Christmas Gift Guide for Wine & Spirit Lovers 2021

When I’m not eating and exploring, my other passion is wine.  In fact, I’m happiest when I can combine all three so I love visits to vineyards, wine tastings, and trying amazing food and wine abroad.  It’s definitely not a cheap hobby though so gifts are very much appreciated.  I love receiving presents of delicious wines, spirits or accessories and barware as I know that someone has really taken the time to buy something with one of my passions in mind. This Christmas will be a bit different though, with a little one having arrived six months ago!  No over-indulging for me as I’m breastfeeding but I’ve been exploring lots of no and lower alcohol options too so I can still celebrate with the best of them this festive season!  And also, just because I can’t drink much doesn’t mean I haven’t got you all covered!

This Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Wine & Spirit Lovers is sure to have something in it for the oenophile in your life.  They’re all listed on my Amazon Shop Page so check it out – I hope it helps!

I always love receiving new and interesting wines in my stocking and this year I’ve been introduced to the Edouard Delaunay Septembre collection of wines. I mean, Christmas isn’t complete without some Burgundy and these two elegant, well-made wines offer typical Burgundy character at exceptionally good value for money prices. (RRP 14.99-£16.99) The first is a Chardonnay made in the style of great white Burgundies and barrel-aged to produce citrus, lemon and orange blossom aromas followed by notes of melted butter, frangipane and hazelnut on the palate.  The second is a contemporary, complex Pinot Noir, bursting with fresh aromas of cherry and redcurrant followed by notes of blueberry tart and marzipan, it has a good balance with freshness, length and well-integrated subtle nuances of oak and spices (cumin) from the barrel ageing.  Great wines for your festive table which will make really interesting talking points.  Available from Majestic!

And if Burgundy is your thing and you want a greater selection then how about Bourgogne Wines.  Their website helps you out with wine and food pairings – you can input the food you want to serve and it will suggest wines to you (or the other way round – your can input your preferred wine and it will tell you which food it pairs best with).  They have so much information available about the region and the wines , vineyards you can visit yours you can do, even wine courses you can partake in.  Plan your next wine tasting trip or simply brush up on your Burgundy knowledge and discover something new!

Have you ever heard of Blueberry Wine? Nope, me neither so I was very intrigued to read about Blue Aurora who is a new British Company making wine with blueberries grown in Northamptonshire.  They make three types of wine, Dusk (£11.95), Midnight (£11.95), and an Ice Wine (£17.95) and all are made with blueberries that are either slightly too small or too soft for the supermarkets, but otherwise are still great quality, great-tasting fruit so they are helping to prevent food waste.  These award-winning wines will be sure to liven up your Christmas entertaining and will definitely be a talking point at your next dinner party.

Drinks always taste better when they’re served in a fancy glass. It makes the whole experience that bit more luxurious so I’m always on the lookout for glassware that’s a bit different.  These beautiful, handblown, black Martini glasses are so fabulously eccentric and so decadent, that they have to have pride of place at my next cocktail party!  Dan is the Martini maker in our house and prides himself on having a great recipe – apparently, it’s all about limiting contact with the ice.  The set is only £19 and is available from Drinkind (which donates to a different charity every quarter, so it really is a gift that gives back). I love the iridescence and think it really gives that special occasion kind of feeling.  

Rum is one of those drinks that I don’t really know too much about – other than a few too many rum punches on trips to the Caribbean.  However, this Cabal ‘Polar Ice’ rum tickled both the drinker and the explorer in me! This Christmas, In partnership with ‘The Explorers Club,’ Cabal is launching an exclusive limited-edition rum containing Polar Ice which was brought back from the South Pole by explorer Luke Robertson, the first Scot to complete a solo, unassisted and unsupported trek there. Just 50 bottles of this unique product will be made and hand-finished and will be auctioned off but you can get your own bottle of their Polar Explorer Rum (RRP £89.95) on the website now. If you manage to get your hands on a bottle of this exclusive rum, don’t waste it spiking your hot chocolate mulled wine or eggnog.  This one is for drinking neat and savouring the special flavours.  If you’re not lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle then make sure to try the Cabal 1513 instead!

For something a bit different, how about a sherry?  Long thought of as the Grandma’s Christmas Tipple, sherry has had a bad rap but it really is an incredibly complex drink and one of my favourites now!  From dry, through to super sweet there are so many different styles that there is sure to be one that you love! La Gitana Manzanilla is a dry sherry I have recently discovered.  It is produced using American oak casks and matured under a veil of yeast or ‘flor’ (a type of local yeast that forms a cap on the wine, protecting it from oxidation), ensuring a light dry taste. It’s dry and refreshing, with apple, straw, and nutty flavours underscored by a salty tanginess. Serve it chilled in a wine glass as an aperitif. Or pair with food such as seafood and shellfish! Available in most supermarkets or on Amazon (RRP £12.99).

