Bona-Cola (Scotland)
Few Scottish soft drinks have as long a backstory as Bona-Cola. Produced by Bon Accord Soft Drinks of Edinburgh, the brand first appeared under the company’s original ownership, which dated back to 1903. Bona-Cola became especially popular in Scotland during the 1970s and 80s, before the family firm eventually closed in 2000.
In 2016 the founder’s great-great-granddaughter, Karen Knowles, and her business partner Nathan Burrough revived the Bon Accord name. Two years later they reintroduced Bona-Cola, though in a thoroughly updated form: free from refined sugar and artificial colorings, and aimed at modern tastes rather than nostalgia. Today it serves as both a nod to the past and a symbol of how a century-old Scottish name has been reshaped for the 21st century.
The recipe is deliberately lighter than mainstream competitors. Bona-Cola contains 7.6 g sugar per 100 ml, compared to the 10–11 g typically found in standard colas. The sweetness comes not from refined sugar but from pear and apple juice, while the drink’s color derives naturally from malt extract.
