From a hamper for a loved one or some chutneys to making leftover cold turkey more enticing, here is our Christmas guide to the best food offerings around in 2023.
Experiences
The Moet & Chandon Champagne Bar at Harrods
Moet & Chandon have unveiled an exclusive new menu of Champagne cocktails and food bites for visitors to celebrate the festive season together at the Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar, at Harrods. The cocktails have been creatively crafted to be distillations of festive-fun, while the selections of apéritif, savoury and sweet food bites have been infused with warming spices, aromas and flavours to capture the spirit of the winter months.
The Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar, inspired by Jean Rémy Moët’s ambition to share the “magic of Champagne with the world”, is an intimate 34-seated bar that offers a unique, full selection of Moët & Chandon wines from the iconic Impérial Brut to rare limited Grand Vintage Collection cuvées served by the glass and the magnum – as well as signature Champagne Cocktails alongside a selection of expertly paired food bites.
From – Harrods
Price | Champagne from £19.50
Cocktails with an Italian twist at Il Gattopardo
Il Gattopardo, the new Mayfair restaurant inspired by 1960s Italy does not only do the best pizzette in London but also festive cocktails. The three new cocktails feature hints of Christmas flavours with the ‘Christmas Vacation’ with Appleton 12yo Rum and panettone syrup, the ‘A Wonderful Life’ with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, persimmon & orange jam, maple syrup, cedro and egg white and finally the ‘White Christmas’ with Don Julio 1942 and clementine. The restaurant has also added classic Italian Panettone to the menu for the festive season.
From – Il Gattopardo
Price | From £18
Hampers and Gifts
On the Table – Big Celebration Box
If you’re really out to impress this Christmas, then this one really does tick all the boxes. Beautifully packaged in a signature box, it’s a curation of everything the On The Table team would ever want in a hamper this Winter. Think bits for snacking, Sparkling for celebrating and small batch chocolate for after. You’ll also discover the best in British cheese and charcuterie, plus delicious Lincolnshire Poacher, the handmade Bix Organic Soft Cheese, crackers, olives and crisps.
From – On the Table
Price | £100
Say Cheese from Cheesegeek
This is something a little different – personalised cheeses for the Christmas stocking! Say Cheese from artisanal cheese brand Cheesegeek allows you to add personalised photos onto a mini-Waterloo — known for its rich, light and creamy taste. Perfect for friends and families, simply upload an image and it will be individually personalised onto a 180g cheese, serving two people, and immediately packaged by Cheesegeek’s own little elves. Available for pre-ordering, allow one to two working days for delivery.
From – Cheesegeek
Price | £15
1912 Stilton
The Long Clawson dairy has created four new festive cocktail recipes released featuring award winning British blue cheese, 1912 Stilton. A quartet of cocktail recipes were commissioned by British Stilton maker Long Clawson, to celebrate its artisanal Stilton, 1912, named after the year the dairy was formed and first made by its Master Cheesemakers, who grade the cheese multiple times to ensure the quality, taste and texture. Long Clawson is a cooperative of 30 milk producing farmers within a 30 mile radius. From the heartland of true Stilton® country, backed by a PDO status, this cheese is comfortingly creamy with beautiful blue veins that even works in cocktails!
From – 1912
Price | £3
The Luxury Food Collective – Jam, Honey and Spreads Gift Box
Discover the taste of homemade jams, honey and spreads this festive time with the contents of this sweet little hamper from The Luxury Food Collective. Enjoy fruity Blackberry honey, salted caramel cream spread, earthy Piedmont hazelnut praline spread, rhubarb preserve and nutty pistachio supreme spread – ideal for spreading on toast, incorporating into any baking or straight from the container! They also offer a wide range of other festive goodies, perfect for any gastronome.
From – The Luxury Food Collective
Price | £55
Tracklements Festive Goodies
The perfect accompaniment for any festive feast, The Festive Goodies Box contains a curated selection of some of their most famous Christmas must-haves, perfect for enlivening the main meal, other leftovers and the cheese board. There’s the Christmas Spice Chutney, Cranberry, Port and Orange Sauce, Apple and Cider Brandy Chutney, Spiced Plum Chutney and Strong Horseradish Cream. Based in Wiltshire, Tracklements makes an award-winning range of over 60 small-batch artisan condiments from the UK’s first Wholegrain Mustard to award-winning Fresh chilli jam.
From – Tracklements
Price | £23.05
ZENB
ZENB are a Japanese-inspired food & lifestyle brand that offers, plant-based products and veggie-based snacks, which include parts of the vegetables traditionally overlooked, like skin, seeds, and stems. Their plant-based products are made with both people and the planet in mind to help everyone live a more balanced happy life. They are also vegan, gluten-free and tasty with a range of products from pastas to noodles and sauces.
