Tesco's 'better than Baileys' award-winning drink now cheaper in special deal

North Wales Live

03-07-2025

For those who savour the luxury of a smooth, creamy Irish cream on a long summer evening, there's an alternative to the classic Baileys that our shopping editor highly recommends - and it's currently on offer at Tesco.
Coole Swan, the award-winning Irish cream liqueur, is now available for just £20 in selected Tesco stores with a Tesco Clubcard, down from its usual price of £26.50. That's a saving of £6.50 on a drink that some enthusiasts describe as ' like Baileys, but better. ' It's also cheaper than Amazon's current price of £25.95.
Made with single-malt Irish whiskey, Belgian white chocolate, and fresh dairy cream from the brand's family farm in Ireland, Coole Swan is a true celebration of high-quality ingredients and meticulous blending. In fact, one customer described it as being in a 'different league' to other drinks.
It's not just shoppers singing its praises - the drink has also won prestigious awards, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and being named the #1 Irish cream liqueur by Tasting Table, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In addition to glowing reviews from customers and numerous awards, our shopping editor Narin Flanders also endorses it. She tested it alongside Baileys, a long-time favourite.
Narin commented: "Putting the two glasses next to each other, it's easy to see one of the key differences in ingredients reflected in the colour of the glorious nectars. Coole Swan's Belgian white chocolate origins give it a lighter colour than Baileys' rumoured milk chocolate blend. You'd imagine that Coole Swan, being white chocolate-based, would taste sweeter, but to my surprise - and possibly due to the strength of the malt -it tasted more mellow, smoother, and had less of an initial kick.
"While I love Baileys, for me, the taste comes in stages - you have the initial sweet scent and then the first hit of warmth when you swallow, and then it's eased by the cream that extinguishes the fire. Coole Swan has all of the same elements, but somehow they blend in a way where you get them all simultaneously - there's no fiery undertone and no sweet hit; it's just all beautifully, perfectly balanced from the first sip."
Narin further added: "Both drinks have a similar alcohol volume - Baileys is 17% while Coole Swan is 16% ABV - but Coole Swan feels less boozy, making it drinkable to the point of moreish. But for me, there's one thing that makes Coole Swan a next-level Irish cream choice and worth the slightly more expensive price tag."
There are, however, plenty of other alternatives available. Hotel Chocolat's Espresso Martini flavoured vodka liqueur (£23), for instance, has been likened to a liquid tiramisu. Micil Connemara Irish Cream Liqueur is another option, although slightly more expensive at £27.67.
As for Coole Swan, it has garnered over 1,200 reviews and a remarkable 4.7-star average rating on Amazon. Tesco customers have also given the liqueur an impressive 4.7-star rating out of five. One delighted customer praised its quality, saying: "This is so beautiful, creamy and a better class of liqueur. Move over, Baileys, there's a new drink in town."
On the other hand, one shopper found it too sweet, commenting: "Nice drink but too sweet."
Another reviewer raved about the liqueur, stating: "The most delicious Irish cream liqueur I have ever tasted. Creamy, luxuriously smooth and very moreish. The taste of alcohol is not overwhelming either, which I find with Baileys and other Irish creams. Don't think I could go back to anything else after trying this; the only downside is the price."