The iconic brand Irn-Bru was first manufactured in Scotland in 1901 by AG Barr. It was a soft drink having some traces of caffeine.
However, their energy drink was introduced in 2019 by the name of Irn Bru Energy. This drink was specially formulated to address the requirements of today’s hectic schedules. Its original flavour was enhanced by adding some other ingredients like taurine, B-vitamins, and quinine along with caffeine.
Irn-Bru Energy contains 105mg of caffeine and 36g of sugar, which is sufficient to give you power expansion throughout your occupied days.
Keep reading this review to learn more about this drink.
Page Contents
Nutrition Facts of Irn-Bru Energy Drink
Below, is the nutritional facts of Irn-bru.
| Nutrient | Irn-Bru Energy (330ml) |
| Energy | 153 calories |
| Carbohydrates (of which sugar) | 36g (36g) |
| Salt | 0.25g |
| Caffeine | 105mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 15.84mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.386mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.475mcg |
| Protein | 0g |
Ingredients in Irn-Bru Energy Drink
The following are the ingredients of the Irn-Bru drink.
- Calories
- Caffeine
- Carbohydrates
- Sugar (in regular version only)
- Salt
- Niacin
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Sweeteners: Aspartame and Acesulfame K (In sugar-free versions only)
- Preservative E211
- Carbonated water
- Taurine
- Quinine
- Citric acid
- Ammonium ferric citrate
- Colours: Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R
Are the Ingredients in Irn-Bru Energy Drink Vegan?
Ingredients present in Irn-Bru are safe for vegetarians.
Studies have analysed that being vegan can enhance your energy because your body doesn’t have to utilize as much energy for food digestion.
Moreover, if you consume extra sugars, saturated fats, and carbohydrates they can decelerate you down. Therefore, it is safer to consume sugar-free Irn-Bru which is vegan as well.
How Much Caffeine Is in Irn-Bru Energy Drink?
Around 105mg of caffeine is present in every can of Irn-Bru which is almost the same as a medium cup of coffee from any coffee shop. The caffeine level in Irn-Bru Energy is quite reasonable. Therefore, it’s safe to drink Irn-Bru up to two cans a day.
According to research, 400mg is the limit for consumption, so you should avoid consuming more than 400mg. Caffeine can provide several benefits, however, there are side effects as well:
- Rapid heart rate
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Muscle breakdown
- Minor addiction
- Loss of bladder control
- High blood pressure
- Digestive issues
- Fatigue
Nutrition and healthy eating
Caffeine should be just a portion of your day-to-day life. Do you know the amount of caffeine in your favourite drinks?
Most of the drinks contain a lot of caffeine. Therefore, you should keep a check on your caffeine intake.
However, up to 400 mg of caffeine, a day is considered secure for most adults. Although, the sensitivity of people to caffeine varies from person to person.
If you are triggered by headaches, restlessness, or anxiety, you may want to review your caffeine consumption. Not only that, women who are pregnant, trying to be pregnant, or breastfeeding are told to restrict their intake of caffeine.
B-Vitamins In Irn-Bru Energy
There are 3 B vitamins present in Irn-Bru:
- Niacin
- Vitamin B6
- vitamin B12.
| B-Vitamins | Irn-Bru Energy (Per 330ml Serving) | Safe Upper Levels (SUL)/ Guidance Levels (GL) |
| Niacin | 15.84mg | 40mg (GL) |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.386mg | 10mg (SUL) |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.475mcg | 2000mcg (GL) |
These vitamins can be taken on a daily basis.
Is There Sugar in Irn-Bru Energy Drink?
36g sugar is present in the regular version of Irn-Bru.
This amount is too much for a beverage. However, you can always have their sugar-free version.
Is the Sugar in Irn-Bru Energy Drink Vegan-Friendly?
Actually, some sugars are not vegan. The actual source of sugar is not specified in Irn-Bru.
Though, Irn-Bru is safe for vegetarians and vegans, which is confirmed by several websites.
Side Effects of Sugar
Women shouldn’t consume more than 24g of sugar daily, whereas, for men, 36g of sugar per day is the limit.
Going beyond the limit can lead to the following side effects:
- Weight Gain
- Stress
- Increased Risk of Heart Disease
- Higher Risk of Developing Acne
- High Blood Pressure
Is the Artificial Sweetener in this Energy Drink Vegan?
There are 2 artificial sweeteners present in Irn-Bru sugar-free version, both of these sweeteners are vegan-friendly.
These are known as Aspartame and ace-K.
Ace-K
Ace-K, also named acesulfame K, is a synthetic calorie-free sugar substitute. Generally, it’s recognized as safe by the FDA.
