Have yourself a very Merry Christmas with our Christmas 2020 drinks guide, full of the best tipples you’ll want to enjoy this festive season. If you’re looking for a unique drink, a classic cocktail, a pairing experience or some festive cheer, our bumper guide will make Christmas 2020 your most spirited yet.
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #1: CHAMPAGNE
BEAU JOIE
No Christmas 2020 drinks guide is complete without champagne. BEAU JOIE specialises in zero dosage (no added sugar). Zero dosage allows the purity of the fruit shine through and the flavour is so balanced. It is aged six years and pairs rather well with salty food (less sugar more salt bae). BEAU JOIE bottles are also encased in a stunning suit of armour made from second generation scrap copper — a functional design element that’s made to help cool the champagne quicker and keep it colder for longer without the need for an ice bucket. Tiësto is also involved with BEAU JOIE so if it’s good enough for Tiësto, then we are in.
harveynichols.com
£150
Perrier-Jouët’s new eco-designed gift box collection
Elegant, sustainable and tasty. Maison Perrier-Jouët have created a fully recyclable collection of gift boxes for the range of classic, non-vintage champagnes. The eco-designed gift boxes combine a sophisticated, minimalist aesthetic with a focus on sustainability, crafted with 100% natural fibres that have been carefully sourced from certified forests. The collection is a combination of beauty and sustainability, inspired by the white, chalky topsoil native to the Champagne region which is reflected in a pure matte casing, wreathed around each Perrier-Jouët bottle. Each box is beautifully embossed with an intricate water-based motif detailing the House’s iconic anemones, staying true to its history and tradition.
fortnumandmason.com
£47.50
Rare Champagne Millesime 2006
This champagne has a story to tell. In the summer of 1976, a heatwave hit France so the Piper-Heidsieck winemaking team created a testament to exceptional vintages where nature unleashes its forces. The detail is incredible not just in the liquid but also in the bottle with 48 spots of glue required to stick the tiara label on to the front.
Produced in strictly limited quantities, this fruity crystal clear 2006-vintage rare champagne is made with 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir grapes. Aromas of mango, cocoa, coffee, pineapple, and tea brings notes of dried apricot, cinnamon and delicate smoky hints to the palate for a delicate yet long finish. This brilliant champagne will pair well with seafood this Christmas.
thefinestbubble.com
£168
Champagne Bruno Paillard Dosage: Zero M.V.
This premium elegant Multi Vintage by a family owned Maison Bruno Paillard will certainly hit the spot for lunch this Christmas 2020. To bring out the best, the “D : Z” première cuvée should be consumed with food and pairs with Salmon, shellfish and even mild cheeses. That’s the starter for this main feast ticked off the list.
Available via Hedonism Wines
£49.80
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #2: WINE
Château de Pommard wines
Château de Pommard has selected a trio giftpack of some of its most famous wines from signature plot Clos-Marey Monge. The holiday red trio arrives in three ready-to-drink Pinot Noirs from Burgundy: Volnay Premier Cru 2014, Clos Marey-Monge Monopole 2014 and a Corton Grand Cru “Charlotte Dumay” Hospices de Beaune 2017. Seriously good reds.
chateaudepommard.com
£252.74
Château d’Issan Grand Vin
Château d’Issan is one of the enduring powerhouses of the Margaux appellation. With an impressive history
reaching back to the 12th century, this 70% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot blend smooth, generous, deeply
concentrated fruit, with a layered and almost ethereal bouquet on the nose. This is very much a wine for food with many pairing options including duck, lamb and even a tarte tatin.
