a joke campaign that it is “Made in Scotland from girders.”
The first time that I tried Irn-Bru was on our trip to the UK in 2025. We stopped at a traffic center on our way north to our Airbnb in Wales, and I decided to pick up some Irn-Bru so we could try it. I remember the flavor being very sweet and very fruity. However, do not let the orange color confuse the palate, as the flavor is nothing at all like oranges.
As soon as we got off the plane in Glasgow, one of the first things that I saw was an Irn-Bru vending machine. The Scots have taken to the beverage, and it is as popular with the Scots as Cheerwine and Sun Drop are here in North Carolina, Blenheim Ginger Ale in South Carolina, Moxie in Maine, or any other regional beverage that you find around the world. Regional beverages help define communities and provide unique tastes that make travel a more enjoyable experience.
We drank Irn-Bru a few times on the trip, and Wyatt seemed to really like it, as it disappeared from the refrigerator quicker than I could buy it. Irn-Bru was alright, and if I grew up with the flavor, I would probably have a greater fondness for the soda. Still, other soft drinks that I really prefer, such as Coca-Cola and Fanta, were readily available, so Irn-Bru did not become my go-to beverage in the country. One of the funnest parts of travel is trying different flavors around the world, and Irn-Bru is a flavor closely associated with Scotland. On a visit to the country, I encourage anyone to purchase an Irn-Bru so they too can enjoy the taste of girders.