For lots of us, Baileys is an essential Christmas tipple and the perfect mixture of rich, sweet, milkiness with a warming whisky kick. But makers Diageo are keen to ensure it's not just a wintry treat, launching a host of different flavours to tempt shoppers all year round.
The limited edition Baileys Colada is currently back on supermarket shelves across the country for 2023 while stocks last, much to the joy of fans of the coconut and pineapple flavoured drink.
But when considering a Baileys for spring it was a lesser-known new flavour that caught my eye.
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Baileys Deliciously Light contains 40% less sugar and 40% fewer calories than the iconic Original but, according to the makers, has all the classic ingredients - including cream, Irish whisky, cocoa and vanilla - and the same delicious flavour.
How is that even possible? I wasn't sure but - for science - I was willing to test out their claims by putting the two versions head to head.
Look
Having poured a generous measure of both over ice - I know people like a Baileys hot chocolate or a funky cocktail but I am a purist at heart - I peered at them up close and was impressed to find they look virtually identical.
At first glance, the Original seemed a little darker and the Light version a little, well, lighter. But you could only really see the difference if you really got down to compare the meniscus levels (I'm not sure my GCSE science teacher would ever have expected me to use that concept in this context), as you can see in the photo above.
But both Baileys look as appetising as usual and, more imporantly, exactly how you'd expect the iconic drink to look over ice.
Verdict: Negligible difference unless you've got a magnifying glass out - which feels like unnecessary faff all things considered.
Smell
For me, Baileys is one of the smells of Christmas.
It evokes memories of late nights present wrapping, usually while good naturedly re-visiting the annual marital debate over whether Christmas stocking presents should be wrapped (spoiler: of course they should).
Twisting open the cap of the Lighter version you get a hit of the same slightly sweet scent with a vanilla-ish edge. Comparing it with the bottle of Original from my cupboard it's completely indistiguishable.
Verdict: No difference.
Taste
It's a tough job and I've put it off for long enough but it's time to compare the most important factor - the taste.
The whisky flavour of the alcohol in the Deliciously Light version leaves a slightly longer and stronger warmth than the Original, to the extent I'm a bit surprised when I check the bottle and see it's actually got slightly less alcohol in it (16.1% ABV compared to 17% in the original).
The other main difference is in terms of consistency. They're both smooth and delicious but the Light version is a little thinner than the Original. Not enough to be off-putting and it's not like it tastes watery or anything, but there is a definite difference there, although it actually made the Light feel slightly more drinkable in warmer weather.
Verdict: If you're a fan of the thick consistency of the Original then the Light version might feel a bit less luxurious, particularly if you drink it simply over ice when the difference is more noticeable. If you're making cocktails or putting it in hot chocolates though you'd not notice the difference at all.
Final Verdict
If you're the sort of person for whom Baileys is a must-buy and no dupe will do but you're looking to be a little healthier, then Baileys Deliciously Light is the ideal choice.
A 50ml glass of Baileys usually contains 153 calories but the Deliciously Light version clocks in at under 100 calories for the same amount. With the differences between the two products being so very slight, for me it's absolutely worth the swap.
What's more, if you're comparing identically sized 70cl bottles, Baileys Original and Deliciously Light are both currently £16.50 meaning you're not even out of pocket switching for the slightly better-for-you version, although if you're a Clubcard customer right now you can get £4.50 off the Original flavour at Tesco. Meanwhile, if you fancy trying even more flavours of Baileys, The Bottle Club is offering a free 5cl Orange Baileys mini with every purchase of 70cl Baileys on their site while stocks last.
All in all, you can keep your Colada, for me the star of Baileys' new line-up is definitely the Deliciously Light. Just remember to always drink responsibly.
