The most popular alcoholic drink in Scotland is overwhelmingly Scotch whisky, considered the national drink, with brands like Johnnie Walker and Glenfiddich leading globally, but locally popular choices also include Tennent's lager and other craft beers, with Scotch Ale also a beloved style.
What is Scotland's national drink? Whisky! (Although IRN BRU likes to think of itself as Scotland's 'other national drink' too).
You can't get more Scottish than a Rusty Nail. This classic cocktail combines Scotch whisky with another Scottish spirit, Drambuie, a golden liqueur made from Scotch, heather honey, herbs and spices. The ratio is somewhat up to you.
Irn-Bru (/ˌaɪərn ˈbruː/ "iron brew", Scots: [ˌəirənˈbruː]) is a Scottish carbonated soft drink, often described as "Scotland's other national drink" after Scotch whisky.
With a history stretching back as far as the 11th century, Scottish whisky – also known as 'Scotch' – is an important part of our identity in Scotland. Like the drink itself, the story of whisky-making in Scotland is fascinating and complex.
This brings us to the national drink – whisky. Over 150 distilleries in Scotland produce this amber-hued liquid, many of which can be explored on a tour.
Scotch is a distilled alcoholic beverage made in Scotland from water, cereals and yeast. It's one of the most popular types of whisky and is recognised as the national drink of Scotland.
Chivas Regal 18 Year Old
Chivas Regal is a renowned Scotch whisky brand produced by Chivas Brothers, a company founded in 1801 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Known for its luxurious blended whiskies, Chivas Regal combines a rich heritage with exceptional craftsmanship.
DID YOU KNOW: Coca Cola is the best-selling drink in every country in which it is sold, except Scotland. Here in Scotland nothing out sells Irn Bru, with 12 cans being consumed every second!
There have been some suggestions that the popularity of Buckfast in Scotland has something to do with the traditionally Catholic fans of the Scottish football club Celtic FC developing a taste for the stuff as their holy pre-match aperitif in the 1970's.
In Scotland, people say “Slàinte Mhath” (pronounced Slanj-a-va) to mean “cheers” or “good health.” The phrase exists in both Scots and Irish Gaelic, differing only slightly in spelling. Scots Gaelic originated in northern Ireland and spread to Scotland in the 4th–5th centuries.
Vodka from Scotland, though perhaps not as well-known as its whisky counterpart, is crafted with a focus on smoothness and purity, often using locally grown barley or wheat and pure Scottish water.
Haggis is our national dish, and the first recipe dates back to the 15th century (in recorded history).
There isn't one single "number 1" Scotch, as it depends on how you measure it (sales vs. awards), but The Famous Grouse has long been Scotland's best-selling blended whisky, while The Macallan is a top-valued single malt. For award-winning quality, brands like Glenfiddich, Ardbeg, and The GlenAllachie (for specific bottlings) consistently receive top global honors, showcasing Scotland's diverse whisky excellence beyond just sales volume, say whisky.com and The Whisky Club.
Holyrood Distillery
Producers of the city's only single malt whisky and an award-winning range of gin.
Tennent's Lager is more than just a great pint- it's a national institution and firm favourite. Scotland's best-selling beer.
Best Scottish Alcoholic Beverages
Irn-Bru's ingredients typically include carbonated water, sugar, citric acid, flavourings (with caffeine, quinine, and ammonium ferric citrate), sweeteners (in diet versions), preservatives (Sodium Benzoate/E211), and colours (Sunset Yellow FCF & Ponceau 4R), with the distinct taste coming from a proprietary blend of natural and artificial flavourings, plus trace alcohol.
Crown Royal is a Canadian blended whisky first created in 1939 by Seagram's to honor the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada — the first time a reigning monarch had visited North America.
The five types of Scotch whisky are single malt, single grain, blended, blended malt, and blended grain whisky.
Jack Daniel's Black Label Tennessee Whiskey is the best-selling whiskey in the world and remains the flagship product of Brown–Forman Corporation. In 2017 the product had sales of 12.9 million cases.
Uisge beatha is the Scottish Gaelic term for 'water of life' with uisge simply meaning water and beatha meaning life. It is a straightforward translation of the Latin 'aqua vitae'. Over time and through common use in Scotland, uisge beatha was shortened and 'uisge' became known as 'whisky'.
Black Dog Whisky is a premium Scotch whisky celebrated for its exceptional smoothness, rich flavors, and deep heritage. Crafted from a meticulous blend of aged malt and grain whiskies, it delivers a refined drinking experience appreciated by whisky lovers worldwide.
It is estimated that more than 50 people die each week due to alcohol in Scotland (over 2,800 a year).