Moray Cup fever continues in north-east and beyond
Moray Cup fever continues to grip the north-east with the triumphant return of the soft drink seeing it fly off the shelves.
Such has been the demand many shops are limiting how many bottles of the fizzy favourite customers can buy.
Macduff’s Deveron Direct had the exclusive stocks of the returning fruit flavoured beverage and the cash and carry launched it last Friday morning.
Long queues of people and gridlocked traffic formed outside the store as they looked to be the first to try the drink.
It was previously made by Sangs, then Cott Beverages, who took over the Macduff business, and finally Refresco who discontinued it seven years ago.
The return of Moray Cup was highly-anticipated in the north-east.
Deveron Direct’s Des Cheyne and Kenneth West were able to bring the drink back after agreeing a deal with Refresco. It is expected to be on shelves for the next six to nine months and it is yet to be confirmed if it will be permanent.
On a rare sunny day this summer in Banff I asked the public what they thought of the new Moray Cup.
Frank Palmer said: “Its great to see it back and it tastes really close to how it did back in the day.
“Understandably it wasn’t going to be exactly the same but they have done a good job with the ingredients to get it as near as.
“It is a perfect drink to enjoy cold when the sun is shining like today.”
Alice White said: “There has been a real buzz about the community with Moray Cup’s return.
“I was really excited about it and I wasn’t disappointed when I first tried it.
“It’s fantastic to see it on the shelves again and hopefully it is back for a long time.”
The return of Moray Cup also set social media alight as people celebrated it being back on shelves.
In the comments section of Facebook Catriona Masson said: “It's nae exactly how I remember it but it's pretty close....”
Shirley Masson said: “New label. Tastes as good as can be due to government sugar tax. Lovely and makes a good ice cream float.
Kathleen Ann Purves said: “Love it, got my first taste of it today and definitely a winner for me. Not as red as it used to be but to me taste is just as I remember it. Best drank chilled.”
Elaine Stewart said: “It goes well with fish and chips and in an ice cream float. It's a yes from me.”
When I myself tried it I first noticed that the familiar taste from all those years ago was there.
It is not exactly the same as the drink from back in the day - a paler red and less sugar due to government regulations - but it was never going to be due to this.
I used to enjoy it usually with a fish supper and after tasting the new incarnation I will be doing so again as a welcome treat.
North-east butchers, including John Stewart Butchers in Banff and Brown the Butchers in Turriff, have been flavouring their sausages with the soft drink.
The beverage has also been seen in locations away from its north-east home including Shetland, the Scottish Borders and there has been interest nationally.