Danebury Medal Winners Gift
What is better than a delicious bottle of dry white wine from Danebury Vineyards in Hampshire? Two bottles! The Gold Medal “Reserve” is a fresh and fruitful wine and their little-bit-different Bronze Medal “Schönburger” is a food wine, pairing well with a Christmas bird or a seafood starter. These English wines are vegan, too.
www.danebury.com
£29.00 including delivery
Tempus Two Copper Series Prestige Cuvée
These striking bubbles are good for counting down to 2021 in style. With refreshing citrus, green apple and orchard fruits on the palate and hints of tropical pineapple, this showstopper sparkling wine from Australia’s oldest wine region in the Hunter Valley pairs with smoked salmon blinis or cranberry Brie crostini.
sainsburys.co.uk
£16
Chateau Musar 1998
1998 – a great year for many things including Lebanese wine. Musar grapes grow in the Beqaa Valley, a fertile sunny valley at an elevation of 1,000 metres. The first producer in Lebanon to achieve organic certification for its vineyards in 2006, this beautiful and superb value wine should be enjoyed this Christmas. It is deceptively powerful with a vibrant acidity and fresh, soft red fruit flavours and a very long, spicy finish. Great for many festive dishes involving game and mushrooms.
noblegrape.co.uk
£32.99
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #3: WHISKY
Holyrood Distillery
Holyrood Distillery are launching a series of festive options for whisky and gin lovers. We love that the gin and whisky are organised by flavour, making choosing super easy. Holyrood Gins are available in the following flavours: Pink Gin, Spiced Gin, Auld Tam, and Dry Gin. Holyrood Spirit Merchants Whisky range are available in the following flavour profiles: spicy, smoky, sweet, and fruity. The whiskies are available as gift packs with handmade whisky barrel chocolates and tasting glasses too.
Gins are sold in 50cl bottles for £25
Whiskies are in 70cl bottles for £39.50
Woodford Reserve Disrtiller’s Select
With over 200 flavour notes to discover this artful whiskey – favoured by bartenders worldwide for the Old Fashioned is a multi-sensory drinking experience. From its rich smell on the nose to its distinctive depth of flavour and characteristic colour, the whisky is primarily triple distilled in copper pot stills, giving it the balance of depth and flavour that makes it the perfect base for an Old Fashioned. Rich on the nose with faint vanilla, red currants and Christmas spice, the complexity of the liquid gives it a silky smooth, well rounded and creamy finish. Bottle is stunning too.
Benriach Smoky Ten
Crafted by Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, Benriach Smoky Ten is a Speyside whisky ideal for explorers wanting an introduction to peated expressions. Distilled using malted barley smoked with Highland peat and matured using bourbon barrels, toasted virgin oak and Jamaican rum casks, this single malt is distinctly sweet and smoky with toasted oak spice.
thewhiskyexchange.com
£39.95
Copper Dog Whisky
Scotch whisky is often seen as the greatest of all spirits, and according to Copper Dog, this due to its resilient versatility that allows the many complex flavours to shine through. A blend of eight single malts inspired by the idyllic Scottish Highlands, the fruity flavours of this whisky move through fresh, orchard, dried and citrus, and with hints of vanilla and aromatic spices. Great for making an Old Fashioned and an essential for your Christmas 2020 drinks cabinet.
amazon.co.uk
£29.95
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #4: COGNAC
Cognac and Chocolate Pairing Tasting Set
No two Cognacs – or indeed chocolates – are the same. Cognac and chocolate is a classic pairing and this themed set offers four delicious drams alongside tasting notes and a glass. Try four Cognacs from the highly prized Grande Champagne region, accompanied by a 25g bar of Prestat chocolate to complement each expression.
thewhiskyexchange.com
£49.95
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #5: VODKA
Konik’s Tail vodka
This rather special premium vodka was created by Croatian born Pleurat, creating it in his kitchen and today Konik’s Tail is served in best bars in the world including The Connaught, Claridge’s, Dukes and the Artesian Bar.
