Latest news with #ocado.com
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I tried supermarket Aperol dupes – my £7 winner tastes exactly the same and makes the perfect summer cocktail
Scroll down to find out how to bag a bargain PUTTING ON THE SPRITZ I tried supermarket Aperol dupes – my £7 winner tastes exactly the same and makes the perfect summer cocktail IF there's one drink that embodies summer, it's the Aperol Spritz. And with temperatures set to soar in the UK, now is the time to pour yourself a tangy, crisp and refreshing, tangerine-tinted aperitif. 8 Consumer journalist, Lynsey Hope, put Aperol dupes to the test A bottle of the original tipple will now set you back around £18 depending on where you shop. So, of course, the high-price tag has prompted some supermarkets to introduce their own, cheaper versions. But are they going to hit the spot on a sunny day? Aperol Aperitivo Italian Spritz (70cl) 8 Aperol Aperitivo Italian Spritz was not Lynsey's favourite £17.65, ABV: 11 per cent At nearly £18, this market-leading aperitif is the priciest on my list but if you stick to the recommended measurements you will get 20 servings out of it, so I still didn't think it was too bad in terms of value for money. It has that distinctive luminous orange colour and I very much enjoyed my tipple. It has a more natural and herbaceous taste than some of the 'dupes', which I enjoyed. Worth mentioning also that it's fairly low on booze with an ABV of 11 per cent. Fragrant and moreish - but surprisingly, it wasn't my favourite. Taste: 5/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 8/10 Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Orange Spritz Aperitif (75cl) 8 Lynsey thought Sainsbury's version was refreshing ABV: 8 per cent £6.50, Light and easy to drink, I found this refreshing and very easy to knock back on a summer's day. I tested all the supermarket Aperol knock-offs and the best was a THIRD of the price of real thing It was much fizzier than the big brand and whilst I enjoyed the taste, it did have a slightly bitter aftertaste. It's not as boozy as the original but it's over £11 cheaper so a very wallet-friendly tipple AND a bigger bottle." Taste: 3/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 7/10 Lidl Bitterol (70cl) 8 The Lidl Bitterol Aperitivo scored the highest £6.99, ABV: 11 per cent An almost exact copy of the original Aperol. It has the same glowing, blood-orange huge and a same 11ABV. Made up into the classic Spritz cocktail, the taste really hits the spot, with the familiar rhubarb, fruity and woody notes that sit somewhere between sweet and sharp in the glass. Served over ice with prosecco and soda, it's really hard to tell the difference between this and the original - except at the till where it's less than half the price. Definitely worth stocking up for summer. Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 10/10 Aldi Aperini Aperitivo Spritz (75cl) 8 Aldi's drink was a close competitor £4.29, ABV: 6.9 per cent One sip of this and I very nearly thought I was drinking the real deal. It's not as boozy with a low 6.9 ABV and the orange colour is much lighter. It was quite sugary and the texture was a little more syrupy than the others. But it had the full and vibrant taste of the branded drink. Loved the bursts of citrus and rhubarb. It's only a little over £4 - amazing value. Taste: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 9/10 Casa Savoia Americano Rosso (50cl) 8 The Savoia Americano Rosso is more expensive than the original £22.25, ABV: 18.6 per cent It's more expensive than the original but this comes in a super pretty bottle and would make a lovely gift. It's mixed so you only need to add the prosecco and ice to make your aperitif. It can also be used to make negronis if you prefer. The bitter sweet flavours are perfectly balanced with notes of bitter orange, cassia, cinnamon, rhubarb and a whole host of other botanicals. Really enjoyed this and nice that it's so versatile. It's not a big bottle and I definitely would have liked more of it. Taste: 5/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 8/10 M&S Low Alcohol Aperitivo (50cl) 8 M&S offers a low alcohol alternative £13, ABV: 0.5 per cent For a low alcohol alternative, I really enjoyed this. It had subtle flavours of juniper, pink pepper, coriander, cinnamon and lavender. The flavours were quite smoky and it wasn't overly sweet like many of the low alcohol drinks on offer. Refreshing, with a hint of vanilla. Loved this with soda or low-alcohol Prosecco. Taste: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 6/10 Tesco Spritzi Aperitivo Blood Orange (75cl) 8 Tesco offers an affordable price point £5, ABV: 8.4 per cent A zesty white wine-based drink which is pre-mixed so you don't have the faff of mixing it up on your own. It's quite aromatic with floral notes but more subtle in flavour than the Aperol. It was missing a bit of juiciness and a bit of punch and I thought it tasted artificially sweet. A good price at Tesco though and a decent helping of booze. Taste: 3/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 7/10
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Our wine expert reveals the best bank holidays toasts, including a £9 'revolutionary' white wine sold in a aluminium bottle
This week's bank holiday picks are all about on-trend drinks that add flair and fun for hosts and guests alike. I'm excited to share a new 750ml aluminium-bottled wine from an innovative UK brand, a spicy margarita that gives Soho House's Picante a run for its money, and a thirst-quenching Austrian white that doesn't take itself too seriously. And for anyone craving something a little more classic, a Provence pink that always hits the mark. Moth Spicy Margarita (14.9%), 125ml, £4.10, Here's the chilli glow-up we've all been waiting for. If you like your margs quick and spicy, this new can delivers a hot, zingy kick on cue. £4.10 Shop
The Sun
23-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