From – ZENB
Price | Varies
Sacla Deluxe Antipasti Selection
You don’t have to visit Italy to enjoy a true taste of Italian antipasti! Gather your loved ones to enjoy this deluxe array of Italian antipasti, with a charcuterie board to get the crowd talking. Pair award-winning artisan charcuterie, specially created by TV Masterchefs Dhruv Baker and Tom Whitaker with a range of Italian delights such as Mastrocesare Truffle Grissini and a crisp Poretnova Pinot Grigio, for a treat that is sure to impress. With so many excellent components, it will take no time to build a board that your guests simply will not be able to resist!
From – Sacla
Price | £60
Christmas with Whole Foods Market
Celebrate Christmas with the help of Whole Foods Market. From luxury stocking fillers to a festive twist on holiday home comforts, there’s something to put everyone in the holiday spirit. Whole Foods Market’s 2023 Christmas ‘top picks’ are a testament to the retailer’s mission to nourish people and the planet, with all their products meeting a rigorous food quality standard — prohibiting over 230 preservatives, flavours, colours, sweeteners and other ingredients commonly found in food.
Holiday treats include The Stackable Pancake Co. Gingerbread Pancake Mix, Botivo Aperitif, Booja-Booja Yuletide Spice Truffle Logs, and others. These decadent treats are available to purchase at any of the seven London stores or online through Deliveroo.
From — Whole Foods Market
Price | £4.99 to £249.99
Festive Gifts from Eataly
Eataly London will be the ultimate destination for all foodie gifts this Christmas. Shoppers can take their pick from an array of Eataly’s much-loved hampers, packed with a selection of luxury culinary treats. Indulge in the finest Italian produce, including sweet and savoury products, bringing the seasonal flavours of Italy to life. Alongside the vast range of hampers, Eataly will once again offer the UK’s biggest selection of panettoni and for the first time, Eataly will launch their own festive panettone range.
From — Eataly
Price| £55.90 to £159.90
Hampers from Harvey Nichols
A gift like no other, Harvey Nichols’ gift range includes an assortment of glorious hampers that bring the classic seasonal flavours of Christmas to life, all beautifully packaged in signature wicker baskets and black gift boxes. With timeless classics, including the Luxury Wine and Champagne Hamper and Winter Warmers Hamper, as well as some new additions including A Very Harvey Nichols Christmas Hamper and Christmas Greetings from Italy Hamper. Be spoiled for choice but safe in the knowledge that there is an ideal hamper for everyone.
From — Harvey Nichols
Price | £45 to £2500
Sweet things
Läderach Santa Claus
If you and your family love Swiss chocolates, then this little Santa Claus character from Chocolatiers Läderach will be the perfect Christmas stocking filler … if it makes it that long! This tempting little depiction of the great man — Santa Claus — shows him with his sack as he makes his way around the world, delivering gifts. Finn the Reindeer is also depicted in either milk or dark chocolate with a mini version also available. These are just one of the many options – advent calendars, boxes of chocolates, chocolate bars and more — that they create to make our sweet dreams come true.
From – Läderach
Price | Santa Claus from £4.50 – £12 / Finn from £7.50 – £19
FARHI Bonbonnières
Inspired by centuries of European tradition, Fahi Bonbonnières pay homage to a time when the host of a celebration offered their guests a trinket made from porcelain, crystal or silver, containing delicacies made from sugar. Designed to bestow good luck on their guests, Farhi’s modern interpretations in red, blue, gold or floral colourways, are handmade in Kashmir from papier mâché, perfect for a keepsake box when all the delicious chocolate almonds contained within are devoured.
From – Farhi
Price | £30
Niederegger Christmas Marzipanerie Gift Box
Arguably the world’s finest marzipan makers, based in Lubeck, Germany, Niederegger have guarded their secret recipe since 1806 when pastry chef, Johann Georg Niederegger founded the company. The benchmark in marzipan, enjoy a gift box of their favourites – classic and flavoured mini loaves, dark chocolate en-robed hearts and delicious fruit-filled mini marzipan cakes made from 58% Mediterranean almonds. Niederegger also make delicious pralines, nougat and chocolate — you have been warned!
