Our team of in-house food and drink researchers blind-tasted a selection of cream liqueurs, from premium small-batch Irish cream to chocolate cream liqueurs, as well as more unusual flavoured varieties.
We found options to suit everyone, whether you're after a classic crowd-pleaser, an indulgent liqueur for gifting, or something a little different. And our surprise hit was one of the cheapest products we tested.
Keep reading to see our top picks and get our verdict on all the liqueurs we tried.
Eat well, live better and stay healthy –Best premium alternative to Baileys
If you want to surprise an Irish cream fan with something a little different, there are several luxury small-batch options to consider.
We blind-tasted three premium whisky-based cream liqueur alternatives and found there were clear differences in style, with some offering an intense boozy flavour, while others were much lighter and sweeter.
Top pick: Cotswolds Cream Liqueur - £22 for 70cl
(£3.14/100ml), 17% ABV
Cotswolds Cream Liqueur is made by combining single malt whisky produced in the Cotswold Distillery with fresh Irish cream.
It was rated more highly than the others on average, making it our top pick in this category. Our tasters enjoyed its distinct whisky notes and creamy texture.
However, its boozy flavour might not be for everyone, so it's best suited to those who prefer punchier liqueurs.
Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur - £29.99 for 70cl
(£4.28/100ml), 17% ABV
Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur is a small-batch premium Irish Cream Liqueur entirely sourced and produced in County Cork.
It wasn't far off the top scorer, tying joint second with Merlyn.
The colour was on the pale side, but our tasters liked the thick and creamy texture.
The alcohol flavour was a little overpowering for some, but it's worth trying if you enjoy liqueurs with a strong whiskey flavour.
Merlyn Welsh Cream Liqueur - £16 for 70cl
(£2.29/100ml), 17% ABV
Made with Welsh malted barley spirit from the Penderyn Distillery, Merlyn is the cheapest and most widely available premium cream liqueur we tasted in this category.
It had a nice strong aroma with notes of butterscotch. The sweet, creamy flavour was likened to fudge by one taster however, another found it too sickly for their liking.
It's a good choice for those who prefer lighter, sweeter liqueurs that have a more subtle alcohol flavour.
- find out whether cheap Irish cream liqueurs from Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury's are any match for the big brandBest chocolate cream liqueurs
For an extra-luxurious Christmas treat, a chocolate-flavoured cream liqueur could be worth considering.
Our tasters tried three widely available options to see how they compared: Hotel Chocolat, Baileys and Mozart. Baileys was the clear winner in this category, with all tasters rating it their favourite.
Top pick: Baileys Chocolat Luxe Irish Cream Liqueur - £20 for 50cl
(£4/100ml), 15.7% ABV
undefined
Described as a 'decadent drinking experience', Baileys Chocolat Luxe blends Madagascan vanilla and Belgian chocolate with its Original Irish Cream.
Our tasters thought it was rich, luxurious and delicious, balancing a good whiskey strength alongside a satisfying chocolate hit.
Its appearance and texture also hit the spot, impressing our tasters with its deep chocolatey colour and smooth, velvety mouthfeel.
The chocolate edition is pricier than regular Baileys (and comes in a smaller bottle), but it's worth keeping an eye out for offers in the lead-up to Christmas. At the time of writing, it's currently half-price at Sainsbury's, costing just £10 a bottle.
Mozart Chocolate Cream Liqueur - £18.50 for 50cl
(£3.70/100ml), 17% ABV
First produced in 1979, Mozart is an Austrian cream liqueur made with Belgian chocolate, fresh cream and sugar beet distillate.
The bottle certainly has an appealing and decadent look, but our tasters weren't fans of this liqueur. It had a much thicker texture than others in this category and was slightly gelatinous - akin to chocolate sauce - which made it less pleasant to sip.
Despite the rich, dark, glossy appearance, the chocolate taste was overshadowed by the strength of alcohol, and it didn't deliver the intense cocoa flavour you might expect.
