Best supermarket liqueurs for Christmas 2023
Christmas is a time when many of us like to pick up a bottle of liqueur to sip, and this year there are so many award-winning supermarket liqueurs to try.
I’ve picked out some of the best affordable own-brand cream liqueurs to begin with – a category in which the supermarkets always do well – followed by some excellent dairy-free liqueurs that give the luxury brands a real run for their money.
BEST VALUE CREAM LIQUEURS
The supermarkets dominated the whole-of-market awards in this category this year, knocking many premium brands off the top spot.
There’s plenty to choose from, including classic Irish Cream liqueur recipes, various chocolate creams, salted caramel creams, coffee creams and more.
Asda Blonde Chocolate Cream Liqueur | £8.00 for 70cl
- The equal first top scorer this year, only £8, and it tastes a bit like Caramac in a glass
- Awards: IWSC gold medal & 97/100
- Notes: Strong flavours of milk chocolate, butterscotch, caramel and brown sugar. Creamy and bold with a velvet finish.
- FIND HERE: Asda
Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Irish Cream Liqueur | £13.00 for 70cl
- The other equal first top scorer for 2023, slightly less sweet and *very* popular, but more expensive
- Awards: IWSC gold medal & 97/100
- Notes: Rich toffee, caramel and creamy mocha flavours. Well balanced, tasty and easy to drink.
- FIND HERE: Tesco
Aldi Ballycastle Tiramisu | £7.79 for 70cl
- Double gold medal winner! A little ‘pick me up’ dessert in liquid form, can be poured over vanilla ice cream. << PENNY’S PICK
- Awards: ISC Gold Medal, Spirits Business Liqueur Masters Gold Medal
- Notes: Coffee, cocoa and vanilla sponge notes bound together with dairy cream.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
Tesco Finest Raspberry Ripple Irish Cream Liqueur | £13.00 for 70cl
- One for the sweet toothed and fans of fruity drinks
- Awards: IWSC gold medal & 96/100
- Notes: Summery flavours of raspberry ripple ice cream, blended with warming spirit, Irish single malt whiskey and double cream.
- FIND HERE: Tesco
Aldi Ballycastle Blonde Chocolate Liqueur | £7.79 for 70cl
- If you’re missing Caramac bars, here’s another boozy version
- Awards: Spirits Business Liqueur Masters Gold Medal, ISC silver medal
- Notes: A very sweet, creamy treat with notes of caramel, brown sugar and white chocolate. Best served over lots of ice.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
CREAM LIQUEURS: Best of the rest
These next seven liqueurs all scored pretty highly too, and there are plenty of different flavours to try. It just depends on your personal taste, and where you like to shop.
Aldi Ballycastle White Chocolate Cream | £7.79 for 70cl
- Tastes like Milky Bar or white chocolate mice
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 94/100, Spirits Business Liqueur Masters Silver Medal
- Notes: Sweet vanilla, cocoa butter and white chocolate flavours with an indulgent velvety mouthfeel.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
Asda Chocolate Orange Cream Liqueur | £8.00 for 70cl
- Nice boozy kick, shake well before opening
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 93/100
- Notes: Infused with Seville orange and rich dairy cream, with complex flavours and a hint of fudge. Well-balanced.
- FIND HERE: Asda
Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Edition Irish Cream Liqueur | £8.29 for 70cl
- Fresh dairy cream, grain spirit and Irish whiskey blend
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 92/100
- Notes: Pleasant mouthfeel with good level of sweetness, slightly nutty flavours and a hint of chocolate on the finish.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
Tesco Finest Gingerbread Latte Irish Cream Liqueur | £13.00 for 70cl
- Gingerbread, coffee, Irish single malt whiskey and double cream
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 92/100
- Notes: Dark burnt caramel, coffee, toffee and subtle spice flavours, silky decadent texture and great balance.
- FIND HERE: Tesco
M&S Traditional Irish Cream Liqueur | £10.50 for 70cl
- Currently reduced to £9.00 in online offer
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 91/100, ISC silver medal
- Notes: Creamy mouthfeel with a well-integrated sweetness and hints of cocoa.
- FIND HERE: M&S (in store) and Ocado (online)
Aldi Ballycastle Chocolate, Caramel & Hazelnut liqueur | £7.79 for 70cl
- Limited edition flavour for 2023
- Awards: ISC silver medal
- Notes: The one that’s been deliberately created to taste like a purple Quality Street!
