The 19 best tipples to gift this festive season to make it even more merry
Tis the season to be jolly and what better gift to give a loved one than that of merriment. Weve been doing the research for you and these are the ones that will nail it.
Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal glass pack, £51.95
Theres no denying it, the Royal Sidecar – a classic cocktail for over 100 years – has firmly found its place as a favourite for us too.
And the key ingredient? Cognac.
For the cognac lover, Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal is ideal. Elegant with a traditional bottle, this gift pack comes with glasses too, for a festive touch.
The liquid itself has delicious notes of plum and fig rounded out by oaky notes of toffee and toasted bread and will make a perfect gift for your cool aspiring bartender friend. Well be around for a Chocolate Old Fashioned and Royal Sidecar.
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Rémy Martin XO, £140
If you are feeling extra generous on the cognac front then Rémy Martin XO gift pack with glasses is the one to impress with – perfect for festive cheese and dessert pairings and the showstopper bottle looks very slick on the cocktail cabinet.
Cointreau The Selective Edition by Design Laboratory Central Saint Martins, £49.50
Royal Sidecar without Cointreau is incomplete, so if you are feeling extra generous give the gift of golden orange along with the Rémy this Christmas. Its in margaritas too, and delicious in chocolate puddings or on pancakes.
This limited edition 1litre gold bottle is designed by Design Laboratory Central Saint Martins and there are only 100 in existence in the UK.
Catch this little treasure while you can at Harvey Nichols – its will definitely jazz up your bar trolley.
The Botanist gin, £36.99
For the cool forager friend, The Botanist is the one. Foraging was once a way of life for everyone and this gin brand reminds us of the flavours hidden in our own backyards. #BeTheBotanist this Christmas and reconnect with nature. Nine classic gin botanicals are augmented by 22 local herbs and flowers, foraged responsibly and by hand from the hills, shores and bogs of the fertile Hebridean island of Islay by a team of botanical scientists. The perfect gin for hipsters and beyond.
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Mount Gay XO The Peat Smoke Expression, £220
The rum renaissance continues to ride the wave. Mount Gay XO The Peat Smoke Expression is full bodied, rich and fruity, making this Barbadian spirit is perfect for the festive season. With only 6,120 bottles in existence, this unique limited edition has been finished in Islay peated whisky casks for a complex array of salty and smoky notes.
Port Charlotte 10, £48.95
Port Charlotte 10 is a whisky made by people at a distillery (Bruichladdich) that employs more than 90% of the residents and uses barley grown on the island itself – no mean feat in the brutal conditions! Its a whisky borne of a community with a vision and a mission to kick start a single malt whisky revolution. This is one for the disruptor – the friend who is a leader not a follower.
Kavka vodka, £34.99
Craft vodka is set to have a comeback in 2019 with the boredom of vodkas that are filtered through Paris Hiltons diamond collection or flavoured with Oreos. Kavka is bringing back the old-school with a flavoursome rye and wheat-based vodka from Poland with a touch of apple and plum. Vodka how it used to taste, its delicious in a crisp Martini and perfect for those wanting a cool addition to their brushed copper home bar.
Freedom Brewery – Gift Set, £25
The beer for the socially conscious – oh, and the vegan guests. Freedom Brewery is independent and has been brewing real beers for real beer drinkers since 1995. Brewed using sustainable processes, such as using natural spring water directly from their on-site bore hole, this will satisfy the wholesome lot.
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This taster pack includes: Freedom Four Lager, Freedom Pils Lager, Freedom Amber Lager, Freedom Pale Ale Lager, Freedom Organic Helles Lager, Freedom Half Pint Tankard. Yum!
Chapel Down Rosé Brut & Truffles Gift Set, £44
No gift guide is complete without bubbles. And these are one of our favourites – English sparkling from Chapel Down. Rumour has it Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middletons guests sipped on the bubbly rosé at her wedding, so if its good enough for royalty itll be good enough for your sophisticated pal. Chocolate is always a welcome addition. The Chapel Down Brut is also a goody.
Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry rum, £40.00
Dreaming of Christmas in the Caribbean? Let Plantation rums new Xaymaca Special Dry bring you a slice of tropical beach-bar vibes with its quintessential Jamaican style rum. Using 100% pot-still rums and the legendary Rum Funk, or Hogo, Xaymaca is an intensely flavoured rum with rich aromas of black banana, flambéed pineapple and exotic fruits. Sounds like our kind of rum for jamming along to karaoke with, post-Christmas feasting!