From – John Lewis
Price | £24
Banhoek Chilli Oil
Hand-made in small batches in the Banhoek Valley near Stellenbosch, South Africa, Banhoek Chilli Oil uses induction heating to gently infuse sun-dried, hand-crushed bird’s eye chillies with premium rapeseed oil. It achieves its consistent heat level and perfect balance of flavour by expertly filtering the chillies from the oil after infusing. Winner of a Great Taste Award in 2019, 100% natural, vegan, non GMO, halal and kosher. Low in saturated fats and high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. It is also a source of brain-building omega-6, as well as vitamins E and K that can help fight skin damage and the effects of ageing.
From – Amazon, Ocado, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Daylesford Organic and independent deli, butchers and restaurants throughout the UK.
Price | £8.50
Wines and Champagnes
Celebrate with Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne
The Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne is the embodiment of luxury and elegance. The vibrant raspberry and salmon hue is visually stunning, while the nose delights with bold and fruity aromas. Upon tasting, marvel in the intricate symphony of flavours, featuring subtle spice and pepper notes intertwined with the freshness of red berries. Its fine effervescence and balanced acidity create a harmonious dance on the palate, leaving a lasting impression of opulence.
From — Harvey Nichols
Price | £54.99
Black Pig Red Wine Trio with Glasses in Branded Gift Box
For oenophiles everywhere, what could be better than a gift box containing three carefully selected Australian wines from the exclusive Black Pig range accompanied by a pair of Dartington Crystal Wine Glasses and a set of tasting notes? These glorious reds include a Cabernet Sauvignon from 16 Little Black Pigs, the Black Pig McLaren Vale Shiraz and the multi-award-winning The Black Pig The Prize Shiraz, with deep black fruit flavours, zealous spice and over 2,500 5-star reviews — plus it will cellar for another five years happily.
From – Virgin Wines
Price | £59.99
Vins de Provence
Treat friends, family (and yourself) to a case of mixed wine this Christmas with a Vins de Provence rosé trio, the world’s leading producer of rosé wines. While rosé is typically thought of as a summer drink, an increasing number of us are turning to this wine for the festive season each year — both as a delicious accompaniment to holiday meals or to elevate any occasion with friends. Covering some 28,000 hectares of vineyards across the foothills of the Provencal massifs, Vins de Provence is an impressive operation, bringing together some 469 individual wine cellars, 53 cooperative cooperatives and 37 négociant-vinificateurs.
From – Cambridge Wine Merchants
Price | £46.75
Ridgeview Cavendish NV
A touch of fizz always goes down well at any time of the year but especially at Christmas. This little English beauty is a deliciously rich and round sparkling wine, a wonderful accompaniment to festive canapés, featuring duck, trout, charcuterie or wintry earthy beetroot. This delicious sparkling wine, with exceptionally fine bubbles, also pairs perfectly with turkey and light meats so let’s pop some corks this Christmastide. This wine is produced at the Sussex vineyards of Ridgeview, an award-winning, sustainable vineyard since 1995.
From – Ridgeview
Price | £36
G.H Mumm Cordon Rouge
Aged for two years, this Champagne is well worth the wait. The backbone of Maison Mumm, this Pinot Noir is fresh and has tasting notes of fruits and caramel. It’s the ideal aperitif among friends, so why not crack open a couple of bottles and ring in the New Year?
From – Amazon
Price | £27.50 on offer
Tesco’s Finest
When choosing Christmas champagne, head to Tesco’s Finest range where their festive elves have already pre-selected the best of the best – and good value – bubbles for our delectation. These range from the home-grown Tesco Finest English Sparkling from the award-winning Balfour winery in Kent to Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne and Tesco Finest Vintage Champagne, both produced by Union Champagne in Champagne with the former made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and the latter from Chardonnay grapes only and from the best-located vineyards of the Grand Cru villages of the Côtes des Blancs.
From – Tesco
Price | £21 for Tesco Finest English Sparkling / £25 for Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne and £30 for Tesco Finest Vintage Champagne
Champagne Castelnau Brut
Nothing says Christmas quite like the sound of a Champagne cork popping, and the magic that’s in a glass shared, so let’s open up a bottle of Champagne Castelnau Brut, the epitome of French finesse and elegance that adds a touch of lavish luxury to the holiday season. Presented in new, extra-special gift packaging: adorned with classic gold and premium cues of Champagne, it’s the must-have gift of the season that oozes opulence and sophistication making it the ideal centrepiece for special occasions and the perfect partner to a whole host of dishes.
From – The Wine Society
Price | £33.81
The Spirits of Christmas
Mezcal Amaras
Mezcal Amaras is a true love letter to world class mezcal. Batch-produced using traditional sustainable techniques, Mezcal Amaras is made from the ideal varietal of agave combined with the most skilled master distiller to work with it. However, all Mezcal Amaras expressions have a philosophy in common – 100% natural and sustainable processes, including milling with a tahona stone turned by a mule, and natural fermentation in open wooden vats. The brand dedicates 20% of its net profits to ecological and social sustainability programmes. They also replant 10 agaves for every plant they harvest, as well as establishing a nursery to propagate heritage agave varietals and maintain biodiversity. It also tastes fantastic – a subtle smokiness and a creamy, velvety finish.
