Irish Cream liqueur, with its smooth and creamy texture, is a favourite not just during the festive season but all year round. Recently, Baileys has introduced a variety of new flavours to encourage consumers to keep their pantries stocked throughout the year.
Additionally, a range of alternative Irish Cream brands have entered the market, from supermarket versions to premium options that aim to reinvent the classic by using high-quality ingredients, much like artisan brewers and whisky makers. Coole Swan, one of the most successful emerging brands, launched in the UK last year and has been very well-received.
In a recent campaign, the brand boldly claimed to be ‘Baileys, but better’ and has reduced 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. This makes it an ideal time to try it out, especially with St Patrick’s Day approaching on March 17.
Coole Swan’s award-winning liqueur, crafted in small batches in Ireland, is a blend of premium ingredients, including single malt whiskey, fresh Irish cream, Belgian white chocolate, and Madagascan vanilla pods. Since its debut, it has been making waves among spirits enthusiasts, bagging numerous awards, notably double golds at the prestigious San Francisco Wine and Spirits Awards where it was also crowned the World’s Best Liqueur.
It even outshone Baileys and 12 other rivals in a comparison by foodie website Tasting Table, where their expert hailed it as ‘the only Irish cream liqueur I would safely rate above Baileys,’ praising its value and remarking: “Worth every penny of its higher-end price point. Coole Swan is perfectly balanced in a way that’s almost difficult to comprehend.”
We were keen to compare the two – and was honestly taken aback by the stark contrast in appearance. Coole Swan boasts the use of real Belgian white chocolate—emphasising the use of actual chocolate over flavouring—which results in a distinctly lighter hue compared to Baileys, which is believed to utilise a milk chocolate blend for its signature flavour.
The white chocolate in Coole Swan’s blend might lead you to expect a sweeter taste, akin to the sweetness of white chocolate compared to milk chocolate. However, my first sip revealed a mellow flavour with less of an initial kick, possibly due to the smooth single malt.
Baileys, on the other hand, has a taste that develops over time. Initially, there’s a sweet scent followed by the warmth of alcohol hitting your throat before a creamy end note soothes the burn.
In contrast, Coole Swan seems to blend its ingredients more harmoniously, delivering all elements simultaneously for a balanced experience from the first sip. If you’re after a stronger kick, Baileys has a slightly higher alcohol volume at 17% compared to Coole Swan’s 16%.
But we discovered something that elevates Coole Swan into next-level Irish cream territory. We’ve enjoyed many a laced hot chocolate at Christmas markets and festive cocktails, but our preferred way to enjoy the drink is cold – typically with a large ice cube.
While the melting ice can dilute and sometimes even split the drink, making the last few sips feel somewhat watery, Coole Swan’s fresh ingredients require it to be kept chilled once opened. This means that Irish cream can now be enjoyed ice-cold without any ice cubes.
Despite being a long-time fan of Baileys, we’ve found a new favourite in Coole Swan, which has earned a spot not just in our heart but also in our fridge. It seems we’re not alone in this sentiment, as the brand boasts over 1,200 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5, and a 4.7 out of 5 star rating from Tesco shoppers based on ten positive reviews.
One satisfied customer described it as luxurious, stating: “This is so beautiful, creamy and a better class of liqueur. Move over Baileys, there’s a new drink in town.”
Another shopper commented: “Wow what a treat, you can really taste the quality with this drink. Perfect for special occasions, tastes rich with real cream and the single malt really makes a difference. Has ruined other Irish cream liqueurs for me.”
The main gripe among customers is the price, with one three-star reviewer noting: “This is very much overpriced for a 16% drink, the bottle’s not very big either.”
A previous customer, before the promotion was initiated, lauded the drink as ‘the best Irish cream liqueur ever,’ adding: “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.”
Cream liqueurs have indeed been on the rise lately, with Baileys introducing a variety of flavours including an unusual birthday cake option, while renowned brands such as Hotel Chocolat have branched out into similar territories, creating confections like their Espresso Martini flavoured vodka liqueur that embodies a liquid tiramisu. Also attempting to carve out a niche in the stiff UK market is Five Farms with its own Irish cream liqueur.
For now, Coole Swan has seemingly surged ahead of competitors like Baileys, and Tesco customers have a chance to snatch up the brand for cheaper thanks to a Clubcard deal offering 23% off the standard price, available until April 21 for those eager to snag the £20 bargain.