I tested retro-flavoured drinks for Christmas…£13 winner was a rich & indulgent treat that tasted like a boozy milkshake
THERE is a nip of festive nostalgia in the drinks aisle this holiday season.
From Snowball cocktails to traditional sloe gin and even Gingerbread booze, if you’re in the market for some wind-the-clock-back liquid memories then you’re in luck.
Aldi has even released its own version of Christmas classic Advocaat for less than a tenner a bottle.
Here, Helana Nicklin rates some of the best seasonal slurps, all available now on our supermarket shelves.
M&S Advocaat
- £13, 70cl, M&S
- 5/5
ADVOCAAT is a Dutch drink made with egg yolks, sugar and brandy. It is sometimes referred to by Brits and Americans as Eggnog.
This Marks and Spencer spin on the classic creamy liqueur pays off.
Made with free range eggs, it is rich and indulgent with a sprinkle of vanilla.
A bit like a boozy milkshake. Slurp it down as it comes, with or without ice. Great price – and full Marks!
Warninks Advocaat
- £15.50, 70cl,Tesco
- 3/5
BIG brand Advocaat is the famous original that sets the standard. But after tasting the M&S version, it actually feels and pours a bit thin.
There is a whiff of fresh egg when you decant that is part of the appeal to many – like a rich, sugary, custard with an added kick from the brandy.
You can slurp this neat or on the rocks, and either way the retro fave now has some serious competition.
Snowball Lime & Lemonade
- £6.50 for 4, Asda
- 4/5
A CLASSIC Snowball is the ultimate retro festive cocktail. Usually made with equal parts Advocaat and fizzy lemonade, served over ice, sometimes with a squeeze of lime.
I was suspicious of this 200ml premixed snowball as you want it to look great and taste fresh, but it actually won me over.
Saves the faff of buying all of the ingredients in pieces.
Cherry And Almond Spritz
- £3, 75cl, Morrisons
- 2/5
ANYTHING cherry and almond feels retro to me, and this spiced Spritz tastes and smells like a boozy cherry bakewell.
Heavy on the cherry and very sweet, this looks very pretty and festive but is lacking punch.
At only 3.4 per cent ABV, it is not strong at all, so if you wanted to, add an extra splash of sparkling vino for added oomph.
Not bad at all for three quid.
Cherry Bucks Fizz
- £2.75, 75cl, Iceland
- 2/5
BUCKS Fizz has always had a celebratory, slightly Seventies feel to it – and this version has had a cherry-scented upgrade.
For £2.75, it’s a nice idea and for me this punches above its weight for prettiness.
What’s inside is not sweet and sickly. You can taste the cherry and get all the theatre of popping the bottle and watching it foam into flutes. But it goes flat very quickly.
Gingerbread Mulled wine
- £3.79, 75cl, Aldi
- 3/5
GINGERBREAD and wine? That sounds like a classic Christmas combo.
I love Gingerbread and I love mulled wine, so I had high hopes for this combo.
For the price tag I was pretty happy – this does a decent job, rather like a subtle, lighter version of a normal mulled wine.
The ginger could be stronger but it is well put-together and balanced. Lovely warmed but nice cold too.
Marksologist Sloe Gin Sour
- £18, 50cl, M&S
- 4/5
SLOE gin is not just a retro drink to enjoy over the festive season, it’s historic!
It first became popular in the 18th Century when we began to add sugar and sloe berries from blackthorn bushes to homemade gins.
This cocktail version is lovely for parties.
Well balanced and textured with a lovely tang. It’s ready to drink – just pour in a posh glass. But a bit pricey.
Babycham Sparkling
- £3 for 4, Sainsbury’s
- 2/5
WHEN it comes to festive tipples it doesn’t get more retro than Babycham.
The little 200ml bottles of bubbles fit the brief perfectly for a sparkly bash.
OK, there are posher drinks and more sophisticated fizzes. But a Babycham is so nostalgic and fun that it’s guaranteed to make you ready to party!
It’s cheap as chips and will put a smile on your face.