Why Do You Decant Wine?

Decanting wine might seem like a fancy ritual reserved for sommeliers and posh dinner parties, but there's more to it than just looking impressive. Whether you're a budding wine enthusiast or someone who just enjoys a good glass of red after a long day, understanding why and how to decant wine can make your drinking experience that much better. After all, the painful part is spending money on the bottle – you may as well get the most out of it after that. Plus, it may give you an excuse to whip out that beautiful decanter you’ve been eyeing up!

Why should I decant wine?

In a nutshell, the main reason for decanting wine is to enhance its flavour and aroma, making your sipping experience more enjoyable. By transferring the wine from its bottle to a decanter, you’re allowing it to breathe, which means it gets exposed to oxygen. This exposure softens harsh tannins, particularly in younger reds, and helps to release the wine's bouquet—think of it as letting the wine stretch its legs after being cooped up in a bottle for years.

The same thought process can also be applied to pieces from a broken cork, so this is a handy way to save wines cursed by this.

Additionally, decanting can help separate the wine from any sediment that might have formed, especially in older vintages, ensuring you don’t get a gritty surprise in your glass.

When should I decant wine?

Not every wine demands the same decanting treatment. Generally, bold red wines like Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Bordeaux benefit the most from a good dose of oxygen. These wines are often tannic and structured, so giving them some time in a decanter can work wonders in softening their edges.

However, it’s not just about the big reds. Some white wines, particularly those with complex structures like Chardonnay, can also benefit from a quick decant. It’s less common but can make the flavours more expressive. Just don’t overdo it; whites are more delicate and can lose their freshness if left exposed for too long. And not just whites, but all wines deteriorate once excessively oxidized.

On the other hand, there are times when you should avoid decanting. Delicate, older wines—especially ones over 15-20 years—might fall apart quickly once exposed to air. If you do decant these, it’s best to do so gently and serve them soon after to enjoy the fleeting but magical moment they offer.

There may be the rare occasion when you wish to evaporate away the pungent aroma of a sparkling wine and a gentle decant can soften aggressive bubbles, but as a rule we suggest avoiding it because it’s not that beneficial, and you run the risk of killing off all the bubbles.

How to decant wine?

Decanting wine is simpler than it sounds, but it isn’t as simple as uncorking and allowing a small amount of air to flow into the bottle. First, stand the bottle upright for a few hours before you plan to decant, especially if it’s old, to allow the sediment to settle at the bottom. Then, slowly pour the wine into the decanter in a steady, slow stream, aiming to avoid disturbing the sediment - you want this to remain at the bottom.

If you’re feeling particularly cautious, you can use a light source, like a candle, under the neck of the bottle to see when the sediment is getting close to the mouth. You might not want to waste a drop, but leaving a tiny bit of liquid in the bottle is essential for leaving sediment behind. Once the wine is in the decanter, let it sit for the desired time—or dive straight in if you’re impatient!

Do I need to buy something to decant wine?

If you’ve got an interest in wine gadgets, you’ll have seen decanters in various forms because they certainly draw the eye; swan, duck, cornett and standard are all common shapes. If you want to get specific about it, you can adapt your decanter to the wine. For example, a fuller-bodied red needs lots of oxygen contact, but a lighter one only requires a smaller decanter. You could also just adapt this by increasing and decreasing the time exposed to air though.

Another option is the aerator, which attaches to the end of a wine bottle and allows you to pour wine directly into a glass while introducing air into the wine. These can be very small and vary a lot in how they work and the effect they have on your wine.

If you always thought decanting was just for show, then now you know! Next time you uncork a juicy red why not give it a whirl? If you want to know how your glass can affect the liquid, try this guide!

How to Cool Wine and Beer Down Fast!

When everything else is sorted, is there anything more frustrating than a warm drink that should be chilled? If you find yourself with beer or wine that needs chilling pronto, then these tips will help. Now, there’s no magic involved here – if you want your drink colder, you’re gonna need to get the cold to the drink, either by putting something in it or around it.  Some require more effort than others, but all of them will make serving chilled drinks easier in the future. These are the best ways to cool down your wine and beer.

In the fridge

Well, it might be stating the obvious but by the time you’ve looked elsewhere for cooling options, your fridge could be doing the job. Obviously, if you’re on the move this isn’t an option, but if you’ve got the time, a fridge is the safest and most reliable option. No effort is needed, you just plonk it in. Depending on your fridge, it’ll take between 30-60 minutes to reach the temperature of your fridge… which you can usually adjust easily by the way! Sure, this isn’t going to work if you want to get drinking straight away, but if you can wait then it’s perfect. Oh, and chill horizontally – it cools quicker!

