Bourbon vs Other Biscuits: What Makes It the Real Treat?

Bourbon biscuits aren’t just a snack—they’re a small celebration. A bit of chocolate, a crunch, a moment to pause. Over the years, many biscuits have tried to claim that celebratory moment, but for me, Bourbon always wins. Why? Because it combines several elements—texture, flavour, nostalgia—in just the right balance.

In this article I’ll compare Bourbon with other biscuits: what else is doing something similar, how different brands interpret Bourbon, and why, after all these years, that chocolate sandwich still wins.

What Is a “Bourbon” Biscuit?

The basic template of a Bourbon is simple yet effective: two rectangular (or sometimes slightly rounded) dark chocolate (cocoa‐flavoured) biscuits, sandwiching a chocolate cream filling. Sometimes there are sugar crystals on the outside, sometimes extra richness or tweaks in flavour. The simple design is key: crisp biscuit + creamy chocolate filling = treat.

As with all classics, variations emerge. Different manufacturers change the sweetness, the crispness, the cream, the thickness of biscuit, and even the shape or size. In India, several brands have their own versions—Britannia, Parle, Sunfeast, etc.—each with fans and critics.

Personal Snapshots: Why Bourbon Feels Special to Me

I remember school lunches: the rustle of the wrapper, the faint smell of cocoa, the delight when a friend offered one. Bourbon was a premium among biscuits. It felt grown-up. Even now, when I dunk one in chai, it feels like tapping into those simpler moments: exams, friendship, waiting for monsoon. Other biscuits do their job—they fill you, give flavour—but Bourbon does more. It uplifts.

So when I compare, it’s not just about how it tastes, but about how it feels.

Comparing Bourbon vs Other Biscuits

Here are some dims in which Bourbon tends to outshine, and where other biscuits compete strongly:

Dimension	Where Bourbon Shines	Where Others Might Win
Chocolate / richness	The cream filling + cocoa biscuit gives a layered chocolate experience.	Some cream biscuits have more cream, or alternate flavours, or milder sweetness which appeal when you want something lighter.
Crunch vs softness	Bourbon usually has a firmer, crisp bite (especially in the biscuit shell).	Biscuits like Good Day, Marie Gold, Butter Scotch etc give richer buttery mouthfeel or softness.
Versatility	Works with tea, coffee, milk, or just on its own.	Some biscuits are great only with chai or milk, or are more dessert-like.
Nostalgia & emotional weight	There are memories baked in—school tiffin, movie-time, sharing with sibling. Best for Gifting.	Many biscuits hold memories, but fewer have that “this is what treats meant back then” quotient.
Price / availability	More premium Bourbon biscuits cost more; classic ones are affordable.	Simpler biscuits often win on price and availability everywhere.

Brand-by-Brand: How Different Bourbons Stack Up

Let’s look at what several brands do with Bourbon biscuits and how they compare with each other (and with other biscuit types).

McVitie’s Bourbon

McVitie’s is one of the archetypes. The original Bourbon sandwich—dark chocolate biscuits with chocolate buttercream—came from Peek Freans in the UK, but McVitie’s is one of the leading producers of that classic.

What I like about McVitie’s version:

Authentic chocolate flavour that isn’t overly sweet.
Good biscuit crunch that holds up even when paired with milk or tea.
Familiar profile: if you’ve tasted a “Bourbon” biscuit from any brand, McVitie’s is often the reference (or baseline) for how the classic should taste.

For some people abroad, McVitie’s Bourbon is the nostalgic benchmark—something “from home” or what they assume Bourbon originally tastes like.

Britannia Bourbon

Britannia is a household name in India. Their Bourbon variant is widely available, often the first that people try when craving a chocolate sandwich.

Things Britannia does well:

Good balance of sweetness—not overwhelming, especially when eaten with tea or coffee.
Availability in varied pack sizes (small, family pack), making it easy to try or share.
Texture that many find satisfying, especially if they prefer biscuits that are a bit firmer.

What some people critique:

That over time the thickness or chocolaty intensity has changed (some say it’s lighter now than how they remember).
The outer sugar-crystals vary in prominence—sometimes the sugar sprinkles are subtle, sometimes more obvious.

Still, Britannia Bourbon has a strong nostalgia factor. For many, it is Bourbons: the purple packaging, that purple ribbon of cream, the break-snap-cream-lick-finish ritual.

Parle Fab! Bourbon Chocolate Biscuits

Parle is another big biscuit player. The “Fab! Bourbon Chocolate Biscuits” is their take on the Bourbon template.

