Which summer time drink dupes are simply pretty much as good as the true factor?
When doing the weekly shop in these straitened times, I’ve grown accustomed to scanning the shelves for reliable ‘own brand’ alternatives to cupboard staples such as Heinz ketchup or Weetabix.
As a wine and spirits expert, I’ve even dabbled in finding ‘dupes’ for favourite wines that come at a regrettably inaccessible price point, reading labels closely to find a bottle with a vaguely corresponding flavour profile.
But, I confess, I’ve never dreamed of doing the same when it comes to my favourite spirit drinks – despite a proliferation of cheekily blatant, just-about-legally-acceptable versions of popular tipples.
The problem is that although it’s easy for a cheaper manufacturer to conjure up a label that looks the part, when it comes to tasting the part, if botanicals are used these drinks have the potential to go a little wonky.
In some cases, imitating the quality of a good liqueur brand really isn’t possible. Trust me – while your wallet might thank you, your head certainly won’t!
So, can you bag a decent bargain version of the summer’s coolest drinks? I fearlessly put them to the test against the originals…
A PROPER SUMMER SIPPER
Pimms (£19) Vs… The Great Summer Cup, £8.50, asda.com
Pimms, £19, and The Great Summer Cup, £8.50, sold at Asda
In all honesty, I was not expecting great things given the cheap-looking packaging and the super-low price point of this Asda version, but how wrong I was.
Packing a punch at 21.9% ABV, this stylish sipper is very similar to Pimms with just a tad more strawberry sweetness. Just decant it and hide the bottle. Perfect for parties, if the sun ever comes out.
5/5
APERITIVO JUST LIKE APEROL
Aperol Aperitivo, £17, and Bitterol Aperitivo, £6.49, sold at Lidl, in-store only
Aperol Aperitivo (£17) Vs… Bitterol Aperitivo, £6.49, Lidl, in-store only
In look and feel, Bitterol is unashamedly mimicking the famous Italian Aperitivo, but it does a really good job – especially when you consider that this drink is normally mixed anyway, so imperfections are hidden.
With natural bitters, orange oil and quinine and the same booze level as Aperol at 11 per cent, it’s almost identical in flavour profile.
4/5
ELEGANT ORANGE GIN
Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Orange Gin, £28, and M&S Distilled Seville Orange Gin, £19, sold in store and online at Ocado
Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Orange Gin (£28) Vs… M&S Distilled Seville Orange Gin, £19, ocado.com
Just putting the word ‘Seville’ in front of ‘orange’ does magical things to it, evoking scent memories of warm, southern Spanish holidays and fragrant blossoms.
The Tanqueray version is great but M&S have also captured that elegantly complex Seville orange sensation complete with subtle floral and green leaf notes. Mixed with Mediterranean tonic, it’s a winner.
4/5
A RUM IDEA
Captain Morgan Tiki Mango & Pineapple Rum-based drink, £18.50, and Old Hopking Mango & Pineapple Rum, £11.85, sold in-store at Aldi
Captain Morgan Tiki Mango & Pineapple Rum-based drink (£18.50) Vs… Old Hopking Mango & Pineapple Rum, £11.85, Aldi, in-store only
Sometimes, you wonder why companies do dupes of certain products in the first place.
Such is the case with the Captain’s confected, synthetic, overly simple ‘spirit drink’ that has almost nothing to do with rum whatsoever.
Old Hopking has copied it well – better some might say as the rum note is stronger and its more concentrated, so it gets points for that.
2/5
DON’T SKIMP ON TOP TEQUILA
818 Tequila Blanco, £45, and Sierra Tequila Silver, £18, on sale at Iceland
818 Tequila Blanco (£45) Vs… Sierra Tequila Silver, £18, iceland.co.uk
There’s a reason why premium sipping tequila is so expensive; trading up really does make a huge difference when it comes to your drinking experience and how you’ll feel afterwards.
Despite being made, apparently, with 100 per cent Blue Weber Agave, the cheaper option here, Sierra, describes itself as ‘one feisty formula’ – and it is: nail varnish, muddy, harsh alcohol burn.
A Margarita mix will help a bit but in all honesty, avoid.
1/5
Whispering Angel, £19.50, and Chassaux et Fils, Atlantique Rosé, £6.99, at Aldi
WHISPER IT – THIS WORKS
Whispering Angel (£19.50) Vs… Chassaux et Fils, Atlantique Rosé, £6.99, aldi.co.uk
Whispering Angel ticks so many boxes for a go-to, premium tipple: Provence, tick! Gorgeous packaging, tick! Evocative name, tick!
The wine is pretty good too, although the taste has changed as it has expanded, with some saying it’s not the wine it was.
Enter Atlantique, with its eye-catching bottle. It’s from a lesser-known part of the south-west Coast but you still get ripe strawberry fruit with a refreshing saline tang. For flavour to value it’s unbeatable.
5/5
