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CHEERS TO THAT

The Christmas tipples that cost MUCH less than big brand names – from fake Baileys to spiced rum

Some duplicates are up to 75 per cent cheaper than the better known versions

'TIS the season to be jolly - and you'll be even merrier after we reveal how to buy all your favourite Christmas tipples at a fraction of the price.

Budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl sell dupes of big-name brands such as Bailey's, Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum and Grey Goose vodka that cost much less.

 By heading to Aldi and Lidl, you can pick up own-brand versions of big-name brands including Bailey's, Captain Morgan and Grey Goose
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By heading to Aldi and Lidl, you can pick up own-brand versions of big-name brands including Bailey's, Captain Morgan and Grey Goose

Party guests won't be able to tell the difference once your tipples are poured into glasses, and swapping brands for supermarket copies could save you a lot.

Some duplicates are up to 75 per cent cheaper than the better known versions.

Most supermarkets sell own-brand rum, vodka, and Irish cream liqueur but Aldi and Lidl's dupes are almost always the cheapest.

We've found where you can buy the most well-known brands making popular Christmas tipples at the cheapest price - and how you can save even more by buying a duplicate from Aldi or Lidl.

Bailey's v Aldi Country Cream Liqueur

 Aldi's Ballycastle Irish Country Cream Liqueur is just £3.75 - £8.25 cheaper than a bottle of Bailey's from Tesco or Asda
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Aldi's Ballycastle Irish Country Cream Liqueur is just £3.75 - £8.25 cheaper than a bottle of Bailey's from Tesco or Asda

Bailey's - or Irish cream liqueur - is one of the best-loved tipples of the festive period.

But this creamy whisky-based drink, which has an ABV of 17 per cent, can be expensive.

The cheapest price we've found for a 70cl bottle is currently and, but it can cost up to £15 at some supermarkets.

There is a way to buy this drink at a much cheaper price.

Most supermarkets stock own-brand versions of Bailey's.

The cheapest duplicate we found is at Aldi, which stocks a very similar-looking bottle called Irish Country Cream Liqueur for £3.75 - a saving of £11.25, or 75 per cent.

But it has a lower ABV than Bailey's at 12 per cent.

  • Aldi Irish Country Cream Liqueur, £3.75 -

Captain Morgan Spiced Rum v Captain Cook's Spiced Rum

 Lidl's Captain Cook's Spiced Rum is up to £3.51 cheaper than a bottle of Captain Morgan which can cost £14
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Lidl's Captain Cook's Spiced Rum is up to £3.51 cheaper than a bottle of Captain Morgan which can cost £14

At this time of year, drinks often contain plenty of festive spices which is why spiced rum becomes very popular.

One of the biggest brands is Captain Morgan but a bottle can cost up to .

, slashing the price to £12.50.

But you can save even more money if you opt for an own-brand lookalike.

Lidl's Captain Cook's Spiced Rum and Aldi's Old Hopkins Spiced Rum not only look the same, they have the same 35 per cent ABV.

They cost just £10.49 - a saving of up to £3.51, or 25 per cent.

  • Aldi Old Hopkins Spiced Rum, £10.49 -
  • Lidl Captain Cook's Spiced Rum, £10.49 -

De Kuyper Cherry Brandy v Lidl Deluxe Cherry Brandy

 Lidl's Deluxe Cherry Brandy is £3.01 cheaper than a bottle of De Kuyper which costs £10 at Morrisons
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Lidl's Deluxe Cherry Brandy is £3.01 cheaper than a bottle of De Kuyper which costs £10 at Morrisons

Cherry brandy is one of those tipples that only comes out of the drinks cupboard at Christmas.

One of the biggest brands for the drink is De Kuyper and the cheapest bottle we could find was .

You can save even more money by shopping for an own-brand alternative, and Lidl has a bottle for £3.01 cheaper - a saving of 30 per cent.

It's Deluxe Cherry Brandy costs £6.99, and has the same ABV as a bottle of De Kuyper at 24 per cent.

  • Lidl Deluxe Cherry Brandy, £6.99 -

Grey Goose v Lidl French Grain Vodka

 Lidl's £14.99 French Grain Vodka looks very similar to a bottle of Grey Goose, which can cost up to £34.80
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Lidl's £14.99 French Grain Vodka looks very similar to a bottle of Grey Goose, which can cost up to £34.80

Vodka is the key ingredient in many festive cocktails that people will be making at home this Christmas.

Grey Goose is one of the best-known French vodka brands, but it can be pricey.

The cheapest we've found it for is but it can cost as much as £34.80 from online drinks retail 31Dover.com for a 70cl bottle.

Lidl sells an uncannily similar lookalike for much less though.

The bottle even has a bird on it, just like Grey Goose, and it's the same pale blue colour.

But at £14.99 for 70cl with a 40 per cent ABV, it's much cheaper.

Buying the knock-off tipple could save you up to £19.50, or 57 per cent.

  • Lidl French Grain Vodka, £14.99 -

Pennington's Gingerbread Liqueur v Lidl Hortus Gingerbread Gin Liqueur

 Gingerbread gin liqueur is very festive but it can cost you up to £24.95 for a posh bottle of Pennington's - or you could pay just £9.99 for a bottle from Lidl
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Gingerbread gin liqueur is very festive but it can cost you up to £24.95 for a posh bottle of Pennington's - or you could pay just £9.99 for a bottle from Lidl

Nothing is more festive than gingerbread, which is why gin-based liqueurs that taste of the Christmassy treat are so popular at this time of year.

There are plenty of artisan versions around, including one by Pennington's with an ABV of 21.5 per cent.

A bottle of Pennington's gingerbread liqueur can cost  and £24.95 depending on the shop.

But you can save up to £14.95, or 60 per cent, if you ditch the posh liqueur for Lidl's own-brand version.

The supermarket sells a 50cl bottle of Hortus Gingerbread Gin Liqueur for £9.99.

It's slightly less alcoholic than the Pennington's version with an ABV of 20 per cent but it is much cheaper.

  • Lidl Hortus Gingerbread Gin Liqueur, £9.99 -

How to find the cheapest deals

FOLLOW our tips and tricks to cut the costs of your shopping:

  • Find the cheapest online prices: Google Shopping is a good tool for finding the cheapest price - it searches a wide range of retailers of various sizes
  • Abandon online shopping baskets: Don't go straight to check-out after putting the items in your basket - it may tease retailers into giving you discount codes
  • Ask a site to negotiate a fee for you: If you're struggling to find a deal, Flubit is a free site that aims to negotiate discounts for you
  • Sign up to retailers' newsletters for big discounts: It sometimes means a percentage discount code, or a straight discount off your first shop
  • Check when stores discount groceries: Check with your local store when they discount food items that are about to expire - this is the perfect time to nab bargains

If you're feeling the pinch over Christmas, you can still create a feast on a budget.

We've rounded up the best party food deals on offer this week.

We've also put together a guide to the cheapest desserts on offer at the moment too.

Meanwhile Aldi is selling a Christmas dinner for two with all the trimmings for just £8.99.

Check out Aldi's recipe for a festive twist on the classic cocktail


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