To find out how supermarket own-brand Irish Cream liqueurs compare with the original Baileys, we asked a panel of 69 consumers to blind-taste and rate all the available options.
This included five supermarket bottles from Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
Baileys triumphed overall, but only just, with several supermarket liqueurs impressing our tasters. Our top cheaper pick scored just 1% less than Baileys overall and is nearly half the price.
Read on to find out which liqueurs will save you money this Christmas and how to get Baileys for less.
Live well, eat better, stay healthy - Best Irish cream liqueursBaileys was the overall favourite in our taste test this year, but Lidl was a very close second. If you're looking to save, it's a savvy choice.
Best Buy: Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur – 76%£15 for 70cl bottle (£2.14 per 100ml)
Baileys nabs the top spot again this year. Tasters enjoyed the sweetness, creaminess and colour, with some noting the ‘good balance between the cream and alcohol’.
If you'll accept no imitation, make sure you shop around, as we think you should never need to buy Baileys full price. It's almost always on offer somewhere.
Where to buy Baileys cheapestGreat Value: Lidl Deluxe Irish Cream – 75%£7.99 for 70cl bottle (£1.14 per 100ml)
If you’re looking for a tasty Irish Cream liqueur that also offers great value, Lidl is the place to go.
It's only one percentage point behind our top scorer, and at almost half the price it's a bargain too.
Our tasters really liked the flavour, appearance and mouthfeel, and it scored just as high as Baileys on these measures, making it a great alternative.
- we reveal the best wines from our expert taste test, including brilliant British bubblyHow M&S, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Aldi Irish Cream compare to Baileys
All of the Irish Cream liqueurs we tested scored well for flavour, so it's worth trying cheaper alternatives wherever you shop. But some had the edge over others. Here's how they scored:
M&S Irish Cream Liqueur – 73% Taste the Difference Irish Cream Liqueur – 73Morrisons The Best Irish Cream Liqueur – 70%Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur – 69%All products are 17% ABV (alcohol by volume).
- see all our top-rated food and drink, from everyday essentials to big ticket buysBaileys and supermarket flavoured liqueurs: what's available this year?
There's an increasingly wide range of indulgent flavoured options to choose from beyond the standard Irish Cream liqueurs:
Baileys flavoursBaileys Chocolat Luxe Cream LiqueurBailey's Espresso Crème Irish Cream Liqueur Bailey's Orange Truffle Irish Cream LiqueurBaileys Salted Caramel LiqueurBailey's Tiramisu Irish Cream Liqueur Flavoured cream liqueurs from supermarketsAsda Extra Special Blonde Chocolate LiqueurAsda Extra Special Chocolate Orange LiqueurAsda Extra Special Espresso Martini Chocolate Flavour Cream LiqueurTesco Finest Salted Caramel Cream LiqueurTesco Finest Gingerbread Latté Irish Cream M&S Golden Blond Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur M&S Salted Caramel Brownie Flavour Cream Liqueur –Aldi also have a range of flavoured country creams on offer.
Country cream is a cheaper alternative to Irish Cream that typically substitutes whiskey for other alcohol types, such as wine, fermented alcohol and spirits, and has a lower alcohol content (around 12% ABV):
Ballycastle Blonde Chocolate Country CreamBallycastle Chocolate, Hazelnut & Caramel Country CreamBallycastle Tiramisu CreamBallycastle White Chocolate Country Cream - we asked a consumer panel to try supermarket versions against big brands. Find out who was the favouriteBest ways to serve Irish cream liqueur
Typically, Irish cream liqueur is served as a 50ml shot in a glass with a few ice cubes.
But you can also try using it in baked sweet treats, a classic cocktail, or even in a coffee for an after dinner digestif.
A shot of liqueur also works well in lattes and hot chocolates to keep the winter chill at bay.
: find out when all the big supermarkets open booking slotsHow we tested Irish cream liqueurs
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The Irish creams were assessed in September 2023 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and consume Irish cream liqueur.
The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK.
Each product was assessed by 69 people. The taste test was blind, so the panellists didn’t know which brand they were trying.
The panellists rated the taste, mouthfeel, aroma, and appearance of each product and told us what they liked and disliked about each one.
The overall score is based on:
The order in which they sampled the Irish cream liqueur was fully rotated to avoid any bias, and each panellist had a private booth so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.
Please drink responsibly. See for advice.Prices correct as of 18 October 2023. Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Tesco, and Waitrose did not have a comparable own-brand product available at the time of testing.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/baileys-vs-cheap-supermarket-irish-cream-liqueur-taste-test-aORFP7W8RS8u