Chapel Down Bacchus Gin, £36.45
Another gin, and this one is distilled from Bacchus grapes with intense aromas, of citrus peel, juniper and freshly cut grass leading to an early palate dominated by ripe citrus fruit with a herbal finish. This limited edition gin was produced with distilled Bacchus grape skins and infused with juniper, coriander, elderflower, orris, angelica, lavender, orange peel and lemon.
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Waqar Pisco, £34.95
Whats more Christmassy than a frothy Pisco Sour? Waqar pisco hails from the foothills of the Chilean Andes using only handpicked Muscat grapes combining modern technology with small batch craft distillation. Tickles the tongue with an elegance of white flowers, fresh peaches & apricots and a smooth delicate finish in the mouth. Try it in a Pistón as they do in Chile, pisco and tonic water with a lemon zest to finish. Perfect for the world-traveler in your life, woolly lama hat optional!
Ceders Classic Non-Alcoholic Spirit, £16
The non-alcoholic gin for those who like their drinks without the morning hangover. Made with classic gin and rare cape botanicals, including Buchu flavours, a magical plant used for thousands of years by indigenous people of South Africa, as well rooibos, both grown in the Cederberg mountains. The distilled botanicals are then blended with Swedish water before also being bottled in Sweden. This Swedish / South African hybrid tipple is the brainchild of husband and wife team Craig Hutchison (South African) and Maria Sehlstrom (Swedish). Best served as a classic & tonic with 50cl Ceders Classic, 150ml premium tonic and garnished with a slice of lemon and a sprig of rosemary. Hurrah for clear heads!
Ferrand 10 Générations Cognac, £46.00
Whats more Christmassy than celebrating family? For the added feel good factor, Ferrand cognac have created the 10 Générations, a stunning tribute to the 10 descendants of the Ferrand family of cognac producers. Aged in Sauternes casks, 10 Générations has strong festive flavours of baked pear, honey, Muscat grapes, pineapple and cloves in addition to fruity spice cake and raisin aromas…move over Christmas pudding. The ultimate tipple for family bonding.
Coty Blanc de Blancs 2013, £240 for a case of 6
The first Blanc de Blancs from Kits Coty vineyard on the North Downs of Kent. This shows typical aromas of cool climate Blanc de Blancs, with notes of green apple and freshly baked bread. The palate shows development from maturation on lees and a toasty character from partial barrel fermentation. A savoury finish with fine, persistent bubbles. This one is the perfect accompaniment to enjoy with oysters.
Citadelle gin, £31.00
Who knew the French beat us Brits to the craft gin game? Launched in 1996, Citadelle is the most awarded gin in the world and a truly gormandise gin with 19 botanicals, distilled in copper pot stills at the Château de Bonbonnet. Citadelle has a delicate, aromatic flavour thats perfect in G&T with a slice of lemon rind, ideally served with a side of oysters for added oh la la…its got your foodie, restaurant Instagram-loaded friend written all over it.
METAXA 12 Stars, £29.75
Something different – and will be looked upon fondly by those who enjoy a trip to a Greek Island. A unique Greek spirit, delicious on its own, or over ice with a twist of orange. Embracing fine wine distillates matured in oak casks for up to 12 years and Muscat wines selected exclusively from the semi-mountainous, terraces vineyards of Samos, METAXA 12 Stars glows with a radiant amber colour which will bring comfort and joy on cold nights.
Jacobs Creek Aperitivo Spritz, £9
Not so much a gift, but one to take if youre a guest for dinner or to buy in if you are hosting.
We do love an aperitif pre-Christmas dinner and heres one that will satisfy those who love a spritz but have their hands full making the festive feast.
Jacobs Creek Aperitivo Spritz is best enjoyed over ice with a slice of blood orange or ruby red grapefruit, to bring the botanical flavours to life. The product offers lots of flavour with none of the faff traditionally required for making cocktails. Its easy on the purse strings too.
The Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition, £20
Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition have been finished in craft IPA barrels. The results will exceed your wildest hoppy hopes – expect the same signature smoothness rubbing shoulders with IPA and introducing light hints of hops, fresh citrus and floral notes. One for hop fans.
Sekforde Botanical Mixers, £1.45
Now for those wondering what to mix these delicious spirits with, Sekforde have created some clever spirit-specific botanical mixers. Each one of them has been designed to perfectly enhance the flavour of the spirit without overpowering it and are low-cal to boot, so no sugar overloads…well, surely that means another mince pies allowed right?
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