Buy loved ones gifts they can imbibe this Christmas – because edible and drinkable presents will never go to waste. And with so many innovative artisan brands on the market, there are many ways to find an alternative version of a favourite tipple and her are some of our favourite spirits we have enjoyed this year.
Patrón Silver
Patrón Silver is a flawless white spirit made from the finest Weber Blue Agave with citrus, fruity notes. With a taste of soft, sweet, fresh agave with hints of citrus and white pepper. Handmade in small batches to be smooth and easily mixable, making it the perfect Christmas gift for any loved one this festive season. Patrón Silver can be served as an apéritif to be perfectly paired with your Christmas seafood appetisers.
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin is truly full of character. Whether with tonic, as a sling, martini, or gimlet – the unique and complex taste of Monkey 47 is an ideal basis for both classic and more excentric cocktails. The distinct and pure scent of juniper, tangy and crisp citrus notes, a sweet, flowery aroma, with a hint of peppery spices, subtle bitter fruit notes of cranberries, and a deep and harmoniously balanced complexity. The pièce de résistance is a real Black Forest “secret weapon”, fresh lingonberries.
Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin
Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo is one of our most popular gins, favoured by those who relish the zesty aromas and taste that only the very best citrus fruits can deliver. If you’re in search of a gift for that tricky-to-buy-for friend, then look no further.
Horse With No Name
This is an interesting spirit from The Horse’s Spirit Co., which features the spicy combo of bourbon and habanero pepper. The bourbon comes from Texas’s Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., while The Horse’s Spirit Co. makes a habanero distillate (using red savina peppers, specifically) in Germany, which are then combined to make Horse With No Name! Great in cocktails, particularly in a warming twist on a Manhattan, or a Mule…
Glenmorangie A Tale Of Winter
A Tale of Winter takes its cue from the humble winter jumper. It was first imagined by Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, who came up with the idea for the new incarnation when snowed in at home by a roaring fire. The 13-year-old single malt is matured in Marsala wine casks from Sicily, bringing notes of fruit, honey, cocoa dust, red pepper, brazil nut toffee and the Christmas spices of cinnamon, ginger and clove.
Hennessy X.O Limited-Edition gift box and Bottle by Julien Colombier
A bottle alone may not be sufficient for those wishing to present a more lavish gift. This Hennessy X.O Limited Edition comes in a stunning and artful presentation box, adding to a sense of luxury. By French artist Julien Colombier, the design is informed by graffiti, Japanese art and the work of Henri Matisse. The sensuous detailing is echoed in the intense, iconic and fruity liquor found inside.
Artingstall’s Gin
Artingstall’s Gin is a new premium spirit designed by Hollywood film director, Paul Feig famously known for blockbuster hits such as The Heat, Last Christmas and the Oscar-nominated Bridesmaids. After years searching for the perfect gin for his beloved martini, Paul collaborated with Minhas Micro Distillery to create Artingstall’s Gin with a tailor-made blend of eleven botanicals distilled in a traditional copper pot for a clean, crisp spirit to create show-stopping cocktails and low-calorie spritzes alike.
Santiago de Cuba 11 Year Old Extra Anejo
Let your loved-one discover Cuban Rum through this rich, smooth, naturally sweet blend of sugar cane molasses, with hints of vanilla, coconut and almond by Ron Santiago de Cuba. This perfect Christmas gift is currently available in an exclusive, gold foil-embossed, luxury gift tin with a red carrying rope. Inside, there is a label that can be personalised and to make this gift extra special, the bottle is beautifully wrapped in a map of Cuba which takes the recipient on a journey of Ron Santiago de Cuba discovery once opened.
Axia Extra Dry Mastiha Spirit
Axis is an expertly-crafted Mastiha from Greece, made with resin from the Mastic trees on the island of Chios. The dried resin crystals are harvested and cleaned by hand, then double distilled before being bottled at 40% ABV without any sweetening. This leaves an authentic flavour profile with vibrant citrus and vegetal notes.
Tidal Rum
Crafted from a blend of rums distilled in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic, each aged in ex-bourbon white oak casks for between two and three years. This marvellous blend is then enhanced with an infusion of oak-smoked pepper dulse seaweed foraged from the tides of Jersey. The deep, earthy truffle taste of this sea botanical balances the rum beautifully, creating a complex and refined drink with layers of subtle, smoky coastal flavours.