In the freezer

The pros and cons of the freezer are somewhat obvious. Of course, your drinks will chill quickly, in fact, they’ll be refrigerated temperature in about 15-20 minutes. However, if you are forgetful in any way, avoid this method. Beyond 20 minutes, wine bottles, beer bottles and cans will become structurally unsound and leak, crack or even explode – particularly if there’s plenty of bubbles. Also, the aromas and flavours will likely be altered and possibly ruined.

With a wet paper towel

This is something you can add as an additional trick to refrigeration or freezing. Wrapping a wet paper towel or tea towel around your bottle or can will speed up the cooling process because the cold is transferred to the liquid more efficiently. For example, in the freezer, you can expect your drink to be chilled in 10-15 minutes. If the towel is stuck to it when you take it out the freezer, just run it under the warm water tap for a second and it will slide off easily. Quick and effective.

With frozen grapes

For wine, toss a few frozen grapes into your glass. They chill your drink without watering it down, getting it to the perfect temperature within minutes. Plus, they’re edible and add a fun twist to your drink! What a useful garnish.

With metal stones

Along a similar vein as frozen grapes but more versatile and reusable are metal stones or whisky stones, which are essentially ice cubes that don’t melt. They often have a freezing gel inside or just conduct the cold brilliantly and will cool your drink down at the same rate as ice cubes – but with zero dilution. They don’t stay cold for that long though, be aware.

In an ice bucket

The bar and restaurant classic. If you have ice and a bucket available to you, this one is practical because it will chill your drink in less than 10 minutes, and you can pop it next to you to keep your next pour a crisp one. Remember to add a good amount of water as well as ice, and also a little salt lowers the freezing point of the water to make the ice melt faster and chill your drink quicker. A bottle of wine in a bucket of ice also looks pretty cool too.

In an active cooler

Most coolers promise to maintain the temperature of the things you put in, but active coolers bring the temperature down. Of course, power is required, so if you’re at the beach or somewhere then this won’t be any good, but if you’re by a plug socket, you’re in business. We recently identified our favourite coolers here. Each one has different weights, volumes and power but should take about as long as a fridge to cool your drinks.

With a corkcicle

These are neat and fairly new invention under a few different brand names. As you can see from the image, you freeze your ‘corkcicle’ for at least 90 minutes so it’s ready to replace the cork, or lid, of the wine you’ve just opened. Except with the corkcicle, the chilled extender reaches to the bottom of the bottle, chilling the liquid within. You can even pour through a tiny hole in the top of the cork. There are a few different options available online, so we won’t link a specific brand, but they all do similar things.

If you want to avoid this issue all together than a cooler is always best, so check out our best suggestions whatever your situation.

The Best Coolers For Summer Fun

We don’t get much sun in the UK, so when it does finally arrive, we’ve got to make the most of it. One way is to know that whilst you’re shutting your eyes and taking in those glorious rays, at a picnic, or the beach or a festival, you’ve got an ice-cold drink and chilled lunch waiting for you.

Coolers come in many forms these days. There are your classic blue and white beach caddies, insulating backpacks, electric active cooling boxes and more. There are also massive price fluctuations, which depending on your budget and specific need for a cooler, may or may not be worth it.

All of our cooler suggestions below are well-reviewed and will definitely keep your food and drink reliably chilled, but each one specialises in a certain area. Summer is here, and who knows for how long, so let’s elevate summer outings with the perfect cool box for you.

Best Value Cooler

Coleman Xtreme Cooler

With its classic design, Coleman are a great provider of no nonsense coolers that won’t let you down and don’t cost a bomb. This is one of their smallest coolers, with 47L, 66L and even larger all available. At just over 2kg, it’s also relatively easy to carry on shorter walks, into festivals etc. It’s slim but pretty tall at 47cm, so tucks away conveniently in the car, and can be used as a seat or even a table with four slots for drinks in the corners. It’s a really well-made cooler with sturdy handle and grips, and it’ll comfortably keep your beverages cool for over a day.

Capacity: 26L
Empty weight: 2.1kg
Find here: £60 (usually more!)