Have you ever thought that your cocktails lack finesse? Do you ever want to make that Friday evening G&T a little bit more special? Well look no further… with a few Liqueurs from Giffard in your cupboard you’ll be a resident mixologist in no time! Giffard liqueurs are a secret weapon for cocktail-makers, professional and amateur alike. ‘Tweak your tipple’ with 25ml of your chosen flavour, and watch the authentic French flavour transform your mixed drink into a delicious cocktail in seconds!  From nutty hazelnut to fruity grapefruit to rich coffee, there is a liqueur to suit all palates and all cocktail styles! Also available from Ocado at around £17.

Whisky never used to be my thing and now I love the stuff!  I feel like I’ve missed out on years of whisky drinking so I’m making up for it now!  I’m by no means an expert but I’m trying to learn about the different types and flavours and I’m really keen to try The Graduate (Batch 4) which is the latest offering from the Oxford Artisan Distillery.  The whisky is made from a blend of heritage wheat and rye and is aged in American Oak barrels.  The result is a blend of refreshing spices and herbs with a hint of sweet ginger cakes and ripe banana mingle.  Salty roasted nuts and toffee give a festive finish to this delicious drink.  Priced at £95 it’s a decadent drink for the whisky lover in your life and get your hands on a bottle soon as it is a limited edition and likely to sell out!

If whiskey from the Emerald Isle is more your thing then maybe this will hit the mark.  Black Bush Irish whiskey(RRP £26) combines an exceptionally high amount of malt married with a sweet, small-batch grain whiskey.  It is then matured in former Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks giving it rich, fruity notes and a deep intense character, balanced by an incredibly unique smoothness. It’s best enjoyed neat, over ice, or in classic cocktails. The most seasoned of Irish whiskey drinkers know that you can’t beat Black Bush. Bushmill’s distillery is located on the ruggedly beautiful coast of County Antrim, a stone’s throw from the legendary Giant’s Causeway, and it is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Over 400 years of passion and know-how, so they know what they’re doing and it shows!

For any aspiring whisky connoisseurs, I have a fabulously creative gift for you!  A Lindores Abbey 1494 Membership is an amazing way to buy a piece of history mixed with some delicious whisky too!  Membership gives you access to so much including complimentary bottles of spirits and discounts on new products.  You can visit the distillery for free for life and partake in their ‘Bear Burning Ceremony’ (sounds intriguing.  Buying a membership will also help towards the preservation of the Lindores Abbey and you can be a part of the Distillery’s future as a tree will be planted in their orchard in your name!

Churchill’s War Rooms Whisky, (£55) inspired by Winston Churchill’s fondness for whisky has been developed for the Imperial War Museum. It has an aroma of Speyside pear-drops and a subtle hint of Islay saltiness and is remarkably smooth, gentle and well balanced with a trace of nuttiness, sweet barley and dried apricots. The overall characteristic is full-bodied and sophisticated, some may say just like the great statesman himself, and is an ideal drink for all occasions.  Churchill’s love of whisky came about when he was transferred to India as a young army officer and the limited choice saw him develop his famous relationship with the drink. His children coined his daily drink of whisky and water as the Papa cocktail.

The IWM have also curated this book of Churchill’s Cocktails (£12.99) It is published in association with The Churchill Bar at the Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel in London and features 30 new and classic cocktail recipes inspired by the colourful and often controversial life of the man voted the ‘Greatest Briton’ – Winston Churchill.  Beautiful photography of each cocktail at Churchill War Rooms and The Churchill Bar accompany each recipe, where you’ll find a detailed method and ingredients list and a short description of how each drink is inspired by the life of Winston Churchill, complemented by archive photographs of the man himself. So sit back, mix it up or just take a sip of cocktails including The Clementine, The New Yorker or The Iron Curtain.

And finally, I’ve long been of the opinion that Tequila is going to make a comeback in a big way.  Over the last couple of years, we’ve had the gin craze and I think it’s Tequila’s turn next.  Gone are the days of dodgy shots at the end of the night, good quality sipping tequila is where it’s at – or a T&T as I’ve christened it (Tequila and Tonic!)  I really love the flavour of a good tequila over ice…

…which is where Maestro DOBEL Humito comes in as it is the world’s first smoked silver tequila (RRP £68).  It is made with 100% blue agave and its smokiness is achieved by cooking the agave over aromatic mesquite wood resulting in an extraordinary balanced and elegant smoky note. I think this tequila reminds me of festive evenings sat by the fireside – it’s a great alternative for someone who loves a Scotch but is up for trying something different.

I hope something in this Christmas Gift Guide for Wine & Spirit Lovers has tickled your taste buds!  I can honestly say, the more you learn about wine, the more you appreciate it.  A little knowledge goes a long way and I hope you enjoy the journey!

Everything mentioned in this Gift Guide along with many more ideas is available in my Amazon Shop so please take a look.

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