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It’s officially Baileys season, not that you ever really need an excuse to sip the stuff.

At this time of year, many of us will reach for the Irish Cream, as it promises immeasurable amounts of silky indulgence and festive cheer. (Plus enough sugar to put a number of dentists’ children through university and pay off their student loads at the end of it.)

But it’s not our only option when it comes to dessert-inspired drinks.

Cream liqueurs have proliferated of late and now it’s not just Baileys Original you’ll find on the supermarket shelf – there are more flavours, colours and textures than you can shake an insulin pen at.

We’re talking everything from pumpkin spice, to limoncello, Terry’s chocolate orange, Dubai chocolate and Tiramisu.

What is a cream liqueur?

They’re made by combining dairy cream with a base spirit, such as whisky or vodka (and in one case, tequila), and blending them with sugar and flavourings.

A process called ‘homogenisation’ is used to emulsify the cream, using high pressure to break down the fat into tiny, uniform particles. They then use ingredients like sodium caseinate to stabilise the liquid so the cream and the alcohol don’t separate.

Do supermarket dessert-inspired drinks taste as good as they sound?

In the run-up to December, I took it upon myself to taste test over 20 different liqueurs, so you don’t have to and my teeth haven’t stopped aching since. You’re welcome.

I’ve narrowed the selection down to just feature the best of the bunch, hopefully this makes it easier for you to find the most decadent dessert drinks for Christmas.

And there’s also one you’ll probably want to avoid, which scored a 0/10 in my rankings and was without a doubt, the worst one I tried.

Let’s tuck in…

Note: I tasted all of them at room temperature, but ideally, you’ll serve them over ice, in a hot chocolate, in coffee or over your dessert.

Baileys Terry’s Chocolate Orange, £16.50, Ocado

My thoughts: Courtney, Metro’s specialist food writer, reveiwed this one recently, but I have to give it another shout-out. Baileys just do it so well, and this one is literally liquid Terry’s chocolate orange with lightly nutty, biscuity undertones. From sweetness levels to flavour integration, it’s all bang on. Nailed it.

Score: 8.7/10

Taste The Difference Irish Cream Liqueur, £13.25, Sainsbury’s

My thoughts: Sainsbury’s version of the classic is lovely and punchy on the palate. I’m a sucker for a spirity kick when it comes to cream liqueurs, otherwise they can taste too cloying and sugary, like melted ice cream in a heatwave. This bottle gives you a thwack like you’ve just walked around the back of a startled horse. At the same time, it’s luxuriant in texture, warming and velvety.

Score: 8.6/10

No.1 Blonde Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur, £14, Waitrose

My thoughts: I had to taste this multiple times, for research purposes, obvs. Each time, I upped its score a notch. If you’re a fan of rich and unctuous flavours of creamy fudge and milk chocolate brownie, you’re in for a absolute treat. You can imagine Nigella pouring herself a glass during one of her midnight fridge raids. Because, importantly, it has a luxuriant texture, a sensible amount of sweetness and no cloying gloopiness.

Score: 8.5/10

Chocolate Brownie Flavour Country Cream, £7.29, Lidl

My thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised by this bottle. I feared it could be a sweet, sickly and soupy, but it was nothing of the sort. It’s balanced, uncomplicated and tastes exactly of what it’s meant to; chocolate brownie. But one of those good quality brownies, made of slightly darker chocolate that costs a bit more. Fridge chill and pour over ice.

Score: 8.3/10

Ballycastle Pumpkin Spiced Flavour Country Cream, £6.99, Aldi

My thoughts: Ginger nut biscuit in liquid form, is exactly what I wrote in my tasting notes. A great balance of sweetness, warming with a light suggestion of spirit. If the spirit levels were increased, I would have given this a higher mark. There’s nothing like a spicy, ginger kick of booze to get you ready for winter.

Score: 8.2/10

Taste The Difference Pistachio and Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur, £12, Sainsbury’s

My thoughts: Yes, Dubai chocolate is everywhere, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s doing it well. In fact, there were some in the line-up that really weren’t delivering. Sainsbury’s, on the other hand, have nailed it with this bottle. You instantly pick up the pine-like piquancy of pistachio, balanced beautifully against the creamy milk chocolate. It’s very good.

Score: 8.2/10

Chocolate & Cherry Flavour Irish Cream Liqueur, £13.50, M&S

My thoughts: This one was a grower. I was very undecided when I first poured it out. For starters, it’s brownie-purple in colour, and no question, the flavour combination jars on first sip. But, the flavours come together very well after a while, the dark chocolate base notes melding with the brightness of the cherry. Good texture and balance, too.

Score: 8/10

Deadman’s Fingers Blue Raspberry Tequila, £13.15, Ocado

My thoughts: I’m still processing this, figuratively and physically. What is it? Why is it called Deadman’s Fingers? What colour even is it? Did it break me, or give me life? So many questions. What I will say is, in a strange and unexpected way, it works. Were it not for the addition of tequila, this would straight up be something you’d give your kids on Halloween (please don’t though). With a Starburst-like flavour of blue raspberry, a creamy texture and a unicorn blue colour, what’s not to love? I think…

Score: 7/10, by far the most unusual drink I tried

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