- FIND HERE: Aldi
M&S Salted Caramel Brownie Flavour Cream Liqueur | £10.50 for 70cl
- Serve over ice, in a cocktail, or added to hot chocolate
- Awards: Good Housekeeping 3rd place cream liqueur & 88/100
- Notes: Rich, creamy and sweet, with salted caramel and chocolate cake notes.
- FIND HERE: M&S (in store) and Ocado (online)
OTHER BEST SUPERMARKET LIQUEURS (non-cream)
Lots of other delicious supermarket liqueurs were big award winners for 2023 too. Just have a look at some of these beauties.
Not everyone loves cream liqueurs, and these top dairy-free drinks are more versatile for mixing into cocktails or serving with different foods.
Marks & Spencer Orange & Brandy Liqueur | £10.00 for 35cl
- Similar to Grand Marnier, but about a third less expensive per 100ml. Note that these are half-sized bottles. << PENNY’S POSH PICK
- Awards: IWSC gold medal & 95/100, ISC gold medal
- Notes: ‘Brilliantly complex with zesty, juicy orange, and balancing bitter marmalade undertones. A seamless fusion of fruit and aged spirit elements.
- FIND HERE: M&S (in store) and Ocado (online)
Marks & Spencer Creme de Cassis de Dijon | £10.00 for 35cl
- Add a splash to a glass of dry white wine for a Kir aperitif, or mix with champagne or other sparkling wine for a delicious Kir Royale before Christmas lunch.
- Awards: IWSC gold medal & 95/100, IWC silver medal
- Notes: Aromatic and complex, brimming with notes of blackcurrant leaf, sweet cassis fruit and woodier tones. Superbly fresh, with a delicious, velvety texture.
- FIND HERE: M&S (in store) and Ocado (online)
Aldi Haysmith’s Sloe Gin 29% | £14.99 for 70cl
- Sip after dinner, serve with mince pies or stilton cheese, or add to cocktails
- Awards: ISC Gold Medal
- Notes: Plummy, dark, fruity flavours with dry juniper on the finish. Long matured and well rounded.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
Aldi Cocobay Rum & Coconut Liqueur | £6.99 for 70cl
- Low-priced substitute for Malibu and other more expensive rum drinks
- Awards: Spirits Business Liqueur Masters Gold Medal
- Notes: Smooth, strong coconut taste and a hint of rum. Not as strong as the alcohol content in Malibu, but mixes easily into cocktails and long drinks.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
Tesco Finest Gingerbread Espresso Martini Liqueur | £14.00 for 70cl
- Currently £12.00 in Clubcard offer. Created by award winning French liqueur producer Gabriel Boudier. << PENNY’S POSH PICK #2
- Awards: Olive Magazine Best Bottled Supermarket Cocktail winner (please note it’s actually a proper liqueur, not a pre-mixed cocktail)
- Notes: Coffee and subtle gingerbread flavour, works best chilled over plenty of ice as an after-dinner treat.
- FIND HERE: Tesco
Aldi Bellucci Amaretto Liqueur | £8.99 for 70cl
- Similar to Disaronno, but much cheaper
- Awards: Spirits Business Liqueur Masters Gold Medal, ISC silver medal
- Notes: Sweet almond marzipan flavours, with hints of brown sugar and cherry.
- FIND HERE: Aldi
OTHER LIQUEURS (non-cream): Best of the rest
These next four supermarket liqueurs are all high scorers too, with just a point or two between them – and they might be more convenient for you if they’re in your nearest big retailer.
Tesco Amaretto Liqueur | £8.75 for 50cl
- Drink chilled, add to fruit cake before icing, or serve over ice cream
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 92/100
- Notes: Flavours of toasted almond and marzipan and a nice hint of spice.
- FIND HERE: Tesco
Asda The Distiller Pineapple & Passionfruit Gin Liqueur | £8.00 for 50cl
- The stand-out supermarket gin liqueur this awards season
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 92/100
- Notes: Juicy sweet palate with pineapple and passionfruit, good complexity and balanced sweetness.
- FIND HERE: Asda
Tesco Coconut Rum Liqueur | £7.95 for 70cl
- Another good low-priced substitute for Malibu
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 90/100
- Notes: Tastes of lightly toasted coconut, vanilla and a little almond.
- FIND HERE: Tesco
Lidl Jagdstolz Goodshot Liqueur | £14.99 for 70cl
- The only high-ranking supermarket Jägermeister-like liqueur
- Awards: IWSC silver medal & 90/100
- Notes: Flavours of herbs, candied orange peel and liquorice, with layered bitterness
- FIND HERE: Lidl (in store only)
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Hope you liked this big guide to the best supermarket liqueurs for Christmas this year.
There’s more festive food and drink to come, so check back soon!
