Iron Brew Flavoured Gin, 31.5% Vol - 50cl | The Bolton Gin Company

Product Information

Regularly voted the best Scottish Christmas ad, Barr's now push the idea that "it's not Christmas time until you've seen the Irn-Bru Snowman ad". 14. Irn Bru contains alcohol (well really tiny amounts of alcohol) The famous stylised logo that appears on every can and bottle - the strongman - was developed originally from an image of popular Highland Games athlete Adam Brown, with a Cambridge rower used in the 1920s. 9. Irn-Bru bars weren't made by Barr's The now infamous Irn-Bru bars (Image: Contributed)

Coffee can be used as a mixer for gin too. Using cold brew coffee seems to work particularly well, as you’re able to taste more of the flavor of the gin. You can even add in some tonic water or soda water to give your drink a little extra fizz. It's a testament to the success of these marketing campaigns that Irn-Bru is able to confidently declare itself Scotland’s “Other National Drink” - as they did on a billboard above Glasgow Central Station in 1983 - to little objection. Controversy This tartan was different from the generic tartan used by the brand on their English adverts in 1969. Renfield Street in Glasgow, showing the Barr's Irn-Bru lights in March 1984. Picture: TSPL 13. Irn Bru's most famous ad was launched in 2006 and it was the first time the brand had ever created a Christmas ad - it definitely wasn't the last

The secret recipe

But how much do you really know about Irn-Bru? Here are 16 facts you (probably) didn't know: 16 things you (probably) didn't know about Irn-Bru 1. Barr's dropped (most of) the vowels in 1946 It wasn't always called Irn-Bru. Picture: TSPL Ardbeg to release limited edition Anamorphic whisky 6. Coca-Cola is the number one-selling soft drink nearly everywhere in the world – except in Scotland, Iceland, Peru and the Middle East Graham Barr raises a glass beside a cake to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Irn-Bru company in Glasgow in August 1980. Picture: TSPL Fans of something smokier should try their other creation - a 'Dam' Take Me On Tour', which features Monkey Shoulder blended malt whisky, bitters and a sweet Irn-Bru syrup, served with a Tom Walker-esque Polaroid picture of yourself. hmm ok, the gin flavour was very nice, and I found it very smooth…but did it taste like Irn Bru Gin? With Old Tom’s slightly sweeter palate, it can frequent those serves usually reserved for rum and whiskey.

This is why the popular soft drink has launched The Great Taste Debate – challenging the public to grab a can, take a sip, and tell them what flavours they detect via social media. The Scots firm then dropped the vowels and an iconic new moniker was born. 6. Irn-Bru has its own tartan The Irn Bru tartan (Image: National Records of Scotland)

OUR VERDICT

As iconicas whisky and as famous as haggis, Irn-Bru, is widely enjoyed not just in the land of its birth but also across the globe - including being used in recipes.

Researcher David Leishman said evidence shows a drink called IRONBREW was first launched by a New York firm in 1889. Add in the yeast and give it a gentle stir. Let the mixture sit until there is some foam on top, about 5 minutes. Boil until the Irn-Bru reduces to around a 10th of it’s original volume. It took around 2.5 hours for 2 litres to reduce down to 200ml but obviously the less Irn-Bru you use, the less time it’ll take. Naturally, the “medical tonic” Iron Brew drink first produced in America over a century ago bears little relation to the concoction that sits on today’s supermarket shelves. However, the amount involved is so small as to be virtually negligible, meaning everyone, including the Muslim community, could continue to enjoy Irn-Bru.

If you have tried Irn-Bru before then you will know that its flavour profile is hard to pin down. It’s definitely sweet but the actual flavours of that bright orange liquid can be described as fruity, caramel-like and some have even said it tastes a little bit like bubble gum. Using an ice cream scoop, fill your cupcake cases 2/3 full and bake for around 20 minutes until a skewer comes out the cupcakes clean. Cover the bowl with a large kitchen towel, and leave it in a warm place to let it rise until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.

In the early days of Irn-Bru, a long-running advertising campaign was undertaken in the form of ‘The Adventures of Ba-Bru and Sandy’ comic, lasting from the 1930s to the early 1970s. The spicier limited edition version of Irn-Bru was released for 10 weeks in September 2011 with two secret hot ingredients added to the original recipe. Some speculate that these were chilli and ginger.Using a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, beat together the yeast mixture, the eggs, butter, sugar and salt until combined. Irn-Bru is also the third top-selling soft drink in the UK overall, with Pepsi and Coca-Cola occupying the top two spots. • Read more: AG Barr say most fans won’t notice Irn-Bru recipe change 7. Irn-Bru isn't made from girders, but it does contain iron 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. Of course, coffee does have a strong flavor of its own, so some of the nuances from the gin may be lost with this combination. Vermouth