Over the holiday season, when work days tend to be lighter to nonexistent and relatives tend to be more existent, I often forgo the milk in my coffee and choose to spike it with Irish cream instead. If you aren’t familiar, Irish cream is a liqueur based on whiskey with cream and additional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. Since its invention in the 1970s, it’s become popular as a drink on its own, mixed into cocktails, and as a dessert flavoring. Just in time to help me replace my holiday creamer of choice, Oreo is debuting Irish Crème Oreo Thins, a permanent addition to its Thins lineup.

This was my first foray into Oreo Thins territory, and while I was a bit put off by the price tag, I couldn’t help but find this package and its subtle Emerald Isle theme attractive. I wasn’t prepared for opening this and finding that the thin layer of plastic that stands between you and eating these cookies would give way to the most intense Irish cream smell. It was immediately apparent that this flavor was spot on. I was almost caught off guard by how accurate the scent was and how well it continued to the flavor.

This is not one of those cases where something calls itself “brownie” flavored and then tastes like generic chocolate. This is Irish cream flavor, perfectly harnessed. It smells and tastes a bit boozy, and while I’m sure these are safe to give anyone, I think this is definitely an adult Oreo. The crème is smooth and not excessively sweet, with whiskey and chocolate notes that are complemented by the dark cocoa cookies.

For the sake of research, I dipped one in Irish cream, but that may not be the best course of action since you’re just doubling up on the same flavor. These Thins pair very well with milk, which mellows them, but are also really nice on their own. They won’t be for everyone but if you like Irish cream at all, I can’t imagine not enjoying these. I continue to be impressed by their flavor accuracy and how well it fits this format. It’s perfect as an Oreo Thin because more of this cream would almost be too much.

In terms of flavor being on point, I would rate these 10 out of 10. I don’t find the Thins to be quite as satisfying to eat as regular Oreos, but since they’ve been around for about a decade now, I’m going to consider them their own thing and this Irish Crème variation is a damn fine product. Oreo could have slapped a bunch of shamrocks on this package and pushed them for St. Patrick’s Day, but I appreciate that they didn’t. These cookies feel kind of sophisticated but also fun and certainly welcome any time of year, like a cool Oreo cousin. With a name like Erin, I’m contractually obligated to like anything Irish, but I’d score these highly even without the bias.

Purchased Price: $6.49
Size: 11.78 oz package
Purchased at: Jewel
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (4 cookies) 140 calories, 6 grams of total fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of total carbs, 11 grams of total sugars, and 1 gram of protein.