Who is this for?

Hosts sharing biscuits during the football

If several people will be reaching for the packet, compare pack weight and any stated biscuit count. Waitrose & Partners lists approximately 30 biscuits in its 400g Essential Bourbon Creams pack.

Shoppers who specifically want dark chocolate

Check for an explicit dark-chocolate description rather than judging a bourbon by its dark biscuit colour. A labelled dark-chocolate digestive is an alternative if the chocolate type matters more to you than the bourbon format.

Guests with dietary requirements

Check the exact pack before serving. Tesco labels its Bourbon Creams suitable for vegans but notes wheat and possible sesame; M&S Food’s milk-chocolate-coated bourbon contains milk, wheat and soya.

What matters when choosing?

Decide whether the biscuit must be a bourbon or must contain dark chocolate, then compare pack size and the details that matter to your guests.

Priority What to check Your needs
Chocolate type Look for an explicit dark-chocolate description. If cocoa solids are stated, check which chocolate component the figure describes: M&S Food specifies at least 28% cocoa solids for its milk-chocolate coating, not a dark-chocolate coating. If I specifically want dark chocolate, I would choose a biscuit labelled that way rather than assume a dark-looking bourbon qualifies.
Pack size Compare pack weights and stated biscuit counts. Waitrose & Partners lists 400g and approximately 30 biscuits for Essential Bourbon Creams; Tesco lists a 296g Bourbon Creams pack. For several people watching, I want enough biscuits to share without treating pack weight as an exact serving count.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredient and allergen statement for the exact pack. Tesco labels its Bourbon Creams vegan but notes wheat and possible sesame; M&S Food’s coated bourbon contains milk, wheat and soya. Before serving guests, I need to know whether this particular biscuit fits their dietary requirements.
Nutrition information Use the same basis when comparing labels: per 100g for different products, and per biscuit where both packs provide it. Check the stated sugars and saturated fat as well as the biscuit size. If biscuits will be passed around throughout the match, I want to understand what the label describes per biscuit rather than compare unlike portions.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a dark-looking bourbon contains dark chocolate

    Standard bourbon listings describe chocolate-flavoured biscuits or filling, while M&S Food describes its coated version as milk chocolate. Neither description establishes a dark-chocolate bourbon.

    If dark chocolate is essential, look for that wording on the exact product and check any stated cocoa specification.

  • Judging a sharing pack by its size at a glance

    The packs in these retailer listings range from Sainsbury’s 200g Bourbon to Waitrose Essential Bourbon Creams at 400g. Pack weight alone does not tell you the biscuit count.

    Check the weight and any stated approximate count against the number of people you expect to serve.

  • Assuming all bourbon creams suit the same diets

    Tesco labels its Bourbon Creams suitable for vegans, whereas M&S Food’s milk-chocolate-coated bourbon contains milk. Ingredient and allergen details also differ.

    Read the current pack for each product before buying or serving it to someone with a dietary requirement.

Brands and biscuit styles

Tesco

Tesco describes its 296g Bourbon Creams as chocolate sandwich biscuits with chocolate-flavoured filling.

  • The product is labelled suitable for vegans.
  • It is not described as a dark-chocolate bourbon; check the pack for wheat and possible sesame.

Waitrose Essential

Waitrose & Partners lists a 400g pack of chocolate-flavoured cream sandwich biscuits containing approximately 30 biscuits.

  • The stated count helps when planning biscuits for a group.
  • The standard bourbon description does not identify dark chocolate; check the current pack for ingredients and allergens.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s lists its own-label Bourbon in a 200g pack.

  • The smaller listed pack gives shoppers another size to consider.
  • Check the individual product pack for its chocolate description, ingredients and allergens.

M&S

M&S Food describes its 191g coated bourbon as chocolate biscuits and cream covered in milk chocolate.

  • M&S Food states that the milk-chocolate coating makes up 52% of the product, with at least 28% cocoa solids in that coating.
  • It is milk chocolate, not dark chocolate, and the product contains milk, wheat and soya.

McVitie’s

Tesco Groceries lists McVitie’s dark-chocolate Digestives and dark-chocolate Hobnobs as alternatives for shoppers prioritising dark chocolate.

  • The listed product names explicitly identify dark chocolate.
  • Digestives and Hobnobs are different biscuit types from bourbon creams.

Joybuy biscuit options

These McVitie’s dark-chocolate digestives are options for a football watch when dark chocolate matters more than choosing a bourbon cream.

McVitie’s Digestives Dark Chocolate Twin Pack, 2 x 266g

McVitie’s Digestives Dark Chocolate Twin Pack, 2 x 266g

For sharing when explicitly dark chocolate matters more than the bourbon format, this twin pack contains two 266g packs of digestives. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens before serving.

View on Joybuy
McVitie’s Digestives Dark Chocolate 400g

McVitie’s Digestives Dark Chocolate 400g

This 400g pack offers dark-chocolate digestives for sharing, rather than bourbon creams. Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any cocoa-solids figure if a particular percentage matters to you.

View on Joybuy

Questions about bourbon biscuits

Are bourbon biscuits automatically dark chocolate biscuits?

No. Tesco and Waitrose & Partners describe their standard bourbons as chocolate-flavoured sandwich biscuits, and M&S Food specifies milk chocolate for its coated version. If dark chocolate is essential, choose a biscuit explicitly labelled dark chocolate and check its product details.

Which pack could work for several people watching football?

Waitrose & Partners lists approximately 30 biscuits in its 400g Essential Bourbon Creams pack. Compare that stated count with your group size; other pack weights do not establish how many biscuits they contain.

Are any of these bourbon creams labelled vegan?

Tesco labels its 296g Bourbon Creams suitable for vegans. Check each other product separately: M&S Food’s milk-chocolate-coated bourbon contains milk, and recipes can change.

What allergens should I check before serving guests?

Read the current physical pack for the exact biscuit. Tesco and Waitrose bourbon listings note wheat and possible sesame, while M&S Food’s coated bourbon contains milk, wheat and soya.

How should I store bourbon biscuits after opening?

Keep opened biscuits in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, and follow any storage and use-after-opening instructions on the exact pack.