Best Portable Cooler

Quechua Decathlon Isothermal Backpack

Quechua is a reliable brand available at Debenhams, and this 25L backpack is a fantastic compromise between reliability, weight and portability. They have a few different sizes, from a smaller, cheaper 10L model up to a 30L backpack, but this is a really well-reviewed, consumer-tested compromise. Perfect for hikes or long days out, it keeps food and drinks cool for up to 7 hours with no ice packs.  It makes it easy to keep bottles upright, includes an outer zipped pocket for keeping belongings separate and two further mesh pockets as well. Everything’s adjustable for comfort so all in all, it’s a super solid, decent-sized cooler backpack.

Capacity: 20L
Empty weight: 480g
Find here: £27.98

Best Bottle Cooler

CaddyO Bottle Chiller

Of course, we have a special focus on drinks gadgets here, so want to shout out this bottle chiller for the times when food isn’t on the menu, and you just require one special bottle. The bottle carrier is placed in the freezer for at least four hours, which means that when the time comes to place your bottle in it, the unique cooling gel begins to actively chill the liquid. This then goes inside the neoprene cover to insulate everything and make it easy to carry. It works for 750ml and 1L bottles so that’s mainly wines and spirits. You can expect up to 9 hours of chill! Nice bit of kit.

Capacity: 1 750ml or 1L bottle
Empty weight: 550g
Find here: £50

Best Reliable Cooler

YETI Hopper Flip 18 Portable Soft Cooler

This cooler will get you through anything. The DryHide shell is hard as nails, being completely waterproof and capable of standing up to abrasions and punctures. Crucially, the hardy zipper is made to last pretty much forever, so much so that it’s even a little difficult to open – but that’s just a reminder of its security. YETI’s flagship dedication is to the cooling itself, and thanks to ColdCell foam insulation here, this is no ordinary soft cooler, able to chill the contents for not hours but days! It looks fantastic and comes in many different stylish colours, and whilst their 18 is the biggest, they also offer smaller, cheaper coolers.

Capacity: 25L
Empty weight: 2.3kg
Find here: £299.99

Best Dual-Purpose Cooler

ProCook Insulated Picnic Backpack

This backpack is everything you need for a stellar picnic. Despite having no foil, the 15L insulated section does a great job and keeping food chilled – possibly not for as long as others, but certainly enough for several hours. Round the front is a front pocket, which includes a nicely laid out set of cutlery for four, a bottle opener and a chopping board. The classic, beachy design is stylish too.

Capacity: 15L excluding additional compartment
Empty weight: 1.6kg
Find here: £34.99 (usually more!)

Best Active Cooler

Halfords Electric Coolbox

Most cool boxes are ‘passive’, which means their promise to you is to retain the temperature of the stuff you put in it. So, if you pop in a room temperature beer, it won’t be warm a few hours later, but it certainly won’t be chilled. For that, you need an active cooler like this. This beast can hold 56 standard 330ml cans and comes with temperature controls. Of course, it needs power, so it needs plugging into the mains or into a car lighter (you get two cables with it). If you’re on a long road trip it could go on the backseat, or it’s suitable for motor home travels or campsites. At 8.4kg, you don’t want to be lugging it around but if you don’t want ice but need drinks and food to be properly chilled on the move, it’s a great bet.

Capacity: 40L
Empty weight: 8.4kg
Find here: £95 (usually more!)

If you want to make some cocktails for your summer outings, check out these handy picnic mixes!

The Father’s Day Gift Guide For Drinks Lovers

No Dad is the same of course, but if yours likes drinks, then we’re confident one of our suggestions will hit the mark. In case you needed reminding (hopefully not), Sunday 16th June is Father’s Day in the UK. If that’s shocked you then don’t worry!

We’ve found stand-out gifts that will show you’ve really thought about what would make this day special for them. Wine, cocktails, rum, gin, whisky, hampers, unique experiences and more, it’s all below. Every drink and every budget, so there’s no excuse to turn up with a last minute pack of socks and chocolates! Find the section that appeals to your Dad most below and hopefully one of the gifts will be perfect. And if not, well, you might be able to pick up something for yourself as a treat! Let’s dive into this year’s Father’s Day gift guide.