A blend of golden rye, early winter wheat and spelt grain, this unique mix of three grains gives Konik’s Tail a subtler flavour, a smoother texture and a greater depth. It is also silver birch charcoal filtered giving it a delicate long finish, great in a martini and our new favourite drink, The Vesper.
konikstail.com
Available widely from Waitrose, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and other outlets
Grey Goose Gold Gift Tin
We love this 100cl bottle of premium French vodka packaged in a regal gold and royal blue gift tin. An ideal present that will snuggle in nicely under the Christmas tree. Even better you don’t need to wrap it and will give many hours of drinking time chilled on its own or in cocktails.
amazon.co.uk
£59.99
Stoli Lime
The first in Stoli’s new line of citrus flavoured vodkas, this latest addition has arrived following a stateside launch to provide a sweet, fresh flavour. Figures show that lime is a key ingredient in three out of five of the most popular vodka cocktails, and Stoli Lime doesn’t disappoint – this premium vodka is almost as juicy as it is smooth.
tesco.com
£20 for a 70cl bottle
CÎROC Black Raspberry
A limited-edition winter flavour, CÎROC Black Raspberry is a vodka to treasure this Christmas. Fresh and ripe black raspberry flavours combine with hints of red berries. The balanced sweetness makes this a terrific pour for longer cocktails or evening digestifs.
amazon.co.uk
£35.90 for a 70cl bottle
Crystal Head Vodka Onyx
Crafted from premium Blue Weber agave sourced from a single farm in Mexico, Onyx is a new expression of Crystal Head Vodka. The luxurious, deep black skull pays homage to the powerful warrior, Onyx. The vodka is blended with exceptionally pure water from Newfoundland, Canada, giving the spirit a clean and semi-sweet finish.
£50 from Selfridges or Harvey Nichols
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #6: GIN
Tanqueray Nº TEN
What about this beautiful Tanqueray Nº TEN Invitation Box. This gift box is an invitation from Charles Tanqueray to open and discover one of our favourites: Tanqueray Nº TEN. This fine liquid is crafted in small batches and distilled using fresh whole citrus fruits. The luxurious green packaging with iconic red wax seal makes for a discerning gift, perfect for the most special people in your life. This gin is also a great choice when making your festive martinis.
Available to purchase from Amazon, 70cl £32.50
Pinkster Gin
Pink gin delivered straight to the door in 48 hours? Merry Christmas! The original Pinkster gin, made from real raspberries, is wonderfully dry with a trace of berry fruit and seriously smooth on the finish. Garnish with enough raspberries to make it count as one of your five a day.
pinkstergin.com
£35 for a 70cl bottle
Bombay Sapphire
For a personal gift, gin lovers can have their name etched onto the latest launch from Bombay Sapphire: the bold Bramble, which is brimming with blackberry and raspberry flavours. Mix into a fruity cocktail or serve as a vibrant G&T with a generous squeeze of lemon.
bombaysapphire.com
£23 plus £5 engraving for a 70cl bottle
Dry Highclere Castle Gin
Probably better known as Downton Abbey, Highclere is England’s oldest gin distillery. For fans of a more classic London Dry then Highclere Castle Gin is produced with botanicals from the namesake Estate. The addition of oats provides a wonderfully soft finish to this award-winner. A pedigree gin through and through for your Christmas 2020 drinks collection.
HighclereCastleGin.com
£39.99
Winter Edition Rock Rose Gin
From the far north of Scotland, Rock Rose Gin is the most popular spirit produced by Dunnet Bay Distillers. Their Winter Edition is a Christmas tree gin made with spruce tips, loaded with berries and light spice. The distillery is also launching a Refill Rewards Club where recyclable pouches of spirit can be switched every month.
dunnetbaydistillers.co.uk
£37.50
Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin
The first Indian craft gin from Radico Khaitan and named after the historic city nicknamed “The Golden City” in the state of Rajasthan. With flavours and aromas that make delightful gin cocktails or a timeless G&T, Jaisalmer is a tribute to the impressive age of the Maharajas and Maharanis.
thewhiskyexchange.com
£34.95
The Whisky Exchange Personalised London Dry Gin
This is an elegant present of quintessential London Dry gin made with a blend of seven botanicals in a good-looking, luxury gift tube. With notes of grapefruit, coriander seed and liquorice root, this juniper heavy gin is great for making martinis.
