19 December 2023 , 21:00
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Christmas is the perfect time for creamy liqueur type drinks, whether you have them neat or in cocktails, with Baileys leading the way for many of us as supermarkets discount it for the festive season. But chocoholics can find alternatives to the iconic cream liqueur courtesy of a surprising source this festive season, with Hotel Chocolat launching a wide range of flavours of chocolate creams.
The UK-based chocolatiers have become well-known for their best-selling Velvetiser gadget, a regular Christmas best-seller that makes silky smooth hot chocolates. But for fans who want a bit more of a kick to their sweet treats, the brand has also launched a range of Velvetised Chocolate Cream liqueurs for Christmas 2024, with flavours ranging from classic chocolate to salted caramel, mint and more.
As someone who has been stockpiling Baileys since Amazon reduced the price for Black Friday and who has reviewed both the lower calorie and mint versions of the Irish cream this year for Mirror Choice, I was intrigued to try four of the most popular Hotel Chocolat alternatives. What's more, they aren't difficult to track down, with them widely available not just through the firm's own website but in full size bottles and as gift sets both across the high street and online at Tesco, John Lewis, Very, Amazon and elsewhere this Christmas.
READ MORE:I put the new lower calorie Baileys head to head with the original and it's worth the swap
The first thing to say about the full range of Velvetised Cream is don't let the fact they look like milkshake confuse you. They all come with a vodka-based kick behind the creaminess that works out at 12% ABV for each flavour. Also, make sure you give them a really good shake before you pour them for maximise velvetiness - I forgot before my first try of the Salted Caramel and Mandarin version and the difference in thickness was noticeable.
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Overall, these were my impressions of the four flavours I tried:
Hotel Chocolat Chocolate Velvetised Cream
While I like a quirky flavour, starting with the standard chocolate cream felt like a sensible first step as the least complex flavour option. With Hotel Chocolat renowned for the quality of their cacao and ingredients there is really nowhere to hide here but frankly there is no need to. The chocolate flavour is rich and delicious and this is a drink that definitely tastes more chocolatey than of either cream or vodka. It means a little goes a long way - if you're the sort of person who can get through a whole box of chocolates in a sitting this is a perfect way to get an indulgent chocolate fix without needing to overindulge.
A measure of this over ice is a kind of grown up chocolate milk with a surprisingly complex depth of flavour and a richness that means you'd struggle to drink more than a glass at a time. For some it might feel a bit sickly - I didn't mind it but preferred the lighter flavours - but for chocoholics this is the perfect cream liqueur.
Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Velvetised Cream
If you have a sweet tooth then this is definitely the choice of the four flavours to try. As soon as you open the bottle you can smell the sweetness and both the scent and the taste has an echo of Caramac about it that is comforting and delicious.
As with all the velvetised creams, it's really noticeable that while you can taste the alcohol it's not got the bitter kick that I've had from some flavoured vodkas. It's smooth and delicious although definitely sweeter than perhaps you'd expect from a salted caramel.
Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel and Clementine Velvetised Cream
Don't let the name put you off, it's not too citrussy and while the clementine makes it feel very Christmassy it's more something you smell than taste.
What the clementine does do is cut through and take the edge off the sweetness of the salted caramel, so if you like salted caramel but are worried about the standalone version being too sweet then this is a great festive alternative.
This limited edition flavour is totally sold out online but shoppers on social media have been able to track it down in store so it's still worth a look.
Hotel Chocolat Espresso Martini Velvetised Cream
As a long-standing lover of Baileys I was not expecting to come out of this review adding anything to my Christmas cupboard alongside my usual liqueur stockpile but the Espresso Martini cream is something incredibly special and I've already bought a second bottle for sharing with guests this Christmas season.
Of all the bottles I uncapped, this one smelled most amazing when the scent hit you. It smells like coffee and has a real wow factor. When you taste it it's basically tiramisu in a glass - creamy, a little bit boozy and with a coffee kick that fills your nostrils as well as delighting your tastebuds.
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With so many different flavours of Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Creams available this Christmas there really is something for everyone, but this glass of pure joy is absolutely the flavour for me.
Final verdict
If you're looking for an alternative to Baileys this Christmas, the Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Cream range is a really good option and the Espresso Martini one in particular is a stand-out classic.
What's more, Hotel Chocolat's Amazon store not only has our Mirror Choice top pick, the Espresso Martini flavour, reduced from £23 to £17.75 but it's also still available to order in time for Christmas.