I tested cheap supermarket drain unblockers – a £2 buy beat Mr Muscle and worked immediately
MOST households have suffered a blocked drain at some point, especially residents who have long hair or live in older homes. However, even the toughest blockages can be dissolved quickly if you pick the right drain unblocker. 10 Saving you time or the cost of a plumber, most of these solutions use a mix of chemicals that can quickly break down clogs caused by hair, grease, soap and food waste and get your water flowing again. We put a range of drain cleaners to the test to find out which ones do the job and are worth your time and money. Mr Muscle Drain Gel (500ml) £3.75, I tested this on a kitchen sink that was quite blocked with grease, food particles and washing up liquid causing it to drain quite slowly. Enter Mr Muscle, a potent formula made which is made up of caustic soda and bleach so it can dissolve fat and oils quickly. After about 15 minutes I could see it was foaming and after flushing it out with hot water, the drain was clear. It does have a very strong smell so it's best to ventilate the room whilst using it. If you are sensitive or prefer a mix that is kinder to the environment, this might not be for you. This one is very pricey, too. Peformance: 5/5 Value: 2/5 Overall score: 7/10 Drain Unblocker Gel by Asda (500ml) £1.88, An excellent price from Asda, this is the cheapest unblocker I could find. You can leave it for 15 minutes or overnight for tough blockages before rinsing away. Initially, I thought it had worked well on a clogged up bathroom sink and for a couple of days the water was flowing away quickly again. However, within a week, it appeared clogged again and I had to use a second treatment so I'm not sure it was the best value for money. Performance: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Overall score: 6/10 I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1) Tesco Sink and Drain Unblocker (500ml) £2.25. The Tesco solution worked quickly, clearing a blocked sink in just 15 minutes. For tougher blockages, you could leave it overnight. The smell wasn't too overpowering and it's suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms. It got the job done, quickly and easily, with minimal effort on my part. This one is also reasonably priced for the quality. Performance: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Overall score: 9/10 Sink and Plughole Unblocker by Sainsbury's (500ml) - WINNER £2, This fast-acting formula from Sainsbury's was impressive. It's designed for use in bathrooms and kitchens and managed to unclog simple build-ups in just 15 minutes. Compared to many of the other products, it was fairly gentle on the nose and I didn't suffer any irritation after using it. My bathroom sink had been draining very slowly for some time but when I poured this in, I could see it was bubbling away and it worked. It worked just as well on kitchen sink grease as it did getting rid of hair clogs in the bathroom. A solid all-rounder, a great price, and now a must have in my cleaning cupboard. Performance: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 10/10 Stardrops Sink and Drain Unblocker (500ml) £2, This one worked in a very similar way to the Sainsbury's unblocker and the ingredients look the same. The bottle is virtually identical in every way. It performed well, producing a satisfying gurgle as I poured it down the drain and I could see it was bubbling away. It took around an hour to clear clogs and when I left it overnight, all clogs vanished completely. Performance: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 9/10 Elbow Grease Drain Unblocker (750ml) £2, You get a bigger bottle here for your £2, but that didn't make the solution any more effective. It cut through standing water and quickly reached the blockage, fizzing away. It did ease the blockage but it didn't entirely clear it, even if left overnight. It's not suitable for pouring down toilets or septic tanks. The instructions recommend using half a bottle every week - I'd rather only pay out for these once in a while. Performance: 2/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 5/10 Buster Unblocker Bathroom (300ml) £4, This Buster unblocker is specifically designed to combat common bathroom clogs including hair, soap scum, shower oils, toothpaste residue and the like. The first thing that hit me was the potent smell - it's very strong. It's also a smaller bottle, containing just 300ml fluid, so I was sceptical if there was enough to make a difference. I left it for half an hour before rinsing with hot water but the concentrated formula had worked. The drain was clear and there was no need for a second treatment. Buster also offers a money back guarantee if it doesn't get the job done. Performance: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 8/10 Cillit Bang Drain Hair Unblocker (1litre) £4.50, Another product designed specifically to tackle hair blockages and soap scum. It fizzed away, getting rid of hair from the shower drain, and seemed to perform ok. The clogs did reappear after a few weeks so I'm not convinced its the best value on offer, although you don't have to use the full litre each time. It's handy that you can order this one on Amazon. Performance: 3/5 Value: 2/5 Total score: 5/10 Lidl W5 Drain Cleaner Gel (1 litre) £3.09 Lidl's drain cleaner is quite powerful, containing chlorine-based cleaning agents. As a result, it smells quite potent so you'll need to ventilate the room whilst using this product. It's great value for a big bottle and even half of it did a good job of clearing stubborn blockages. The chemicals and smell probably mean it's not the best eco-friendly choice but if you are struggling with blockages, this is very powerful and works a treat. Incredible value - goes to show buying a big brand doesn't always mean they perform better. Performance: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Overall score: 9/10
