If there's one thing that we all love in the run up to Christmas, it's all the festive food and drink on sale. John Coldham, IP Partner at law firm Gowling WLG, said: “M&S is taking a forthright approach to protecting its IP this year, against Aldi in particular. We have seen a number of clients choose to challenge Aldi’s aggressive approach to taking inspiration from others, and M&S is doing the same. The huge press interest in the earlier dispute between M&S and Aldi about chocolate cakes called Colin and Cuthbert has not deterred M&S from taking action again. Aldi’s bottle is beautiful to look at, the snow covered trees and sparking gold flakes in the gin giving the drink the ultimate festive feeling. Add to it that it lights up - with two different settings - it's certainly impressive. 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. M&S has a proud history as a leading British innovator and for over 136 years customers have turned to M&S for unique, original, quality products – conceived, created and developed by us working with our trusted suppliers and produced to the highest standards,” said an M&S spokesman.

READ MORE: We tried Christmas candles from Marks and Spencer, Yankee & Home Bargains but only one scored top marks 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.On just looks, then the M&S bottle is the most attractive to look at. And once finishing the bottles, would make a lovely Christmas decoration. 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 sweet drink would make for the perfect festive drink, especially for a Christmas party or gift. 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. 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.

So, why not turn to a Scottish gin brand that’s ready to serve up some 41% ABV gold flake fun? Swiss 24-karat edible gold is added to the Scotland-made gin and we think that exudes pure elegance… someone should sip this spirit in long silk gloves and a golden floor-length gown. I tried the liqueur on its own and was pleasantly surprised. It didn't taste too much of alcohol, more a sweet drink. On its own, I wasn’t a big fan of the clementine taste and thought the cranberry could have been stronger. 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.

This gin was unlike any others we tried, for starters it is a liqueur so by nature is not as strong as your traditional gin and is used as a mixer compared to a spirit. 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. Per the brand, Gilded Gin is best enjoyed with “soda water and a slice of orange or alternatively Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic.” Yum.

The bottle was very pretty and got a 10/10 for design, with a clear agreement from the gin team that it ranked best for design compared to the two other Aldi gins we tried. 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. This case is about design rights, a commonly forgotten but very effective IP right in protection against copycats. Most cases against Aldi are settled before trial, but with some notable exceptions, with Aldi having won and lost some high-profile disputes in recent years. M&S will be hoping that its strong action against Aldi will discourage further copycat products and allow M&S to retain distinctiveness and return on its investment in new product development. Next onto Aldi’s Haysmith’s Cranberry and Clementine Gin, perfect for those who love the tangy and sweet taste of Clementine, this gin has it all. On its own, the gin liqueur isn’t bitter and is nice and fruity but I thought the pomegranate was overshadowed by the cranberry.The intricate pattern used to decorate the bottle has a kaleidoscopic look and helps cast pretty shadows when its lit up. What they taste like Read more: I tried mince pies from Sainsbury's, Aldi, Tesco, M&S, Morrisons and Waitrose - and there was a clear winner The gold flakes seemed finer here too - but there was more. However you needed to give it a real good shake to see the effect. However, I wanted to go into this tasting with an open mind so tried my best to leave previous encounters with Sloe Gin behind. 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.