It might work better in a cocktail or dessert, or with plenty of ice, but it didn't delight our tasters.
Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Chocolate Cream - £23 for 50cl
(£4.60/100ml), 12% ABV
Hotel Chocolat's vodka-based chocolate cream was the most expensive liqueur in this category but scored the lowest.
Although it had a good creamy texture, our tasters thought it tasted rather thin, and like it was made with hot chocolate powder, noting that the flavour and aroma lacked any real chocolatey punch.
It didn't get our tastebuds tingling, but it could be one to consider if you're looking for an alternative to whisky-based liqueurs, and prefer a milder chocolate flavour and lower alcohol content.
- find out how premium chocolate advent calendars from Hotel Chocolat, Lindt and Fortnum's compareBest unusual flavour cream liqueurs
From white chocolate to amaretto, there are plenty of other flavoured alternatives to try if you're looking to branch out from a traditional cream liqueur.
We tasted four widely available flavoured varieties and found one real crowd-pleaser, along with some interesting options to suit a variety of tastes - whether you prefer a punchy liqueur or a more subtle flavour profile.
Top pick: Amarula Cream Liqueur - £12.50 for 70cl
(£1.79/100ml), 15.5% ABV
Amarula is the only wine-based liqueur we tasted. It's produced using an African Marula fruit-based wine that's double-distilled and matured in oak barrels for two years.
It was our top-scoring pick overall in the flavoured category, with tasters describing it as well-rounded, luxurious and exciting. It's also the cheapest, at half the price of others we tasted.
Our tasters loved the smooth, creamy texture and unusual fruity flavour profile, with hints of caramel and balanced sweetness and alcohol with a gentle warming finish.
If you're after a delicious liqueur that won't break the bank, this is a great choice.
Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur - £26 for 70cl
(£3.71/100ml), 16% ABV
Coole Swan has a stylish and distinctive bottle and is made using a blend of single malt Irish whiskey, Belgian white chocolate and fresh Irish cream.
Thick, sweet and creamy, this liqueur combined gentle flavours of whiskey and white chocolate with a rich silky texture.
Our tasters thought the flavour profile was fairly neutral, so it's a good crowd-pleaser if you're keen to try something a little bit different that won't be too divisive.
Kyro Dairy Cream Liqueur - £20 for 50cl
(£4/100ml), 16% ABV
This lactose-free Finnish Cream Liqueur is made with small batch single malt rye whisky and cream. The brand says it has hints of vanilla and liquorice.
Our tasters weren't overly impressed initially, noting a slightly anaemic, thin appearance and lack of aroma. The alcohol taste was a little harsh at first, but it balanced out well, with a mellow creamy finish.
It wasn't a top pick for our tasters, but the flavour and texture were still decent, so it could be worth considering if you're after an unusual alternative to Baileys.
Disaronno Velvet Liqueur - £16.50 for 50cl
(£3.30/100ml), 17% ABV
This cream liqueur divided opinion in our tryout.
The strong amaretto flavour is a real 'love it or hate it' one, with some finding the marzipan sweetness overpowering and sickly.
Our tasters also felt the thin, pale appearance was unappealing, with one person likening it to watered-down paint.
If you're a fan of amaretto, and sweeter liqueurs, it could be one for you, but if you're not sure, it's a riskier purchase.
Stock up on festive essentials with our guides to the , the , theHow we taste tested cream liqueurs
In November 2023, our team of in-house food and drink researchers blind-tasted 10 cream liqueurs including, classic, chocolate and flavoured liqueurs.
They rated the taste, texture, aroma and appearance of each liqueur and described what they liked and disliked about each one.
The products were blinded, so the panellists didn’t know which brand they were trying. Each taster tried the liqueurs in a different order to avoid any bias.
Prices shown are the typical non-offer price and correct as of 23 November 2023. It's worth shopping around as there are regular deals on these products - some shown where relevant.
Please drink responsibly. See for advice.source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/best-luxury-cream-liqueurs-to-buy-aqaCk7k6uP86