I tried the liqueur on its own and was pleasantly surprised. It didn't taste too much of alcohol, more a sweet drink. Marks and Spencer’s version arrived on the scene a few years ago, with shoppers desperate to get their hands on the stunning bottle - and others going as far as to collect all the different flavours to create a collection. When you press the light underneath, the bottle glows a glorious bronze/gold colour - with the light reflecting off the flakes. If you want to take your Gilded Gin experience to the next level, the brand also sells some exceptionally opulent glasses encrusted with gold diamante. The one thing I did think would improve the aesthetic appeal of the bottle is the colour of the light; it's quite a harsh orange shade that isn’t as soft as the M&S one.

To make it fair, I sampled the gin straight, as well as with lemonade (my choice of mixer). When it was straight the clementine taste was strong, however I still wouldn't be able to drink it straight. It is once again the battle of Marks & Spencer and Aldi. We all know the saga surrounding Colin and Cuthbert the Caterpillars. The shiny star, or in this case, Christmas Tree, or the product, was the design of the bottle, in the centre stood a glass Christmas Tree surrounded by floating gold flakes. READ MORE: We tried Christmas candles from Marks and Spencer, Yankee & Home Bargains but only one scored top marks

Seashell chocolates

However, I wanted to go into this tasting with an open mind so tried my best to leave previous encounters with Sloe Gin behind. Read more: I tried mince pies from Sainsbury's, Aldi, Tesco, M&S, Morrisons and Waitrose - and there was a clear winner

On first taste, Aldi’s own Sole Gin was very warming on its own, with one member of my ‘gin team’ describing it as the “perfect spirit to warm up the bones”. Adding the liqueur to tonic water, I thought it tasted nice, however, a member of the Gin Team said it would taste nicer with some Prosecco, but sadly, there was none nearby. The bottle’s dome shape gives it the illusion of a snow globe, but it's the tiny gold flakes floating about that really sell it. I remember seeing last years versions adorned with trees, snow and reindeers. This year, it does feature Santa's sleigh and reindeers flying over mountains. The bottle glows a golden colour once you switch on the light. I did like how there was two settings here, a constant glow and a flashing light. Changed it up slightly.On its own, I wasn’t a big fan of the clementine taste and thought the cranberry could have been stronger. I popped the cork in the bottle and I immediately the sweet smell of clementine's hits you. Gin is my choice of tipple, however one thing that could put you off is the strong smell. But this was much different. Both would make great Christmas gifts however - and I can see them being popular once again this year. The gin tasted better and the bottle was much more striking. The design on the bottle was a lot more festive too - and would make a great Christmas decoration once finished. Our customers have confidence in our products because they trust our quality and sourcing standards, so we will always seek to protect our reputation for freshness, quality, innovation and value – and protect our customers from obvious copies.”

Classic gin botanicals such as juniper, angelica root and citrus peel are used in Gilded Gin, but elderflower and Valencian clementine stand out. Of course, the gold flakes also stand out, but don’t do much in terms of flavor and are truly there for your aesthetic pleasure.This year, Marks and Spencer's Light Up Snow Globe Gin Liqueur has been more popular than ever, and where M&S go, Aldi tends to follow. Yes, the budget retailer now has its own version, and of course it comes with an Aldi price tag. But they are small and right at the bottom of the bottle. You can hardly notice them. Going on looks, M&S was winning slightly here. Everyone loves a drink at Christmas, so I decided to put two bottles of the gins to the test. To keep it fair, I tried both clementine flavours to see which really was the best. Per the brand, Gilded Gin is best enjoyed with “soda water and a slice of orange or alternatively Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic.” Yum.