thewhiskyexchange.com
£39.95 for a 70cl bottle
Pink Marmalade Colour Changing Gin
Mix this gin with tonic and the spirit magically turns from true blue to delicate rose pink – a natural transformation thanks to the Butterfly Pea flower in the recipe. Dry and zesty, this gin also includes a not-so-secret ingredient of salted pink marmalade plus 12 botanicals.
pinkmarmaladegin.co.uk
£30 for a 70cl bottle
58 Apple & Hibiscus
Having recently launched two new hand-crafted gins – 58 English Berry and 58 Apple & Hibiscus – 58 Gin makes it difficult to choose just one for Santa’s list. Both will appeal to gin enthusiasts but the 58 Apple & Hibiscus Gin crafted from wonky apples wins the Luxuriate Life vote – just. Scrumptiously smooth, the hibiscus flowers add sweetness to the slight sour notes of the apples, which are complimented by a hint of spice.
58gin.com
£34 for a 70cl bottle
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #7: RUM
Cut Spiced Rum
This is an island hopper of a bottle – made with rums distilled in Jamaica and Trinidad, and then blended with a selection of botanicals to enhance the flavours of cinnamon, lemon, coriander seed, ginger, pepper, vanilla and aniseed.
masterofmalt.com
£22
Lugger Rum
Awarded gold at the World Rum Awards 2020, Lugger is a small-batched spiced rum that is hand crafted in Devon from a carefully selected blend of nutmeg, orange peel, vanilla and cloves. This is grown-up rum and a warming not-too-sweet Christmas tipple.
waitrose.com
£38.50
Two Drifters Overproof Spiced Pineapple Rum
Gently spiced and infused with fresh pineapple, this magnificent overproof bottling from the Two Drifters Distillery makes an amazingly good rum and coke. Fresh pineapple notes mingle with layers of vanilla spice and delicate caramel sweetness. If kisses are out this year then instead, fall in love with this rum under the mistletoe.
virginwines.co.uk
£41.99
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #8: COCKTAILS AND MORE
Hepple Spirits Ultransonic cocktails
The Hepple Spirits distillery is world-renowned for its unique approach and they have launched a new series of classic cocktails with an ultrasonic infusion which rapidly ages both drinks over juniper wood from the Hepple estate. The Ultrasonic Martini is aged with wood from the male juniper plant, whilst the Ultrasonic Negroni is aged over both the male needles and wood. Simply put either bottle in the freezer for an hour before serving. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish.
hepplespirits.com
£60 (for a bottle of Negroni and a bottle of gin martini).
Celebrate NOVELTEA
Limited-edition alcoholic Celebrate is made from Scotch Whisky, full bodied black tea and infused with winter spices including cloves, cardamom and cinnamon to give the undeniable taste of Christmas. This new winter spiced flavour from NOVELTEA can be gently heated to bring out its spiced fruit flavour, offering a warming tipple in the winter months.
noveltea-drinks.com
£24.95
CUCIELO Rosso
From a collection of wonderfully complex Italian vermouths, made in the classic revered style of Vermouth di Torino, CUCIELO Rosso displays a deep festive red hue and warming winter spices. Intensely smooth, this is aromatic with caramelised orange and rhubarb, and gushes with ripe red fruit with a warm, dry finish. From Turin, one of Italy’s most stylish cities.
amazon.co.uk
£22.95
Bottle Bar and Shop Cocktails
These purveyors of striking homemade bottled cocktails have spent the lockdown perfecting their greatest Christmas gift selection. Natalie John and husband Xhulio Sina’s Christmas In A Bottle cocktail has been infused with festive spices of cinnamon and cardamom for over eight weeks to create a cocktail full of Christmasy flavours.
bottlebarandshop.com
£17.00 for a 200cl bottle
NIO Cocktails
With five limited edition cocktails in time of the festive season, the NIO Cocktails Christmas Collection make a style toast. Each cocktail comes as a single serve in a handy sleeve, and of all the festive takes, the Spiced Negroni is the standout mix, with the addition of allspice to warm the cockles this winter.
