Bourbon biscuits

Bourbon biscuits are one of the most iconic British confectionery items, consisting of two thin rectangular chocolate-flavoured biscuits with a chocolate buttercream filling. Originally introduced in 1910 under the name ' Creola', the biscuit was later renamed 'Bourbon' in the 1930s by the Peek Freans company, allegedly inspired by the French royal House of Bourbon. Despite the name, the biscuit contains no actual bourbon whiskey.

Over the decades, the manufacturing and brand ownership of Bourbon biscuits have shifted significantly. While Peek Freans was the original producer, the brand eventually became part of the United Biscuits portfolio. In contemporary times, 'Bourbon' is considered a generic product type, meaning it is produced by a variety of manufacturers under private labels for major supermarket chains, as well as by branded manufacturers like McVitie’s. Production occurs in multiple countries across Europe and Asia to supply global demand for this classic tea-time snack.