From – Mezcal Amaras
Price | From £48.
Rock Rose
Select a beautiful rope hamper filled with delicious goodies from Dunnet Bay Distillers, purveyors of premium Scottish spirits, for the gin lover in your life. A real treat for those who love a good G&T, the hamper contains a 700ml Rock Rose Gin Original Edition in a ceramic bottle for life, a delicately branded Rock Rose Gin glass, a Distilling Day Candle, two Rock Rose Gin & Cushiedoos Tonic cans plus a Caithness Chocolate Mr Mackintosh Lollipup.
From – Dunnet Bay Distillers
Price | £71
ADRAY Scotch whisky
ARDRAY is a malt-rich blend created using a handful of malts (from no more than 10 distilleries). The aim is only to include the finest and most complex Scotch whiskies so grain and malt whiskies are blended at precise ratio increments to find the exact point at which the perfect harmony was achieved. Bottled at 48% and Non-Chill filtered to make the most of the full complex character of the whiskies in the blend, there are hints of apple, pear, and plum lying over a soft savoury smokiness and hints of oregano and clementine. The taste is a floral and citrus fruitiness then vanilla custard creaminess and silkiness come to the fore, creating a multi-layered, rich, long-lasting finish.
From — The Whisky Shop
Price | £60
Renais Gin
Renais gin is inspired by the people, provenance and produce of France, as well as the terroir and tradition of French winemaking, resulting in a bold and vibrant modern gin. Capturing the traditions of winemaking and distilling of gin, Renais is created from a base of grape skins, giving it a unique flavour profile. Made in small batches, expect an array of natural botanicals including juniper berries, angelica root, linden flowers and acacia honey. This is a delicious, complex gin with the minerality of Chablis wine, fresh citrus notes, and warming spices.
From — Renais Gin
Price | £48
Desi Daru Vodka
Desi Daru has been a game-changer in the drinks industry, offering two exceptional iterations: the classic Original and the juicy Mango. The Mango Vodka, in particular, has not only conquered the UK Flavoured Vodka category at the World Drink Awards but also earned the title of ‘World’s Best Flavoured Vodka,’ securing its place on the global stage. It also scooped up an impressive 5 Master Medals at the Spirits Business Vodka Masters including the Overall Taste Master Medal — making it the judge’s favourite of the day. With a sleek new bottle design from the UK and crafted in Italy, the new bottle has a distinctive shape. With luxurious gold accents, and a nod to Indian architecture, this bespoke bottle captivates vodka lovers and design aficionados alike.
From — Amazon
Price | £39 for 70 cL
Four Seas by Salcombe Gin
Four Seas by Salcombe Gin marks a new partnership with the RNLI, with 10% of the net price of each bottle donated to the vital work carried out by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. So not only will you enjoy the delicious taste of their spirit, but you can rest easy that you are also supporting a great cause with every sip you take. Simply serve in a highball glass with Indian tonic, ice and lemon or in a cocktail to showcase the subtle notes of smoked citrus and a hint of sea salt.
From – Master of Malt
Price | £39.50
Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru
Infused with hand-picked Murcian Fino lemons, mandarins and sweet Navel oranges, Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru makes the perfect Christmas gifting bottle for any gin lover. Celebrating Spain’s Murcia region, this bittersweet yet balanced taste makes it a perfect target for any talented amateur mixologist this festive season. Equally at home with the simple classics like a G&T as well as being perfect in a French 75, this London Dry Gin contains no artificial flavours or essences and draws all its flavour solely from the botanicals and the distillation process alone, capturing the best flavours that nature has to offer.
From – Amazon
Price | £26
Silent Pool Classic Magnum Gin
If you are going to push the boat out this Christmas, then head to the Surrey Hill’s most elegant distillery on the Duke of Northumberland’s Albury Estate. This luxury handcrafted gin is made from 24 botanicals and presented in a stunning blue and gold bedecked 1.5-litre bottle. Just the thing to make any celebration go with a zing, it is perfect on its own or mixed into a G&T with an Indian tonic, garnished with an orange slice.