Best gifts for a dad who loves red wine

Mucho Mas Vino Tinto Wine

Every Dad is different of course, so it’s difficult to select one wine, but Mucho Mas’ Vino Tinto is a loveable offering without breaking the bank. Félix Solís are family owned near Madrid, despite the scale of their operation, and this easy-drinking ruby red is a surefire hit. The bright and juicy fruits (plums, figs, cherries and blackberries) swarm the palate delightfully, verging on a jammy profile. Amazing value. You could pair it up with steak for a delicious meal, or even plane tickets to Madrid!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £7 (Clubcard Price)

Perez Cruz Liguai 2020

For something a little more luxury, try this Chilean blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. Six months of French oak has created the buttery texture that fills the mouth with concentrated blackberries and blueberries rolled in chocolate. Complex depths continue with cracks of black pepper and dried tobacco and an almost meaty savoury note. It just feels so big and bold, you can guarantee it won’t be a forgettable gift.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £29.99

Penfolds Bin 389

Penfolds is one of Australia’s finest producers, a name synonymous with quality. Grange, now costing well over £500, is their most famous wine, but what we have here is ‘Baby Grange’, as it’s partly aged in the same barrels a year after Grange was in them. A very special blend, it’s as full-bodied as it gets and is often the red that opens one’s eyes to how rich and beautiful reds can truly be. Oaky pepper hits you out the gate, followed up with sumptuous blackberry and raspberry. The Shiraz lines the silky-smooth texture with gentle spice, whilst the Cabernet Sauvignon builds the rigid structure. A very special wine for a very special dad.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £65

Best gifts for a dad who loves white wine

The Ned Sauvignon Blanc

There’s a lot of hype around this Sauvignon, but we love it so we reckon Dad will too. It’s the Marlborough style from New Zealand, which is very in right now, and it’s one of the best of its kind in the supermarkets. It delivers enchanting freshness and dryness, with lime that zips around the palate, ripe tropical fruits and a kiss of minerality. Lemon, lime, guava, gooseberry – so well rounded and flavourful. Nom!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £8.99 (usually more!)

Bread & Butter Chardonnay

Unforgettable and stand-out – exactly what a wine gift should be. The name instantly intrigues and sets up hefty expectations, but it certainly delivers. Unmistakably it’s California Chard, lightly oaked and so, so big and buttery. The toasty richness is intense and delicious, but there’s also some subtler lemon meringue notes to mix things up. Serve with great greasy food for an indulgent meal.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £15.50

Vina Cobos Bramare Chardonnay Zingaretti Estate 2019

If you want to push the boat out with a unique Chardonnay, head to Mendoza, Argentina with Viña Cobos. It rests for a whole year in French oak, developing elegance with harmonious honeysuckle, jasmine and citrus. In the mouth it’s so soft, with a richness that’s balanced by minerality and cutting acidity. You even get a sense of the mountainous terroir with the herbal, minty note. So much going on, but so much poise.  

Size: 500ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £40

Best gifts for a dad who loves wine gear and gadgets

Coravin Timeless Three+ (Father’s Day promotion)

This wine preservation system allows you to preserve still wines for weeks, months or even years – because you don’t even need to pull the cork. If Dad is a regular wine drinker, then this is great a great gift as it will allow him to try lots of different styles without ever wasting a bottle. It’s state-of-the-art tech that involves a needle piercing the cork or the Coravin screw cap replacement – then you simply pour as normal. Argon gas replaces the lost wine to preserve it. It’s a fancy bit of kit but it is superb, there’s a 60 Day risk-free trial, a two-year warranty and free shipping. For Father’s Day especially, they’re throwing in a £99 Bordeaux wine tasting kit too! If you want to try before you buy, then from 1st-16th June, Coravin are teaming up with Gordon Ramsey Restaurants so you can see it in action at Lucky Cat, Savoy Grill, The River Restaurant, Restaurant 1890 and Pétrus.

Includes: Two Coravin Pure Argon Capsules, two Coravin Screw Caps and a Coravin Aerator
Find here: £279.99 including a free Bordeaux wine tasting kit worth £99

Best gifts for a dad who loves gin

Whitley Neill Distillers Cut

A pristine representation of the London Dry profile, it’s sweet, soft and citrus driven with dried orange peel coming through marvellously. Under £20 for a Double Gold winner at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 is difficult to argue with too. The St. George shield makes it the perfect companion to pour from whilst watching England in the Euros!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £17.65

Penrhos Dry Gin

Penrhos is a well-established distillery based from a farm in green Herefordshire. The first thing your Dad will notice when opening this is the bottle. Well, you can tell him it’s sustainable, 100% recyclable aluminium that uses 90% less energy than glass – plus it’s totally unique which always makes for a good present. Inside, botanical bliss awaits blueberries, rose, cherry blossom and honey bring a floral and fruit bouquet to the spice of pink pepper and cardamom. Stunningly light award-winning gin.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £27.54

