Irn-Bru: Granny But what about its miracle properties as a hangover cure? Well, many Scots will tell you that Irn-Bru is most potent when consumed from a glass bottle, although they're only available in Scotland and England; elsewhere, you'll probably have to stick with plastic bottles or cans.
However, the iconic Scottish drink, Irn Bru, is different. The Oxford Companion to Food calls it 'important for its symbolic value as well as its refreshing qualities' and highlights its value as a great hangover cure.
“A sugary drink like Irn Bru, or sports drink, may help you feel better by increasing your blood sugar,” she explained.
Irn-Bru is a carbonated drink made by Barrs in Scotland, United Kingdom. It was invented in Glasgow in 1901. It is a bright orange colour, and is nicknamed "Scotland's other national drink" – a reference to whisky.
Scotland's national dish is haggis, a savoury meat pudding, and it's traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips (known as 'neeps') and a whisky sauce. Which brings us to the national drink – whisky. Over 100 distilleries in Scotland produce this amber-hued liquid, many of which can be explored on a tour.
WHAT IS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL DRINK? Whisky! (Although IRN BRU likes to think of itself as Scotland's 'other national drink' too).
When people ask what Scotland is famous for, most people would say whisky. Whisky is made from three ingredients: barley, yeast, and water. That's it.
Irn-Bru (/ˌaɪərn ˈbruː/ "iron brew", Scots: [ˌəirənˈbruː]) is a Scottish carbonated soft drink, often described as "Scotland's other national drink" (after whisky). Introduced in 1901, the drink is produced in Westfield, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, by A.G. Barr of Glasgow.
Launched in 1901 in Scotland, IRN-BRU is a carbonated soft drink made to an original secret recipe, which contains 32 flavours.
Drinks such as mead were popular, but ale was the everyday beverage for most Scots. Distilling was first practised in Scotland in monasteries to produce herbal tonics and medicines. Whisky was produced later, as were wines from fruits, flowers and berries.
Want to gain an edge over plain old water to treat your hangover? Consider reaching for Gatorade, Pedialyte, Powerade, or a similar nonfizzy sports drink. This recommendation comes courtesy of Kelly Kennedy, RDN, the staff nutritionist at Everyday Health.
“Vodka is known to be the best alcoholic beverage for the most minimal hangover. Gin, light rum and white wine are runner-ups—with brandy and whiskey being at the bottom of the list.
Amethyst is not the only ancient hangover cure to have fallen out of favor. In 2015, an ancient Greek remedy was discovered on a 1,900-year-old papyrus, which recommended wearing a necklace of laurel leaves as a “drunken headache cure,” according to Live Science.
The doctor recommends a concoction of vitamin B complex, magnesium, folic acid, and electrolytes to cure a hangover. Hangovers may seem like a minor inconvenience, but they can actually be dangerous, resulting in symptoms that can severely impair you.
The distilling process is what removes congeners from alcohol and could possibly mean your hangover won't be as bad. While this is true for liquors like vodka, it's not possible with whiskey.
Scottish people refer to all fizzy drinks as 'juice'
Irn-Bru is the Scottish fizzy drink that rivals whiskey as the drink of choice for many, described as “Scotland's other national drink.” Known for its racy commercials and bright orange color, Irn-Bru is the number one soft drink in Ireland.
This was the ubiquitous word for fizzy drinks in Scotland, derived from the early days of ginger beer.
One theory, posted in a Guardian article, is that Buckfast was first popularised in these areas of Glasgow by Celtic fans in the 70s due to its "similarity to communion wine" with both being made from mistella - unfermented or partially fermented grape juice fortified with ethanol.
Makers Barr's confirmed in 2005 that Irn-Bru contains alcohol after rumours began to circulate in the Scottish Muslim community, meaning many might not be able to continue to enjoy the popular soft drink.
It's true: the Scots drink whisky, while in Yorkshire they drink beer.
A charitable trust, the Edrington Group is home to two of the most powerful brands in Scotch: The Macallan and The Famous Grouse. For many years, The Famous Grouse has held the top spot as the biggest selling whisky in Scotland, making it the nation's top tipple in the category.
And, confusingly, “heavy” in Scottish ale terms can refer to any beer between 3.5% and 4.0% ABV, which equates roughly with the relatively light “ordinary bitter,” that of most English ales. As a general rule, a wee heavy is strong, dark, and malty with little hop character and moderate carbonation.