From – Silent Pool
Price | £99
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Sloe Gin
We, at Luxuriate Life know that you can’t go wrong with a glass of Sloe Gin. With a British heritage dating back to the 17th century, this traditional British drink is a real festive favourite, so when the creators of the award-winning peppery Monkey 47 turned their hand to Sloe Gin, we happily took a sip or two. Made with 47 handpicked botanicals including lingonberries and macerated Black Forest sloes and supplied in an old-fashioned pharmacy bottle, it is a real treat for the soul and has a permanent spot on our bar.
From – Harvey Nichols
Price | £47
Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla
Made with sweet and sour Seville oranges, Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Distilled Gin offers a bold, fruity taste that evokes the flavour of the Mediterranean sun. Perfect in a festive Sevilla Negroni! Or if you prefer a London Dry, Tanqueray has been producing the same timeless recipe since 1830.
From – Sainsbury’s
Price | £28
Vapoura Gold Rum
Rum aficionados will love the elegant, vintage lines of the Vapoura Gold Rum bottle, a must for the home bar, encasing a truly unique spirit. With a swirl of vanilla and a hint of tobacco and chocolate with top notes of vanilla and caramel, this velvety liquid is sure to entice any festive follower, its small batch distillation ensuring a taunting, sippable finish is produced, unique in its refinement and complexity.
From – Vapoura Rum
Price | £65
Graham’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port
This wood-matured tawny port, produced using time-honoured craftsmanship and generations of experience, was mellowed in seasoned oak casks at Graham’s stone-walled lodge, built on the estuary of the Douro River in 1890. Graham’s “10 Years Old” is a tribute to craftsmanship, a tribute to the passion for excellence and unmatched precision at the heart of every handmade Aged Tawny Port. After a decade of continuous care, Graham’s “10 Years Old” is a wonderful expression of the Tawny style for those who appreciate quality and precision in every detail.
From – Waitrose
Price | £22.49
Chivas Regal XV
Rich and warming with cinnamon notes offering a velvety and refined flavour, this 15-year-old masterfully crafted blended scotch, Chivas Regal XV, has been finished in casks that previously held Grande champagne cognac. This means that as well as being a smooth, rich and sophisticated Wee Dram, it also pairs equally well with champagne to create the classic XV Champagne cocktail. Distilled in the rolling Highland hills in the Strathisla Distillery, the brand was originally established in 1786, the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
From – Selfridges
Price | £58.99
Diageo’s Spirited Xchange Special Releases Scotch Whisky Collection
The small-batch, limited-edition Special Releases collection 2023 celebrates the journey of Scotch, countries and cultures around the world. The eight distillery’s first expressions have been crafted by Master Blender Dr. Stuart Morrison and to bring them to life, eight artists from across the world were chosen to illustrate the packaging design and to inspire the liquid selection and cask finishing. The full collection includes Mortlach ‘The Katana’s Edge’, The Singleton ‘The Silken Gown’, Talisker ‘The Wild Explorador’, Lagavulin ‘The Ink of Legends’, Roseisle ‘The Origami Kite’, Glenkinchie ‘The Floral Treasure’, Oban ‘The Soul of Calypso’ and Clynelish ‘The Jazz Crescendo’.
From – Malts
Price | From £120
Single-blended Fuji Whisky
Fuji Whisky, the premium Japanese brand, has just launched in the UK with a product produced in the foothills of Mount Fuji which is blessed with lush forests, crystal clear waters and pure air. Clean tasting and nurtured over time in this beautiful environment, the distillery has the capability to produce both malt and grain whiskies on-site, having adopted production methods from across the globe. This is a whisky which is multi-layered, elegantly sweet, and fruity with a rich aftertaste and a silky finish.
From – The Whisky Exchange
Price | £71.95
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
A favourite of Bourbon connoisseurs and casual whiskey fans alike, Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has multiple awards and distinctions to its name, most recently winning Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021 and 2022. Long before the term Small Batch existed, Heaven Hill’s Master Distillers were hand-selecting just the right number of barrels to make Elijah Craig. This expertise and attention to detail give Elijah Craig Small Batch the right balance of rich flavour and full body for a warm spice and subtle smoke flavour.
From — House of Malt
Price | £43.90
Amarula Cream Liqueur
Amarula Cream Liqueur is a versatile and delicious liqueur, best served over ice or enjoyed with hot chocolate or coffee or in a wide variety of chic, crafted cocktails such as the Don Pedro. Made from the fruits of the Marula Tree which can only be found across Africa’s subequatorial plains, the fruit is hand collected, sorted, washed, pulped and fermented with the resulting elixir aged in French oak barrels for two years. This infuses it with vanilla and toast as it matures before being blended with cream and other flavours to round out the smooth silky taste.
From – Amazon
Price | £11
All imagery courtesy of the brands featured. Leading image courtesy of Unsplash.