Mermaid Gin

Mermaid Gin is an amazing gin from the Isle of Wight distillery, and this is their original seaside wonder. Rock samphire and Boadicea hops bring a real sense of the place, which when backed up by familiar botanicals like coriander, angelica, lemon and liquorice, create earthy sweetness and citrus zing. It’s an absolutely beautiful bottle too – check out their pink gin and the zest version also!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £35.99

Best gifts for a dad who loves whisky

Elijah Craig

Exceptional value. Elijah Craig were the first of their kind to char the barrels used in their Bourbon, pioneered by Reverend Elijah Craig on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in Kentucky. Local corn and grains are milled and mixed with limestone-rich local spring water before small-batch fermentation and distillation. A serial award winner, its woody vanilla and spiced caramel are accessible but elegant, leaving a long, toasted finish. A great introduction to top end Bourbon.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £32 (Clubcard Price)

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky

What about an Indian whisky for an inquisitive whisky loving Dad? This Indian Single Malt is matured mostly in American oak ex-bourbon and European oak ex-sherry so you get kisses of sherry spice intertwining with earthy vanilla and baking spice. It’s so silky smooth and well-balanced that it would be difficult not to love, so see what Dad thinks!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £57.84

Dadvent 12 Dram Whisky Collection

This boozy advent from Drinks by the Dram is often in our Christmas recommendations but why not now with the ‘Dadvent’ reinvention? With 12 different 30ml wax-sealed samples, it’s a great way to try loads of different whiskies without buying the full bottle. It’s an expertly curated selection of different styles from producers such as Loch Lomond, Hatozaki and Rock Island, and adds a touch of excitement every day after his special day.

Size: 30ml x 12
ABV: 44.5%
Find here: £37.99 (usually more!)

Best gifts for a dad who loves tequila

Cazcabel Añejo

Made in Jalisco, Cazcabel deliver a super reliable tequila portfolio. Their Añejo rests in ex-Tennessee whiskey barrels for 14 months which imparts sweet oak, merging beautifully with the complex charred agave already present. Every sip feels exciting.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £38.12

Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila

Panchos Datos pays homage to the poet of the Mexican Revolution, Ricardo Grijalva de León, which only adds to the classy theme and design of the bottle. Six months of ex-bourbon white oak certainly leave their mark with what you’d expect – exquisite vanilla and caramel coating the earthy agave spice in accessible sweetness. Not for shotting(!), this is a tequila to be slowly enjoyed.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £61.95

Best gifts for a dad who loves vodka

Broken Clock Vodka

This award-winning English vodka is perfect if you’ve got one of those Dads with an opinion on everything because you can throw in an ‘even a broken clock is right twice a day’ joke. Everything about this spirit is English, from the oldest distillery in Cheshire where it’s made to the old Georgian recipes inspiring it – think russet apples and garden botanicals. The result is a perfumed nose and rich palate that’s so instantly characterful it’s a joy.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.95

Dima's Vodka - Ukrainian Three-Grain

This has been on our radar since winning gold at the IWSC awards, and of course increasingly so since the war in Ukraine. In fact, owner Dima Deinega has done some incredible work raising funds for the effort. The liquid itself is from a 125-year-old Kyiv distillery and uses barley, rye and wheat, which is unusual. These, combined with the country’s well known dark supersoil leaves a seductively velvety smooth texture. Slightly nutty, biscuity and earthy, the viscosity here is worlds apart from horrible throat burning vodkas.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £30.72

Best gifts for a dad who loves rum

Appleton Estate 8-Year-Old Reserve Rum

Well, Appleton gave themselves this glorious present for their 250th birthday, so how about you give it to your Dad for Father’s Day? It’s Jamaican rum, aged for 8 years giving all the time in the world for those warm spices, toffee and honey notes to meld together and become an award darling. Worth every penny.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £28.95 (usually more!)

Étän Rum

This golden rum brand is the brainchild of five Cameroonian sisters, hence the stencil of West Africa on the beautiful bottle. The spices used here (fevergrass, orange peel, cassia, ginger and vanilla) make for a unique concoction focusing on natural sweetness and spice. Low calorie, super smooth and immersive it is sure to make dad’s day.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £41

Best gifts for a dad who loves cocktails

Angels Dare Gift Box

A complete UK operation, Angels Dare’s four canned cocktails are perfect examples of how far ready-to-drink cocktails have come. The box itself is a beautiful design that screams gift. First up, Dad will see Secret Orchard, a fizzy, floral and fruity gin number. Next, Maverick Martini, a heady combo of tropical zing, vanilla and vodka for a punchy sweet-but-tart expression. Cheeky Wee Kiss is next, a gin cocktail with fiery rhubarb and warm ginger alongside strawberries and cranberries. Last but not least, La Bonnie Vita, a gently carbonated mocktail using Scottish raspberries, Sicilian Lemon and blood orange. They’re all really well made and refreshing, perfect for summer and perfect for dad.