Things I’ve noticed with Parle Fab!:

Sweetness tends to be more pronounced; cream may be thicker or richer (some prefer this as dessert-like).
The biscuit shell might be slightly less dark (cocoa flavour a bit muted) compared to others; more focussed on mass appeal.
Parle’s wide reach means Parle Fab! Bourbon is often more affordable or accessible in smaller towns or corners where premium Bourbons may not be.

For me, Parle Fab! is what I reach for when I want a Bourbon but also want something indulgent and unapologetically sweet. Not subtle, but satisfying.

Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Bourbon

Sunfeast is interesting because their Dark Fantasy Bourbon lives in a premium biscuity space, riffing on the Bourbon idea but also pushing toward luxury.

What stands out with Dark Fantasy Bourbon:

Intense chocolate flavour: richer cream, more chocolate in the biscuit, sometimes more sugar crystals.
Texture is often more decadent—less “just biscuit shell + cream” and more “bite, then melt, then lingering chocolate.”
Packaging and perception are more premium. People treat it as something special—“let me open Dark Fantasy when I really want a treat.”

For me, Dark Fantasy is what Bourbon becomes when it wants to dress up: fancy milk-chocolate, extra feel, possibly less “everyday” but more “today is special”.

Other Biscuits: What They Do Differently

To understand why Bourbon shines, it helps to compare with non-Bourbon biscuits:

Marie / Glucose biscuits: very mild, often more about texture + dunking. They lack the chocolate cream. But they win when you want something light.
Butter / Shortbread / Plain Cremes / Vanilla biscuits: richer in fat, buttery taste, good mouthfeel but less of that cocoa punch that Bourbon gives.
Flavoured cream biscuits (e.g. vanilla, strawberry, etc.): fun for variety, but when it’s chocolate you want, Bourbon almost always delivers more satisfaction.
Chocolate chip / chunk cookies: sometimes more chocolate, sometimes chewy, but texture is different. Bourbon’s crisp + cream sandwich nature is unique.

So What Makes Bourbon (Especially the Classics) the “Real Treat”?

Putting together everything: why does Bourbon hold up as the treat among biscuits?

Chocolate cravings satisfied — that cream filling is the hero. Others may try, but Bourbon gives a strong cocoa/cream bite.
Crunch + cream contrast — the shell gives a crisp first bite; the cream gives richness and smoothness. That contrast is very satisfying.
Portability & simplicity — compact, individual biscuits, no mess; you can eat one, but you might want more.
Ritual & nostalgia — the smell, the wrapper, the act of pairing with chai or milk, or waiting for that mid-day break. These make taste memory powerful.
Variations to suit moods — sometimes you want the simple, slightly less sweet Britannia Bourbon; sometimes you want a full lux with Sunfeast Dark Fantasy; sometimes nostalgia via Parle; sometimes classic via McVitie’s.

Weaknesses & When Others Might Be the Better Choice

No biscuit is perfect. Here are instances when a non-Bourbon biscuit wins:

When you don’t want sweetness overload (some Bourbons are very sweet).
When you want something softer or richer in butter/fat rather than chocolate.
When you’re pairing with something subtle—if the biscuit is too strong, it may overpower tea etc.
Cost matters: premium Bourbons cost more. Affordable biscuits win for daily munching or large families. But on selected grocery apps you can get them on huge discounts

Brand Comparison Summary

Here’s how I’d rank some of the Bourbons vs other biscuits, in terms of my personal joy, if I were choosing:

Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Bourbon — for days I want an indulgent escape.
McVitie’s Bourbon — for authenticity and “this is how it should be” moments.
Britannia Bourbon — for childhood, comfort, daily go-to.
Parle Fab! Bourbon — when I want something sweeter, something that feels like dessert.
Other biscuits (Marie, plain biscuity, etc.) — for lighter moods or everyday munching.

Concluding Thoughts: The Real Treat Is the Feeling

After comparing taste, texture, brand twists, sweetness, quality, etc., it comes down to this: When I break open a Bourbon biscuit, I don’t just taste chocolate and crunch. I taste memories. I taste satisfaction. I taste something akin to joy. That’s what makes Bourbon not just good, but the treat.

Other biscuits will always have their place. They may win on price or when sweetness or buttery richness is needed. But when what I want is the full chocolate biscuit sandwich experience—with the contrast, the cream, the nostalgia, the moment—Bourbon still beats them.

So next time you reach for a biscuit, pause. Think: do I want comfort (Marie/Glucose), richness (Dark Fantasy), sweetness (Parle’s sweeter variant), or classic chocolate sandwich crunch (Bourbon)? And if you want the latter, just go with Bourbon. It’s earned its place.

“And if Bourbon is the king of creamy chocolate biscuits, then wafers are the crispy sidekick that never fails to lift your mood—read more in my blog Crunchy Wafers: The Perfect Quick Snack for Every Mood.