You've probably heard of Fortnum & Mason, but have you ever tried their Traditional mince pies? You really should.

These massive pies contain vine-ripened fruits and a wonderful mixture of subtle spices. Delicately mixed in is Fortnum & mason's very own cognac-infused mincemeat.

Many of us probably wouldn't bother with a fancy collection of pies from Fortnum & Mason, or make the special trip to pick these up. However, these densely-filled pies with hand-crafted, all-butter short crust pastry really needs to be tasted to be believed.

1. Mincemeat

At first glance, it's obvious these pies are big. At 83 grams per pie, these are the heaviest pies we've ever reviewed. But size isn't everything - is the mincemeat good, or just heavy filler? Not surprisingly, these traditional pies have a beautiful dense filling, soaked in aged brandy. They're boozy, but just the perfect amount.

The raisins have broken down and are gooey and soft, adding to a wonderfully textured mincemeat.

2. Pastry

Could there be a better pastry? It's hard to say. These Christmas traditional mince pies have an incredible pastry - it's crisp but still buttery and soft. It's also important that the ratio of pastry to mincemeat is perfect. Some mince pie pastry we've tried ends up being forgettable, but that's not the case with these.

3. Taste

One bite of these mince pies and we're certain that you won't be disappointed. The combination of buttery pastry with a beautifully spiced mincemeat is truly a Christmas miracle. All of the components of these pies work wonderfully together, making this pie a great Christmas treat.

Fortnum & Mason Traditional Mince Pies: Final Verdict

Some might think these pies could be outdated, but there's a reason why they've been around for so long. We believe it would be a difficult task to find a better tasting mince pie.

In addition, the pies come in an elegant refined box with no plastic. The pies are nicely arranged on thick card stock and the pies themselves are understated but large. While these are a bit more expensive at £2.16 per pie, we truly believe it's money well spent and offers incredible value. These specialty mince pies would impress even a non-mince-pie enthusiast.