I tried supermarkets’ own-brand bourbon creams – the winner shocked me and is 40% cheaper than McVitie’s

BOURBON creams are a household favourite, often found as a staple in the bottom on a biscuit tin.

But with rising food prices – can you save money by downshifting to a supermarket own-brand version?

Gary Stone

We tried supermarkets’ own-brand bourbon creams and compared them to McVitie’s[/caption]

Knowing which are the best products to downshift on can be tricky though, so we’ve done some of the hard work for you.

We tried McVitie’s bourbon creams and seven supermarket own-brand lines to see how they compared. This is what we found:

Lidl

• Price – 39p
• Price per 100g – 18.5p

Gary Stone

Lidl’s bourbon creams packaging wasn’t the most pleasant to look at[/caption]

Lidl‘s bourbon creams were crunchy on first bite and started melting in my mouth within seconds.

The sweetness of the biscuits was offset nicely by the buttercream filling too, which had a velvety texture.

They overall texture and taste of the biscuits was rich and chocolate, while just about having the right level of bitterness to them.

Price-wise, they were, as you would expect, the cheapest out of all eight varieties I tried.

• Texture and flavour – 7/10
• Price – 9/10
• Overall – 16/20

Sainsbury’s

• Price – 43p
• Price per 100g – 22p

Gary Stone

Sainsbury’s bourbons came out middle of the pack in terms of price and flavour[/caption]

Sainsbury’s own-brand products usually hold up well in taste tests so I was expecting its bourbon creams to score competitively.

And while their texture was crunchy and the biscuits held together well, flavour-wise they were a big let down.

Overall they were cheap-tasting, almost like the budget chocolate you get at Christmas.

In terms of price, they came out middle of the pack, costing 22p per 100 grams.

• Texture and flavour – 5/10
• Price – 6/10
• Overall – 11/20

M&S

• Price – 50p
• Price per 100g – 28.6p

Gary Stone

M&S is definitely trying to offer customers something different with its bourbons[/caption]

M&S’ bourbon creams say they are “extra” creamy so I was expecting a much more chocolatey biscuit compared to the others.

Their shape was much more square than the seven others I tried too, but flavour-wise they weren’t as good as they were hyped up to be.

While there was noticeably more buttercream filling in them than the others, the biscuit was too brittle and sandy.

The overall flavour was too far flung from what I’ve come to except from a classic bourbon biscuit too.

M&S has clearly tried to do something a bit different here, but they weren’t to my taste.

They were the second most expensive per 100 grams out of all eight varieties I tried too.

• Texture and flavour – 5/10
• Price – 4/10
• Overall – 9/20

McVitie’s

• Price – £1
• Price per 100g – 33p

Gary Stone

McVitie’s bourbons were the most expensive per 100g out of all eight varieties we tried[/caption]

Up next were the branded McVitie’s bourbon creams which came speckled with sugar granules on the top.

The initial rush of flavour was a bit bland for my liking but after a few seconds the richness of the buttercream starting to fill my mouth.

The texture of the biscuit was matched only by Lidl and Asda too, seeing them score well in that respect.

But they did come out the most expensive of all eight varieties, at 33p per 100 grams.

• Texture and flavour – 6/10
• Price – 3/10
• Overall – 9/20

Morrisons

• Price – 65p
• Price per 100g – 22p

Gary Stone

Morrisons’ bourbons came in funky purple wrapping[/caption]

Morrisons were next on the list and again, they came with a nice light dusting of sugar on the top.

The biscuit was a bit acerbic for me on first taste though, but after a few seconds the buttercream made the overall flavour more sweet.

But taking everything into consideration, I found them a bit too harsh and rich on the palette.

Price-wise, a pack set us back 65p, meaning they were middle of the pack in terms of cost.

• Texture and flavour – 6/10
• Price – 6/10
• Overall – 12/20

Waitrose

• Price – 90p
• Price per 100g – 22.5p

Gary Stone

Waitrose’s bourbons came in a larger pack, costing 22.5p per 100 grams[/caption]

I was expecting a decent showing from Waitrose with it being one of the posher supermarket’s on the high street.

But upon first bite the buttercream had an almost plasticky flavour which overpowered the sugary biscuit.

Their texture was solid though and they didn’t break apart in my hands.

Despite the bourbons being from the Essentials range, they were the third most expensive out of all eight I tried though.

• Texture and flavour – 6/10
• Price – 5/10
• Overall – 11/20

WINNER! Asda

• Price – 58p
• Price per 100g – 19.3p

Gary Stone

Winner of the taste test was undoubtedly Asda, whose creams stood above the others[/caption]

I wasn’t expecting big things from Asda’s bourbon creams, as they haven’t come through with shining colours in other taste tests.

But wow, I was pleasantly surprised and didn’t think one supermarket’s bourbon cream could taste so different to another’s.

The biscuit and cream made for a super creamy combination without too much of a bitter kick.

They were tough enough that they didn’t break apart in my hands too, while staying light and softening up after a few chews.

Out of all the supermarkets, Asda’s bourbon creams definitely stood out in terms of flavour. And price as well, with them coming out second cheapest out of all eight packs.

• Texture and flavour – 9/10
• Price – 8/10
• Overall – 17/20

Tesco

• Price – 62p
• Price per 100g – 21p

Gary Stone

Tesco customers will pay 61p for a large pack of the retailer’s bourbon creams[/caption]

Tesco‘s own-brand variety left me feeling a bit flat due to their overall bland flavour.

The biscuit was the driest out of all eight varieties I tried too.

Price-wise they were third cheapest, coming behind Asda and Lidl.

• Texture and flavour – 6/10
• Price – 7/10
• Overall – 13/20

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