Aspartame
It’s an artificial sweetener used in many foods and beverages and is also 200 times sweeter than sucrose. Aspartame is traded under brand names such as Equal and Nutrasweet.
Aspartame can negatively affect the immune system, and it results in inflammation and oxidative stress.
Is Irn-Bru Energy Drink Healthy?
Irn-Bru energy drink is healthy if you don’t do binge drinking.
Don’t replace this drink with water intake and there are many ways to get energy without drinking energy beverages, such as:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Exercising
- Getting sufficient sleep
- Eat several small meals throughout the day
How Many Cans Of Irn-Bru Energy Drink Should You Drink Per Day?
You can drink 1 can of Irn-Bru Energy per day as the drink contains a fair amount of sugar.
If you drink more than 1 can per day, you will exceed the sugar limit which can be a problem for your health. Energy drinks shouldn’t be consumed too much in order to avoid side effects.
Is Irn-Bru Energy Drink Keto-Friendly?
The Sugar-free version of Irn-Bru is considered Keto-friendly, but not the regular version.
Due to sugar present in the regular version of Irn-Bru, it’s not keto-friendly. If you’re on a keto diet, you should choose the sugar-free version of Irn-Bru.
How Many Flavours Does Irn-Bru Energy Drink Have?
There are 32 flavours of Irn-bru energy drinks. However, the most popular among them are sugar-free and regular versions.
Is too much caffeine bad for you?
Too much caffeine is definitely bad for you.
Caffeine is naturally found in more than 60 plants which include: tea leaves, coffee beans, cocoa pods, and kola nuts. Though, there is synthetic caffeine too, which is used for various medicines, drinks, and foods. It has side effects:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Rapid or abnormal heart rhythm
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Dependency
Most people take caffeine from energy drinks. The amounts of caffeine in different drinks will vary, however, it’s usually:
- 8-ounce cup of coffee: 95-200 mg
- 12-ounce can of cola: 35-45 mg
- 8-ounce energy drink: 70-100 mg
- 8-ounce cup of tea: 14-60 mg
How long does the energy from Irn-Bru last?
After drinking Irn-Bru Energy, within 10 minutes its main ingredient caffeine will go into the bloodstream and you’ll feel refreshed. The amount of caffeine in your blood peaks one hour later and stays at this level for several hours for most people.
Even after six hours when caffeine is consumed, half is still in your body. It will take up to ten hours to fully clear caffeine from your blood.
Is there any difference between Irn-bru soft drink and Irn-bru energy drink?
The difference between Irn-bru soft drink and Irn-bru energy drink is the amount of caffeine.
Each 330ml serving of Irn-bru soft drink has 30 mg caffeine. Though, the amount of caffeine is considerably lower than a cup of coffee or tea.
However, 105mg of caffeine is present in each 330ml can of Irn-Bru Energy drink.
Who should avoid or limit caffeine?
You should avoid or restrict caffeine intake if you:
- Are pregnant
- Are breastfeeding, because small caffeine amount that you intake is passed along to the baby
- Have sleep disorders, plus insomnia
- Have migraines or other long-term headaches
- Have anxiety
- Have GERD or ulcers
- Have fast or abnormal heart rhythms
- Have high blood pressure
- Taking certain medicines and supplements, as well as stimulants, particular antibiotics, asthma medicines, and heart medicines.
- Are a child. Children may be especially sensitive to the impacts of caffeine.
Why do people drink Irn-Bru?
Irn-Bru gained popularity in its early days due to the poor sanitation conditions prevailing at that time. It was widely regarded as a healthy means to boost energy by many individuals in industrial areas.
Irn-Bru became a beloved beverage choice for those seeking a refreshing and energizing drink during a time when sanitation concerns were prevalent in industrial regions.
What benefits do energy drinks have?
Energy drinks can provide a range of benefits for those who consume them. They are known for increasing alertness and improving focus, thanks to the presence of caffeine.
Energy drinks may also offer a temporary boost in physical performance, making them popular among athletes and those needing an extra energy kick.
Other Vegan-Friendly Energy Drinks
There are some other vegan-friendly drinks:
Where Can You Buy Irn-Bru Energy Drink?
There are 2 options for buying: physical stores and online sites.
Physical stores like Walmart and Target have both versions of Irn-Bru. However, you can check a few sites listed below if you want to buy online.
Bottom Line
Irn-Bru is a good-tasting energy drink to help you feel energized. I’d give it an 8 out of 10.
The caffeine content of Irn-bru is sufficient to give you a boost of energy through your busy day. Its sugar-free version is keto-friendly, so you can go for the sugar-free version if you don’t want to have the regular version.
Remember, always keep your energy drink intake in moderation.