In 2018, the recipe for Irn-Bru was changed, with sugar-free variants becoming more common. However, this bottle of Irn-Bru 1901 takes us back to the original recipe. Made with sugar and packaged in a glass bottle; which, as we all know, somehow makes soft drinks taste better (through a scientific mechanism I don’t quite understand), it promises a nostalgic experience.
I poured myself a glass and was pleased to see the bright, familiar colour, which hasn’t changed. There was plenty of fizz too, which I appreciated, I do enjoy fizzy drinks, or “pop” as we call them here in the Midlands.
Taking a sip, I found the flavour as delightful as ever. Irn-Bru is notoriously hard to describe to those who’ve never tried it. It’s sweet, with a taste that’s somewhere between bubblegum and spiced orange. It’s such a distinctive flavour that words don’t quite do it justice, if you haven’t tried it, you really must.
This 1901 version offers a softer flavour than the sugar-free editions we’re now used to. It’s smooth, sweet without being sharp, and utterly nostalgic. I thoroughly enjoyed the classic taste and would gladly have it again. That said, it would be an occasional treat due to the sugar content, but it’s certainly one I’d look forward to.
With Burn’s Night approaching, I think I’ll need to get another bottle of Irn-Bru 1901 sooner rather than later.