I’ve tested popular Aldi Christmas dupes and the branded versions – I was surprised, but some just can’t be beat

With Christmas just days away, most of us are stocking up on our festive goodies.

It’s good news for Aldi shoppers, as the discounter is selling a whole host of cost-cutting dupes of all the big name brands you love.

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Aldi is famous for making duplicates of popular products and selling them at bargain prices.

From perfume to gin, the discounter has made its own version of practically everything you can imagine.

Earlier this month we shared 11 Aldi dupes that can save you 45% on your purchases.

Now I’ve put some of the most popular dupes to the test.

Each of the Aldi products was compared to the branded equivalent.

I compared them for taste and looks, also taking into account the price differences at the time.

Sparkling gin

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Shoppers went wild for M&S’s gin glitter snow globes last year, with stores selling out and buy limits imposed to meet demand.

Then, when Aldi released their own version for £6 less, it caused quite a stir as the pair went bottle to bottle.

But this year the supermarket has released three new bottle designs, each with a barrage of 23-karat gold flakes.

I tried the Infusionist 23ct Gold Flake Blueberry And Blackberry Flavored Gin Liqueur 50cl which costs £13.99.

I’ve compared this to M&S’s Spiced Sugar Plum Light up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur, which is currently on sale at £10 instead of £15.

When you first sniff it, the Aldi bottle smells fresh and fruity, while the one from M&S smells much stronger.

To me, the M&S bottle is a lot more festive, but that’s partly because it glows.

I also like how the festive scene is printed on it to really give you a snow globe feel.

Aldi’s design is of course very festive and unique, but you can’t really see the glitter either.

In terms of taste, the sweetness from Aldi with blueberry and blackberry flavor ensures a real drinking pleasure.

Although the two have the same ABV of 20%, M&S was a bit too strong for me, I think I’ll need some tonic to add next time.

But it was definitely enjoyable and a more Christmassy flavor.

shell chocolate

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Next up are these delicious Chocolate Shells – a reduced version of the popular Guylian chocolate.

Chocolate lovers can buy Moser Roth Belgian Chocolate Shells from Aldi for £2.69 for a 250g box.

This would save you £2.81 when buying a branded product of the same size from Tesco for £5.50.

At first glance, Guylian definitely looks smarter than Aldi’s dupe.

The lid of the box opens on a hinge, while the Aldi Chocs sit on a pull-out tray.

Both chocolate sets look remarkably similar, so much so that I’m not sure you’d notice if you swapped a few for the other.

Each individual shell-shaped treat is filled with praline and coated in chocolate.

In terms of taste, I preferred the branded chocs because of the slightly richer and creamier taste of the hazelnut praline filling.

But like I said, there was hardly anything in it and they both tasted similar.

Irish cream liqueurs

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After all, it’s everyone’s favorite cream liqueur.

Baileys is a festive season essential for most homes, but it can end up costing a lot.

Luckily Aldi sells its own version called Specially Selected Luxury Edition Irish Cream Liqueur and a 70cl bottle (17% ABV) is just £7.99.

I tested this against the original Baileys (also 17%) bought from Tesco.

I was only able to grab a liter but a 70cl bottle is £15.75 in the supermarket.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s and Asda are currently charging £13 a liter.

On the first pour, Baileys is thicker and Aldi’s is a little waterier.

Baileys has a very distinct rich smell that makes me eager to sip, but Aldi’s also has an appealing scent.

For flavor, I think Baileys has it a bit over the top, but they’re pretty close.

And for over half the price of the branded bottle, Aldi is certainly a worthy alternative.

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