why is irn bru so popular in scotland

A. This bright orange fizzy soft drink has long been dubbed 'Scotland's Other National Drink'. and has a mythical reputation in Central Scotland as a hangover cure. It has become an emblem of Scottish identity as it has been produced in Glasgow for 100 years and is as Scottish as haggis suppers and a wee dram. The local producers, AG Barr Plc, have over the years successfuly targeted the drink directly at Scotland, appealing to the country's sense of national pride.

Q. When was the drink first made

A. Irn Bru was created in Glasgow by Andrew Greig Barr, one of three brothers from a Falkirk family who came to dominate the Scottish drinks industry. His brother Robert Barr expanded his cork-cutting business in 1875 and then included a sideline in aerated water. This became the company's main source of income and his eldest son, Robert Fulton Barr, set up a factory in Parkhead in 1887 where, with his two brothers, they experimented with soft drinks and created Irn Bru in 1901.

Q. What is it made of

A. It's very much a secret recipe. It's a blend of 32 syrups and other flavourings, but the exact ingredients remain a closely guarded secret which only two members of the board of the company are allowed to know. It does actually contain iron - it has an ammonium ferric citrate content of 0.002 per cent and recently had a famous advertising slogan 'Made from Girders.'

Q. Why does it have such distinctive spelling

A. Until World War Two, it was one of several drinks going under the name Iron Brew but the threat of tighter government controls on the accuracy of brand names prompted the company to register the name Irn Bru in 1946. There have been several attempts by other companies to recreate the drink under a variety of spellings resembling the name, but Scots have remained loyal to their brand and it is one of the few drinks to rival soft drinks giants Coca Cola.

Q. Is it widely available elsewhere

A. The drink is stacked on shelves in every chippie the length and breadth of Scotland and more recently the company has recognised its popularity south of the border. The number of ex-pat Scots has meant the drink is sold virtually all over the UK and is a UK export to holiday sun spots in Spain. Irn Bru is sold strongly in Russia where its popularity is thought to stem from the fact it that resembles a Soviet soft drinks product called Buratino.

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By Katharine MacColl