niococktails.co.uk
£39 for a 6-pack
Moore House Cocktails
The most decadent of the eight artisan pre-batched cocktails in the Moore House Cocktail Company’s collection has to be the limited-edition Salted Caramel Espresso Martini. Measure into a shaker with ice and then strain into a chilled glass garnished with roasted coffee beans.
moorehousecocktails.co.uk
£16 for a 200ml bottle
Spirit of Aloha 65
If this spirit’s iconic blue bottle is a summer stunner then get ready for the winter label edition, which is bringing La Folie Douce après ski home this season. Syrupy with warming botanicals of pineapple, ginger and chilli, Spirit of Aloha 65 hits the spot on a homely night by the fire in front of a good film, poured as a long drink and mixed with ginger ale.
aloha65.com
£22.50
Twist Hard Seltzer
How can a drink that’s low calorie still be this sweet and delicious? Twist Hard Seltzer comes in three fruity flavours and the taste of fresh strawberries twisted with tart and tangy notes of fresh rhubarb is sure to become a festive favourite. This is a triple distilled neutral grain spirit produced in London, mixed with natural spring water and gently carbonated.
selfridges.com
£19 for a 6-pack from Selfridges
Cranes Cider Gift Set
With three exciting fruit ciders and a glass, this is a charming stocking filler from Cranes. Crafted by cidermaking twins Ben and Dan Ritsema in Cambridge, these flavourful bottles contain 30% fewer calories than brand leaders.
amazon.co.uk
£16.99
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #9: MEZCAL
Montelobos
An artisanal mezcal, Montelobos Joven Mezcal is and made with organically certified espadin agave, carefully crafted by agave geek and premier authority of all things agave –
Iván Saldaña. A ferocious looking wolf on the label cunningly hides a well-balanced blend of roasted agave notes, herbaceous elements and a classic whiff of smoke. A perfect introduction to Mezcal.
masterofmalt.com
£44.95
Christmas 2020 drinks guide #10: LIQUEURS
St-Germain Winter Bloom Bauble & Spritz Kit
Deck the halls with the world’s first French liqueur – made with up to 1000 fresh, wild, handpicked elderflower blossoms in every bottle. St-Germain with florist Hedges & Flowers are ensuring a playful festive season at home with their luxurious kit that includes everything to make a delicious St-Germain Spritz plus four floral glass baubles to decorate the tree.
Disaronno Velvet
In a well-dressed bottle, newly released Disaronno Velvet is a silky cream liqueur with hints of toasted almonds, vanilla and toffee.
tesco.com
£15 for a 500ml bottle
Stambecco Italian Cherry Amaro
Distilled by the Vergano family in Northern Italy, the name ‘Stambecco’ comes from the Italian word for the Ibex mountain goats that roam the Italian alps. Made using maraschino cherries and sweet and bitter oranges, the flavour profile includes coriander seeds, oregano and wintry cloves and nutmeg. This is fun as an ice-cold shot.
amazon.co.uk
£25
Starlino Rosé
For a delicious, natural and complex aperitif made with a blend of natural fruits, herbs and spices, mix this intriguing bittersweet botanical distillation into a sophisticated serve. Pour Starlino over ice in a large wine glass and top with sparkling wine and soda. Add a slice of fresh orange to garnish for a premium Italian rosé spritz.
amazon.co.uk
£23
Grand Marnier Cuvée de Centenaire
First launched in 1927 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the house of Marnier Lapostolle, the Cuvée du Centenaire special edition is a super-premium, staggeringly good Grand Marnier orange liqueur. This tipple has become something of a Christmas tradition. Based on Cognacs from the Grande and Petite Champagne regions, it is a superb sip.
masterofmalt.com
£120
Ancho Reyes
A touch of ice, Ancho Reyes, a splash of soda water and a lime garnish is how we are supposed to drink this spicy, smoky Mexican liquid made with Ancho chillies and dried Poblano chillies. Macerated in cane spirit for 6 months produces an addictive fiery, spicy and sweet liqueur that can also spice up your classic cocktail.
drinksupermarket.com
£34.99
All imagery courtesy of the brands featured. Featured image courtesy of BEAU JOIE