Irn Bru launch their very own tartan bottles

Special Tartan bottles were Bru-ing up in the The highlands this morning as Glencoe was the site of a unique clan gathering as Irn-Bru brought together a collection of new, tartan-clad bottles to celebrate their new initiative - Bru’s Your Clan?

Irn Bru is a Scottish carbonated soft drink, often described as "Scotland's other national drink" after whisky. Innovative and sometimes controversial marketing campaigns have kept it as the number one selling soft drink in Scotland, where it competes directly with global brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

The brand’s famous bottles have been emblazoned with 57 different colourful tartans as part of the new initiative so we can all can show our clan colours and pick up a bottle of Irn-Bru in our very own family tartan. Although these 57 tartans cover over ten thousand last names for anyone who doesn't have Scottish roots, don't despair you won’t miss out. Instead you’ll be invited to join Clan Bru and proudly sport the phenomenal Irn-Bru tartan.

The Irn Bru Tartan was designed in 1969 as the Barr tartan, In 1996/97 it was redesigned and the name changed to Irn Bru. The tartan was registered with the Scottish Tartans Society on 12th September 1997. The colours of the tartan are based on the Companies Brand Label, one of Scotland's most iconic brands.

These bottles have been launched just in time for the very important Scottish celebration of Hogmany, the Scots word for the last day of the year. There are many customs, both national and local, associated with Hogmanay. The most widespread national custom is the practice of first-footing, which starts immediately after midnight. This involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. Food and drink (as the gifts) are then given to the guests. This may go on throughout the early hours of the morning and well into the next day (although modern days see people visiting houses well into the middle of January). The first-foot is supposed to set the luck for the rest of the year. Traditionally, tall dark men are preferred as the first-foot. This year we know what we'll be taking as out first-footing gift, our very own tartan Irn-Bru bottle!

We think these special bottles may also make some appearances at Burns Night celebrations across Scotland, the limited edition bottles will be around until the end of March. With a bit of a reputation as a hangover cure they will surely be there the morning after if not alongside the haggis. Another way to add your very own touch of tartan to your Burns Night celebration is with our Tartan Tablelinen, we have Tartan Tablecloths, Table Runners and matching napkins available with four tartans in stock and over 500 tartans available for your perfect Burns Night Table.