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No local history page would be complete without a mention of Irn Bru - Scotland's other national drink, the contribution it has made to the nation is without measure!

Irn Bru (pronounced Iron Brew) is a soft drink made by A. G. Barr PLC at various plants throughout the UK; the company started out in Falkirk but now has its HQ in Glasgow.

Though the recipe is a Barr family secret it is a widely held view in Scotland that the drink has mystical qualities. The text that follows is written "tongue in cheek" and with a bit of humour, but don't let a Scot hear you say that!!

It is said to cure many ailments, everything from the common cold to a hangover!! If you want to wake up without a hangover leave an opened bottle of Irn Bru by your bedside before turning in; as you sleep the drink will go flat.

You will obviously have a restless night, your sleep being disturbed by the effects of alcohol, you will need to get up to have a drink of water, instead of water drink the Irn Bru, you will be amazed how fresh you feel in the morning.

For centuries the medical profession has searched for a cure for the hangover, here in Scotland we have found the elixir of the drinking man!

Many a Scotsman, when he is down on his luck, has tried to register the cure with, amongst others, the General Medical Council, the Federal Drugs Administration etc, but the threat of legal action from the Barr family has stopped them so doing.

It also has use as an energy drink, forget all the new fangled sports drinks, what do you think has given the Scotsman his get up and go for the last century? - Irn Bru of course.

As you walk the streets of Edinburgh look at the amount of people who are drinking Irn Bru, look at the vitality in their eyes; see what it does for the Scottish nation.

The above may not apply on a weekend morning though, the chances are that it is being used as a hangover cure and it is DEFINATELY not a good idea to look in the drinkers eyes - you have been warned! I

rn Bru is also used as a mixer for most spirits, go into a pub and ask for an xxx and Irn Bru, insert your own favourite spirit instead of xxx, whisky and Irn Bru, gin and Irn Bru - try them - become a real Scot.