There are few drinks more synonymous with Christmas than Bailey's, as the iconic cream liqueur just as delicious mixed into a boozy hot chocolate as it is straight and chilled in a glass on Christmas Eve. Like many people, I'm looking to cut back on some of my festive expenses this year, with rising costs of living forcing me to think carefully about what I pop on my shopping list.
Bailey's is my all-time favourite festive tipple, and I knew I'd want to get some in to raise a glass to the season. But I was keen to know if a thriftier option could do the trick just as well. With this in mind, I picked up a bottle of original Bailey's plus a bottle of the widely lauded Aldi's Ballycastle Irish Country Cream to put them head to head.
Bailey's (1L): £10 at Tesco with Clubcard - 10/10
I handily pick up a big 1L bottle of Bailey's from Tesco for just £10 with my Clubcard, but I've seen the same-sized bottle for as much as £22 elsewhere. It's always good to shop around a bit when it comes to your Bailey's, and to never underestimate the power of supermarket deals.
No sooner had I poured myself a much-wanted first glass, that silky, fawn-coloured liquid immediately transported me to all my Christmasses past. For nostalgia purposes alone, this original classic is pretty hard to beat.
Rich and creamy, the beauty of Bailey's lies in its moreish smoothness, as the soft vanilla layer is undercut with a satisfying hit of Irish whiskey.
There's a wonderfully deep aftertaste to it too, thanks to the fruitiness of the whiskey which delivers a real warmth on cold December nights. A little fireside glow in a glass, Bailey's always feels like a treat, and the subtle cocoa notes makes it the perfect chaser for scoffing advent calendar chocolate. A masterful 10/10.
Ballycastle Irish Country Cream (70cl): £4.49 at Aldi - 9/10
I've never tried Aldi's Ballycastle before, but have heard rave reviews about it from friends who swear they can barely taste the difference. Indeed, at first glance, I thought I was looking at a standard bottle of Bailey's.
After pouring a glass, I was struck by how closely the beige liqueur resembled the velvety original, bringing to mind Werther's Originals, brandy butter and all things warm and comforting. The scent wasn't anywhere near as strong, however, and I found myself missing it the distinctive aroma.
If I was served a glass of Ballycastle at a friend's house, without seeing the bottle it was poured from, I'd naturally assume it was bonafide Bailey's, no questions asked.
In fact, while taking a few snaps for this review, I ended up getting my two glasses muddled up and had to take a good few sips of each before determining which was which. I've had worse assignments.
There were some subtle but notable differences, however, and although I was greatly impressed by the quality of the Ballycastle offering, it didn't quite live up to the mighty Bailey's.
Pleasantly smooth, Ballycastle has a slightly nuttier taste, and the vanilla notes are a bit sweeter and more prominent. All in all, there's plenty to enjoy, and I went back for a second glass, but the whiskey aftertaste didn't quite give me that same fire-crackle warmth as the original. I'd give Aldi's dupe a solid 9/10.
Price-wise, I managed to get a very good offer on my 1L Bailey's bottle using my Tesco Clubcard and would encourage others to do the same. Although I paid just £4.49 for the smaller 70cl bottle of Ballycastle, I knew I'd have had to get another one in to make sure there was enough to go around.
If you fancy trying something different when out on your Aldi shop, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a bottle of Ballycastle, which now comes in a range of flavours - including espresso martini.
Do you have a festive story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
