IT’S our other national drink, but Scotland can’t agree on what Irn-Bru tastes like, new research has shown.
A Scotpulse study of more than 1000 Scots found that regions across Scotland have divided opinions on Irn-Bru’s top flavour profiles, with Glasgow’s top flavour being Tutti Frutti (20% of Glaswegians) while Edinburgh argued that it’s Bubblegum (21%).
And it wasn’t just the east and west who couldn’t agree. The Highlands identified notes of cream soda (10%), compared to 20% of those in the south of the central belt who identified a fizzier flavour profile of sherbet.
Ironically, the nation collectively did agree on one thing; 56% of Scots said that Irn-Bru tastes like girders – an undefinable mystery flavour that has been linked to the ginger nectar since it first launched in 1901 for the steel workers who built Scotland as we know it today.
Celebrities from around the world have also weighed in on the debate.
American singer-songwriter JoJo recently took to Instagram to say it tastes like ginger and cream soda while US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tried Irn-Bru for the first time at COP26 and said it reminded her of Kola Champagne from her youth.
Co-stars from ‘The Northman’ Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy tasted the drink together but neither could agree on what Bru tasted like after Skarsgård nosed it like a fine wine.
READ MORE: ‘Ginger Butler’ to deliver 'old and unimproved' cans of 1901 Irn-Bru to fans
Adrian Troy, marketing director at AG Barr, said: “Throughout history there has been one thing that we can’t seem to agree on – what does Irn-Bru taste like?”
“Next time you’re sipping on a Bru, savour it for an extra moment and let us know what flavour notes you taste. One thing we do know for sure – we all agree it tastes phenomenal.”
Other popular flavour notes that came through on the Taste Debate research were ‘ginger’ (11%), ‘orange’ (7%), ‘candy floss’ (3%), lemon (1%), and rhubarb (1%) – showing that the nation really can’t agree on Bru’s distinctive taste.
This comes amid Irn-Bru’s ongoing Taste Debate campaign, where the company is urging all Scots to get involved in the debate, with the chance to win a bespoke drinking glass as a prize.
Those interested can visit their website at: https://irnbrutasteslike.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel