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.
It's no surprise that whisky is the national drink of Scotland.
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.
Irn-Bru. If you're looking for something non-alcoholic, one of the most famous Scottish drinks is Irn-Bru. An orange-colored soda, it's often referred to as “Scotland's other national drink” (the main one being whiskey).
WHAT KIND OF DRINK WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND? Locally made alcoholic drinks include whisky (of course!), gin, beer, wine and cider, as well as soft drinks including IRN BRU and Scottish fruit juices.
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.
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).
Key facts. On average 24 people in Scotland died from illnesses wholly caused by alcohol every week in 2016. People are being diagnosed with alcohol related diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, at a younger age. 20.2 units of alcohol were sold per adult per week in 2016, 17% more than in England and Wales.
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.
Haggis is our national dish, and the first recipe dates back to the 15th century (in recorded history).
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.
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.
Scotland's staple drink, like England's, is tea, drunk strong and with milk, though coffee is just as readily available everywhere. However, while designer coffee shops are now a familiar feature in the cities, execrable versions of espresso and cappuccino, as well as instant coffee, are still all too familiar.
But it doesn't have to be like this. Take Scotland for example, the birthplace of Scotch, where cocktails are served with a heavy dose of Scotch whisky. The liquid basically runs in streams through cocktail programs across Edinburgh. And the Scottish believe that Scotch is for everyone.
Generally, Scottish Teas are best with some milk and sugar. Although different viewpoints exist, Brodies recommends adding milk last.
46% of Scottish adults drink at least once a week, lower than 50% across the UK.
The reasons are many. Scotland's dreary weather is a potent if prosaic factor, some say, pointing to alcohol dependency as a historic means of coping with the country's unforgiving climate. Others, including clinical experts, lean more toward ingrained societal drivers.
Summary. Local authorities have the power to make by-laws to prohibit the drinking of alcohol in designated public places under provisions contained in the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (under sections 201, 202 and 203) subject to confirmation by Scottish Ministers.
It is an offence for a person under 18 to buy alcohol or drink alcohol in a pub. If you are under 18 you can have alcohol confiscated by the police if it is being drunk in a public place.
The Scottish students also demonstrated higher rates of hangovers, missed classes, and blackouts than the Americans, but the percentage of American students who had driven while intoxicated was greater than that of the Scots.
One common stereotype of Indigenous Australians is that they all drink alcohol to excess. But the reality is that a smaller percentage of Aborigines drink alcohol than do other Australians.
Whisky made in Scotland can also be called Scotch. It's also spelt w-h-i-s-k-y, whereas in Ireland and the US they tend to use the spelling w-h-i-s-k-e-y – with an “e”.
There are five Scotch Whisky regions - Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside.
Scotch Whisky
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.