WHAT IS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL DRINK? Whisky! (Although IRN BRU likes to think of itself as Scotland's 'other national drink' too).
1. Scotch Whisky. Whisky is probably the most familiar of Scottish alcoholic drinks on this list. This distilled alcoholic beverage originated in the Scottish Lowlands as early as 1495, according to some sources.
When people ask what Scotland is famous for, most people would say whisky. Whisky is made from three ingredients: barley, yeast, and water. That's it.
Scotland's national dish is haggis, a savoury meat pudding, and it's traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips (known as 'neeps') and a whisky sauce. Which brings us to the national drink – whisky. Over 100 distilleries in Scotland produce this amber-hued liquid, many of which can be explored on a tour.
It's true: the Scots drink whisky, while in Yorkshire they drink beer.
Scotland's alcohol consumption is among the highest in the world, according to World Health Organization data; on average, Scots consume the equivalent of more than 13 liters (3.4 gallons) of pure alcohol a year, about 40 percent more than Americans (2.4 gallons).
These are the go-tos: (1) The Famous Grouse, aka The Low Flying Bird It's the top selling blend in Scotland. (2) Dewar's, aka The Drinking Man's Scotch Best seller in the U.S., top five in the world. (3) Bell's, aka Afore Ye Go Top mover in the U.K. overall.
Drinks such as mead were popular, but ale was the everyday beverage for most Scots. Distilling was first practised in Scotland in monasteries to produce herbal tonics and medicines. Whisky was produced later, as were wines from fruits, flowers and berries.
All ales brewed in Scotland can technically be referred to as either Scottish ales. However, there are two traditional styles: Scotch ales and Scottish ales. Both are dark, but one is meaty while the other is lighter in both flavor and alcohol.
Two of the most famous gin brands now made in Scotland actually started life in England's capital. Both Gordon's and Tanqueray were first made in London – Gordon's in Southwark, then later Clerkenwell, and Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury area, but the production of both moved to Scotland in the 1990s.
Tennent's Lager, 4%
This lager is often touted as 'Scotland's Best Selling Pint' and has been brewed since 1885.
Until beer, ale and whisky came along, most early Scots drank mead almost without exemption. The ancient Celts and Vikings loved it, too, and so it can be reasonably argued that mead was Scotland's first national drink.
Generally, a single shot is equal to 35 ml in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 25 ml in Wales and England.
One theory, posted in a Guardian article, is that Buckfast was first popularised in these areas of Glasgow by Celtic fans in the 70s due to its "similarity to communion wine" with both being made from mistella - unfermented or partially fermented grape juice fortified with ethanol.
Haggis is our national dish, and the first recipe dates back to the 15th century (in recorded history).
Many pubs use "Inn" in their name, either because they are long established former coaching inns, or to summon up a particular kind of image, or in many cases simply as a pun on the word "in", as in "The Welcome Inn", the name of many pubs in Scotland.
And, confusingly, “heavy” in Scottish ale terms can refer to any beer between 3.5% and 4.0% ABV, which equates roughly with the relatively light “ordinary bitter,” that of most English ales. As a general rule, a wee heavy is strong, dark, and malty with little hop character and moderate carbonation.
Scotch is the renowned whisky variety hailing from Scotland. Although it can be made with the addition of other grains or cereals, the original Scottish whisky has to be made with a base of water and malted barley—barley that has been soaked and allowed to germinate.
Washed down with a can of Irn Bru [a Scottish carbonated drink], this national delicacy is the stuff of hangover dreams!”
The skalk refers to the Scottish Hebridean tradition of drinking a dram of whisky as an aperitif before breakfast.
Drinking Rhenish, then and now
So what exactly is Rhenish? In short, Rhenish (or Rheinhessen) is a German wine that comes from the areas around the Rhine River, generally white or rosé, with low alcohol content (around 9%ABV).
This led to Royal Brackla being known as 'The King's Own Whisky'. Since then every reigning monarch has renewed its royal warrant. Being the nearest distillery to the Royal Family's Balmoral Estate, it comes as no surprise that this prestigious whisky would receive a royal warrant.
There are five Scotch Whisky regions - Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. Each offers a different perspective on Scotch Whisky. Tagged with: Discover.
The Edrington Group. A charitable trust, the Edrington Group is home to two of the most powerful brands in Scotch: The Macallan and The Famous Grouse. For many years, The Famous Grouse has held the top spot as the biggest selling whisky in Scotland, making it the nation's top tipple in the category.