Scottish Institutions Abound! – Falkirk Reclaims the Classic Drink
Scottish Institutions Abound! –
Falkirk Reclaims the Classic Drink
A single decade separates two Scottish institutions, although the later of them is a rather a larger part of the nation’s history. The two years are 1899 and 1890 and regular readers will be aware that the latter is the date when James Pirie was established and no doubt our founder was a regular imbiber of the 1899 established Irn Brew, which was the original spelling of the classic soft drink. Initially named Irn Brew, Scotland’s other national drink was jointly launched in 1899 by AG Barr & Co in Glasgow and Robert Barr in Falkirk. Now Falkirk is busting to reclaim the drink “made in Scotland from girders.” The town’s motto is “Better meddle with the deil than the bairns of Falkirk” and it dates from the 18th Century and now the “bairns” want the world to know about the drink’s legacy in Falkirk. They want a mural on Irn-Bru’s founding factory in Falkirk to counter claims its heritage has been hijacked by Glaswegians.
Don’t Meddle with the Bairns
The drink was produced in Falkirk, with a colourful image daubed on the gable wall of the Cockburn Street building while the Glasgow factory made the corks. In 1901 Barr’s Iron Brew was launched, with the spelling changing to Irn-Bru in 1946. Now activists are hoping to put Falkirk on the tourist map have called for a mural to be erected in the town, believing the drink has been wrongly adopted by Glasgow. Experts believe that crowds would flock to the former industrial town as they do for whisky tourism in other parts of Scotland. Particularly they think that Russians would be attracted as the soft drink is a real favourite there. Although there won’t be many Canadians as I understand that Irn-Bru is banned in the Maple Leaf country. The owners of the Irn-Bru drink wish the Bairns well with this idea.
Have a Stag Night In
Like A G Barr we are proud of our heritage here at James Pirie and hope to keep flying the flag for many a year yet. So take a peek at our stag inspired ranges and marvel at the loveliness of the glassware and niceness of the craftsmanship. Look at the Royal Scot Crystal - 2 Kintyre Whisky Tumblers engraved with a magnificent stag in a great presentation box and all at half price. Put a drop of the good stuff in them and that’s my kind of Stag Night.
