Mince Pie Appreciation

Was informed by my Dad that in Lincolnshire - where my family are from - eating mince pies outside of December is perfectly acceptable, but they are instead named a “Happy Month”.

Continuing my supermarket ratings...

M&S festive iced topped mince pies. These are quite nice. I really wanted a sugar hit - I think I'm coming down with a covid cold. They say feed a cold and feeding it mince pies counts as that, right? Filling has a nice tang to it and pretty sure it's the same as the other M&S ones. Pastry is quite acceptable. Not as sweet as I was expecting but that's ok. They're an absolute bastard to get out the foil tray, like the hardest I've ever come across.

My supermarket list so far (best to worst):

1. M&S classic all butter
   
2. Sainsbury's 6 straight-up no bullshit deep filled
   
3. M&S festive iced topped
   
4. Waitrose 9 mini all-butter (didn't like)
   

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Asda posh ones in the clear plastic tray look nice and deep but I can’t do it myself yet. All those miles losing a bit of weight and gaining fitness could be horribly undone once I start down this road

All those miles losing a bit of weight and gaining fitness could be horribly undone once I start down this road

I’m kind of the opposite. I’ve lost a bit too much weight this year due to reasons and mince pies are my exit plan!

Brandy Butter: most calorie dense substance known to man

Continuing my supermarket ratings..

The Morrisons run of the mill ones are quite nice, patterned pastry top, well filled.

Top Mincer goss: test pies have been spotted in the Pophams kitchen.

I don't have a Morrisons round here unfortunately. Next on my list will be Tesco, Lidl and Asda.

@dbr I love brandy butter!

Brandy butter is weird, I'm from the NW where its defacto to be on Brandy Sauce and Rum butter (so the other way around). Works way better IMO, but then been raised from a baby on high % Rum butter, christmas puddings and mince pies from the age of about 6 months, tis the way oop norf.

We've tested the Waitrose full sized all-butter, also not great - too sickly. Needed some sharpness in there.

Got a box of M&S Classic to crack open next, hoping for good things.

Ok M&S Classics are good - a classic mince pie - nothing particularly exciting about them, just a good balanced flavour, not overly sweet, and a nice design. A good benchmark.

Sainsbury's bakery puff pastry 4-pack
Ok, pastry was nice, filling passable but not enough of it.

Morrisons’ “The Best” (the 6 pack with star on top variety). Pastry too floury and loose. Filling very enjoyable though.

Tesco warning: their Finest ones are on special offer at £1 but you’ll need a Clubcard. Cunts.

Edit: not you, them. They’re cunts.

Continuing my supermarket ratings...

Waitrose Brown Butter Mince Pies with COURVOISIER VS Cognac IN SHOUTY CAPS. Holy cow these are good. Easy first place. Really good crumbly, good-tasting pastry with a generous sprinkle of sugar. Filling is fruity, sweet and tangy with a hint of booze but not excessive. Really good.

Waitrose 6 All Butter. Pretty close to the M&S ones, in my opinion, but the pastry was slightly better on the M&S ones. Maybe slightly less tang to the filling.

My supermarket list so far (best to worst):

1. Waitrose Brown Butter with COURVOISIER VS Cognac IN SHOUTY CAPS
   
2. M&S classic all butter
   
3. Waitrose 6 All Butter
   
4. Sainsbury's 6 straight-up no bullshit deep filled
   
5. M&S festive iced topped
   
6. Waitrose 9 mini all-butter (didn't like)
   

I appreciate that means I’m 5 days in and on my 6th box of mince pies, and we’re not into December yet.

you’ll need a Clubcard. Cunts.

Actual lol.

Enjoyed Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, very short pastry which is possibly a little too sweet, but otherwise very enjoyable.

Can we get a definitive league table set up?

You are a true dedicand to the cause sir.

This. We appreciate your efforts.

Got my first couple of Greggs' boxes - won't last long.

Bought the Waitrose brown butter ones now whilst they were on offer at £2.40. Still not touching until the 1st.

Continuing my supermarket ratings...

Tesco are holding up proceedings because I forgot my Clubcard again and I'm not prepared to pay over the odds.

M&S Collection mince pies in the gold box. These are like the model up from their Classic All Butter ones. The pastry is slightly nicer and has a kind of floral taste when you bite into it. The filling is slightly wetter and has noticeable booze. It is also quite tangy. Quite an enjoyable pie but not on the same level as that Waitrose brown butter one so I'm going to give them second place for now. Editing to add: These are better than the M&S All Butter, but I don't think they're better enough to merit the extra 70p per box.

My supermarket list so far (best to worst):

1. Waitrose Brown Butter with COURVOISIER VS Cognac IN SHOUTY CAPS
   
2. M&S Collection mince pies in the gold box
   
3. M&S Classic All Butter
   
4. Waitrose 6 All Butter
   
5. Sainsbury's 6 straight-up no bullshit deep filled
   
6. M&S festive iced topped
   
7. Waitrose 9 mini all-butter (didn't like)
   

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Are Waitrose still doing these Heston ones where you have to cook up a little packet of pine nuts to go on the top?