Irish Cream liqueur enthusiasts know that this velvety delight is not just for the festive season but a year-round indulgence. Recently, Baileys has been enticing customers with an array of new flavours, while alternative Irish Cream brands have also entered the market, offering everything from supermarket versions to premium reinventions of the classic.
One such brand making waves is Coole Swan, which launched in the UK last year to high praise. The brand boldly positions itself as 'Baileys, but better' in its latest campaign and has slashed its premium price tag from £26 to £20 in a special deal at Tesco for Clubcard shoppers, both in-store and online until April 21.
With St Patrick's Day on March 17, it's the perfect time to give it a whirl. Coole Swan's award-winning liqueur is crafted in small batches in Ireland using top-notch ingredients like single malt whiskey, fresh thick cream (both Irish), Belgian white chocolate, and Madagascan vanilla pods.
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Since its launch, it has been earning accolades among alcohol connoisseurs, bagging numerous awards including double golds at the internationally-renowned San Francisco Wine and Spirits Awards where it was also crowned the World's Best Liqueur. In a showdown of the best Irish liqueurs by foodie website Tasting Table, Coole Swan emerged victorious, outshining Baileys and 12 other contenders.
As reported by Wales Online, the site's expert praised it as 'the only Irish cream liqueur I would safely rate above Baileys,' adding: "Worth every penny of its higher-end price point. Coole Swan is perfectly balanced in a way that's almost difficult to comprehend."
Our long-time Baileys enthusiast, Narin Flanders, was curious to compare the two brands directly - and was genuinely taken aback by the visible difference. Coole Swan boasts of using genuine Belgian white chocolate - the brand explicitly states that it uses pure chocolate rather than chocolate flavouring - this lends it a noticeably lighter hue than Baileys, which is rumoured to depend on a milk chocolate blend for its signature taste.
Given the prominence of white chocolate in their mix, one might expect Coole Swan to have a sweeter taste, akin to how white chocolate typically tastes sweeter than milk chocolate. However, Narin's first sip revealed a mellow flavour with less of an initial punch - possibly due to the smooth character of the single malt.
She found the flavour of Baileys unfolded gradually. The initial sip offers a burst of sweetness, followed by the heat of the alcohol hitting your throat, and finally, the creamy finish that soothes the burn.
Coole Swan, while sharing the same ingredients, presents a more harmonious blend where all elements are experienced at once. Instead of a fiery undertone succeeded by a sweet, comforting finale, everything is balanced from the get-go.
Narin also stumbled upon a revelation that propels Coole Swan into a new realm of Irish cream excellence. As a devoted Baileys fan, she has enjoyed her share of laced hot chocolates at Christmas markets and festive cocktails. However, her preferred way to savour this favourite tipple is chilled - typically with a large ice cube.
As the ice melts, it dilutes the drink and can sometimes cause it to separate slightly, resulting in the last few sips tasting somewhat watered down. But Coole Swan's fresh ingredients are so pristine that once the bottle is opened, it must be kept refrigerated.
This means you can enjoy Irish cream ice-cold without the need for ice cubes. Despite Narin's longstanding affection for Baileys, Coole Swan has won over her heart and has secured a spot in her fridge.
It seems she's not alone, as the brand boasts over 1,200 reviews and an impressive 4.6 out of five-star average rating on Amazon. Similarly, the liqueur enjoys a stellar 4.7 out of five stars from Tesco customers.
A satisfied customer raved about its quality, commenting: "This is so beautiful, creamy and a better class of liqueur. Move over Baileys, there's a new drink in town."
The main gripe among customers revolves around the price, with a three-star reviewer remarking: "This is very much overpriced for a 16% drink, the bottle's not very big either."
However, another reviewer praised it highly, saying: "The most delicious Irish cream liqueur I have ever tasted. Creamy, luxuriously smooth and very moreish. The taste of alcohol is not overwhelming either, which I find with Baileys and other Irish creams. Don't think I could go back to anything else after trying this, the only downside being the price."
In recent times, cream liqueurs have seen a surge in popularity, with Baileys expanding its range to include unique flavours such as birthday cake. Likewise, prominent brands like Hotel Chocolat have branched out into their own versions, exemplified by an Espresso Martini flavoured vodka liqueur that has been likened to a liquid tiramisu.
Five Farms also sells Irish cream liqueur priced at £29.49 and is looking to gain a foothold in the competitive UK market. If you fancy giving Coole Swan a try, Tesco's Clubcard deal sees it reduced by 23% to £20 and is available until April 21.