Beefeater Gin Blood Orange
A wonderful blood orange gin from Beefeater, which tastes just as vibrant as it looks! The gin takes its inspiration from Beefeater’s history, as founder James Burrough developed his first orange gin over 150 years ago. It’s been made with cocktails and spritzes in mind, so trying it in one certainly wouldn’t go amiss. Goes rather well with ginger ale too…
ITALICUS Italian Bergamot Aperitivo
This award-winning modern Italian Aperitivo is a stunning addition to the Christmas drinks trolley or the perfect gift for the trend-setting cocktail lover in your life. The striking bottle design embodies the history and heritage of Italy with the colour of the glass representing the Capri and Amalfi Coast shoreline. The Aperitivo, which is 20% alcohol, has fresh tones of ripe bergamot balanced with a light bitter and floral spice. It can be used in cocktails like the classic ITALICUS Spritz with Prosecco or Champagne to welcome guests to your festivities, or in a classic Sgroppino with a sparkling wine of your choice and lemon sorbet.
Aberlour 14-year-Old
Distilled and bottled in Speyside, this single malt undergoes a maturation process using a combination of oloroso sherry casks and first-fill American oak casks. With a nose of cloves, cardamom, toffee, milk chocolate and orange zest, it provides a palate of black cherries, mocha coffee and mint, for a fresh, yet smooth and rich whisky that’s perfect for wintertime.
Conker Coffee Liqueur
Satisfy your recipient’s caffeine cravings with a spirit that’s not only bang on-trend, but ethically crafted too, supporting the farmers who produce its coffee beans. Espresso is contrasted with stoned fruits and vanilla, providing a cocoa and caramel finish that’s just made for an espresso martini (just add water and shake for a ready-made cocktail boasting a gorgeous crema).
Don Julio Blanco Tequila
Don Julio Blanco is a luxury Tequila that has fresh citrus & sweet flavours best enjoyed in a Margarita Don Julio is the world’s original luxury tequila. The much-awarded Don Julio Blanco is made using the finest raw agave in a time honoured distillation process and is tequila in its truest form. With crisp agave flavour and hints of citrus, Don Julio Blanco is the ideal tequila for sharing with friends when the standard is simply not enough.
Cambridge Distillery
The first of its kind, Truffle Gin was created by the Cambridge Distillery. The digestif is made using white Piedmont truffle from Alba and offers a unique taste. Or give the one you love the ready-to-serve Cambridge Dry Gin & Tonic, crafted using fresh and in season botanicals and served in a champagne-style bottle for a pleasing celebratory pop.
The GlenAllachie 12-year-old Ruby Port Wood Finish
Bottled in 2021, this innovative malt was recently released as part of the Wood Finish series by GlenAllachie distillery. The spirit has been matured in American oak barrels for 10 years, before being re-racked into Ruby Port Pipes adding depth of flavour, complexity and providing its namesake.
Riverside Gin
Buy this for a lover of the countryside. It’s been created in collaboration with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and has been made with hand-foraged botanicals sourced from the Trust’s reserves; freshwater mint compliments creamy notes from Himalayan balsam. It follows a similar and very popular 219 release, but with a new recipe. Each purchase includes a £3 donation to the charity too and is one of a limited edition.
Ardbeg Wee Beastie
Perhaps you’d rather purchase something that you know will be available time and again. Popular and creative distillery Ardbeg – who like to theme their bottlings on beasts – have just added this new five-year-old expression to their range. Unlike those with a longer maturation period, this one’s close to the still and untamed. Powerful, smoky and a little bit wild, it’s for those who like their tipples feisty and has been described as a ‘monster of a dram’
Belvedere Heritage
If you’re seeking a present that’s a little bit different, try Belvedere Heritage 176. It’s named after the method used to create the unusual spirit. Malted by heating the Dańkowskie rye to 176 degrees, it allows the flavour in this vodka to be released. Richer and deeper than many other alternatives on the market, it’s excellent served with simple ice and a slice.
The post Christmas Drinks & Spirits Gift Guide appeared first on .