Cranberry juice

The Organic Company Cranberry Juice €3.49 for one litre

Highs: This is excellent. It is dark, cloudy and more natural-looking than the other juices. It is not made from concentrate and is 100 per cent organic. It has a minimum fruit content of 21 per cent and the presence of fresh lemon and cherry juice in the mix is a pleasant extra. As a bonus, the company is Irish.

Lows: This is the most expensive brand and is not as widely available as some of the competition. It also has the highest calorie content, with 60 calories per 100 millilitres.

Verdict: Excellent, if pricey. Star rating: 5 stars

*****

Dawn Cranberry Juice €2.79 (one litre)

Highs: This has a nice sharp kick and is fairly fruity. It is widely available and the dark red packaging is pleasing, not that this makes any difference to the taste. It is stocked alongside the milk in the refrigerated section of supermarkets, which implies a certain extra freshness.

Lows: Its shelf-life is shorter than the competition, despite the fact that, like all but one of the other juices, it comes from concentrate. It's made up of 12 per cent cranberries, not overly generous.

Verdict: Pretty average. Star rating: 3 stars

***

Del Rivo Cranberry Juice, from Aldi €0.95 (one litre)

Highs: This is the cheapest of the juices by a massive margin, yet tastes okay. For a cocktail party where sea breezes and cosmopolitans are on the menu and subtle flavours are not too much in demand, this juice will be perfect.

Lows: It looks, smells and tastes a little artificial and sugary (though having said that, it has the second lowest calorie count, so the sugar content must be relatively low). This is not the easiest brand to find, unless you live near an Aldi outlet.

Verdict: Very cheap and fairly good. Star rating: 4 stars

****

Ocean Spray Cranberry Classic Light €1.83 (one litre)

Highs: Ocean Spray is the most well-known global brand of cranberry juice and is very widely available. It's a low-calorie option and the artificial sweetener employed is to be commended because it doesn't taste particularly artificial.

Lows: Why the company boasts about the "new improved taste" on the front of the carton is anyone's guess. Perhaps to distract people from the fact that it actually tastes quite dull. It is watery, bland and lacks anything remotely like tang.

Verdict: Low calorie, low taste. Star rating: 3 stars

***

5 stars Excellent, 4 stars Great, 3 stars Fine, 2 stars Below par, 1 star Awful