Alcohol has always played an important part in the culture of the British Isles. Perhaps it’s the wet weather that drives us to the pub or maybe we need the effects of alcohol to make us less reserved. Whatever the cause, let’s look at Britain’s top tipples.
Most Popular Alcoholic Beverages in the UK
Bottles and Pints
Beer continues to be the drink of choice in the UK and Ireland. In fact, beer seems to be drunk everywhere all the time. Craft beer enthusiasts drink it warm, by the pint, in country pubs. Commuters buy it in cans to drink on the train home from work. Hipsters pose with expensive bottles of it in metropolitan bars. There’s a beer for everyone, it seems. And that shouldn’t be a surprise. The history of beer and ale drinking in the British Isles goes back to the mediaeval period. This is probably because the basic ingredients of beer — barley and hops — are easy to grow in the wet, northern climate.
A Glass or Two
After beer, wine is the next most popular drink. Some areas of southern England are starting to produce wine. But even with rising global temperatures, it’s still much easier to grow barley and hops here than grapes. Almost all the wines sold in the UK and Ireland are imported — often from as far away as California, Chile and even Australia — and are relatively expensive.
Whisky, like beer, is a drink with deep historical roots and again barley is the key ingredient. To make whisky, barley is soaked in water until it starts to germinate and is then dried out in a large oven called a ‘kiln’ in a process called ‘malting’. The malt is fermented, distilled and left to age. Thousands of tourists every year visit whisky distilleries, mainly in Scotland and Ireland, to see where the magic happens.
- Scotch whisky
Traditionally, in Scotland, peat is burnt to heat the kiln used for malting and this is what gives Scotch whisky its distinctive smoky, earthy taste. Johnnie Walker is the best-selling brand of Scotch, although it’s not a high quality “single malt”. Scottish people often call a measure of whisky a “dram”. - Irish whiskey
Known in Gaelic as uisge beatha, the ‘water of life’, Irish whiskey is enjoying a revival. It tastes smoother and less smoky than Scottish whisky because it’s not usually malted using peat. Jameson is the best-known brand. - Gin and Tonic (G&T)
The idea of mixing gin with tonic goes back to India in the early 19th century. The British soldiers stationed there took quinine powder to prevent malaria but because it tasted so bitter they would add carbonated water and sugar to make a tonic. When taken with gin and lemon, the “malaria tonic” tasted delicious! The G&T had been born. Most tonic water still contains some quinine today although not enough to prevent malaria. - Pimms
This summer drink made of gin and flavoured with fruit and herbs is often mixed with lemonade, mint and chopped fruit. It has the reputation for being very English and a bit posh because it’s popular at society events including the Henley Regatta and the Wimbledon Tennis tournament. It should be served cold from a jug. - Cider
Distilled from apple juice, this drink is most popular in the rural area of South West England. The fizzy, commercial ciders that you can now buy in cans or bottles are very different from traditional cider. If you order cider in a West Country pub, expect it to be flat, cloudy and strong!