Monday 19 October 2026
Tune of the Day: Drops of Brandy
Traditional slip jig
This tune is very old, and although it has always been very popular in Ireland, it might have first originated in Scotland. Its earliest known appearance is in the Scottish Drummond Castle Manuscript, which is inscribed “A Collection of Country Dances written for the use of his Grace the Duke of Perth by Dav. Young, 1734”.
“Drops of Brandy” is also the name of a specific country dance known throughout the British Isles. O'Neill's Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913) tells us that in Ireland “a special dance was performed to the melody”, and indeed, “Drops of Brandy” is a favorite tune for solo step dancing competitions.