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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Entertainment
Craig Williams

Irn Bru secret recipe 'demand' from British Library saved after 'hawners' arrive

It's safe to say that it's been quite the week for Glasgow's culinary creations.

First off, India appeared to go into meltdown at the revelation that Chikken Tikka Masala was invented in Glasgow - by a Masterchef Australia judge no less.

And now we have our beloved Irn-Bru seemingly entering into a bizarre - yet jovial - online stooshie with none other than the British Library.

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It all stems from a tweet the British Library put out about the discovery of a AG Barr bottle stopper from 1909 that washed up in the Outer Hebrides, a discovery made possible thanks to their Business and IP centre.

In reporting on the find, they added that they still have "no answers as to what IRN-BRU tastes of, though", before following it up by advising Irn-Bru that they "have a right to request a copy of every publication in the UK... including your recipe."

Irn-Bru responded to the wisecrack with a Homer Simpson 'Backs Into Bushes' GIF, implying that the lesser said the better.

'Hawners' then arrived for the bright orange nectar in the form of the aforementioned Business and IP centre, who responded to the tête-à-tête by tweeting: "Unless they fall under a trade secret... Don't worry we've got your back".

The British Library in London. (CC/Istvan)

The secret recipe, which contains 32 flavours, has been passed down from one generation of the Barr family to another since 1901.

Responding to a request for comment on the issue, a British Library spokeswoman said: "To clarify, legal deposit requires publishers to provide a copy of every work they publish in the UK to the British Library. It's existed in English law since 1662."

The British Library's collections may include around 14 million books, along with substantial holdings of manuscripts and historical items dating back as far as 2000 BC, but it appears it won't have its paws on the secret recipe for Irn-Bru anytime soon.

And neither it should!

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