Size: 250ml x 4
ABV: 8% plus a non-alcoholic mocktail
Find here: £25

Whisky Smoker Kit

If your Dad is interested in impressing you with theatrical cocktails, then you’ve got to take a look at this. Included in this mixology enhancing box is the wooden unit itself, a refillable torch, cleansing brush and four different wood chips to enhance your whisky with natural wood smoke. The kit is double-sided and accommodates glasses up to 10cm in diameter, so it could be used for cocktails too. If Dad has gotten into cocktail making, then he’ll surely love elevating the sensory experience with mesmerising smoke.

Find here: £30

Best gifts for a dad who loves cream liqueur

Somrus Coffee Cream

Now that’s an eye-catching bottle for Father’s Day. Inspired by South Indian Kaapi, it’s a silky medley of creamy roasted Arabica coffee, real Wisconsin dairy cream and handcrafted five-times distilled rum. 1% of the profit goes towards charitable causes too. With a sweeter coffee cream, it’s all about balance, and here it’s perfect – hence the prestigious awards.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £17.69

Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur

Who wouldn’t like to open this vintage styled Irish Cream? It’s made in County Cork with fresh cream, triple distilled Irish whiskey and everything has a very fresh feel. The ingredients all come from the five farms the family owns, hence the name, so it’s very much a local creation. Expect sweet kisses of condensed milk, luxurious coffee and creamy vanilla.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 17%
Find here: £27.50

Godiva Chocolate Cream

Godiva was founded in the world capital of premium chocolate – Belgium. Building on their renowned expertise in chocolate, they decided to make a liqueur. You get a real sense of pure velvety dark chocolate here, with less sweetness than most. It’s as close to liquid chocolate as you can get in a liqueur, and yes, that is as delicious as it sounds.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £34.99

Drinks Hampers Perfect for Father’s Day

The Hawkstone Luxury Beer Hamper

Is Dad a fan of Clarkson’s Farm? Well how about treating dad to a hamper centred around Hawkstone, the beer from the show. Far from being a celebrity-fronted gimmick, the Hawkstone beers are raved about and rightly so. This hamper includes four different styles, as well as a generous selection of savoury snacks like premium cheese infused with truffle and olives.

ABV: Various
Find here: £45

The Craft Gin Club Tasting Hamper

There are more gins out there now than there have ever been, so who better to curate a must-try selection than The Craft Gin Club, the UK’s biggest gin loving club. Four stunning gins can be found in each hamper, each different from the last along with Franklin and Sons premium Indian tonic. That’s not all though as to complete his G&T experience, dad will be able to enjoy premium savoury snacks like truffle crisps and sunshine olives. It’s a really nicely presented hamper that any gin loving Dad will appreciate.

ABV: Various
Find here: £45

The Best Online Drinks Courses For Dad

WSET Course

This is a curveball that you won’t find in many gift guides, but if your Dad is super interested in his favourite drink, be that spirits, wines, beer or even sake, then WSET run courses on them to learn more eventually leading to a qualification. The courses we’ve linked below are beginner Level 1 courses to introduce you to that area of the industry but if dad needs more of a challenge then Level 2 and Level 3 are just as good a gift. It’s a fascinating and worthwhile journey on its own, but perhaps it could be a new project for a retired Dad, or the beginnings of a new career? There are no entry requirements, you just need a passion to learn. Click each link below to find out more.

Course: Spirits / Beer / Wine / Sake
Cost: £210-£250

Best gifts for a dad who doesn’t drink

Drydrinkers Father’s Day Gift Box

Non-alcoholic beers are still a relatively new area of the drinks industry and getting better all the time. If your Dad doesn’t drink, then a gift box like this is the ideal way to find his favourite No-Lo beer. From lagers to stouts to IPAs and exclusive brews, this special Father’s Day box has been expertly curated to fully explore this thriving scene and what a treat each can is. Click the link below for the full descriptions of the beers included!

Includes: 24 different beers, a Drydrinker beer glass worth £5.99 and a Divine chocolatier treat.
ABV: 0-0.5%
Find here: £79.95

If you’re after a drinks themed event to take your Dad out for Father’s Day and live in London, then how about this celebration and feast of London’s Urban Wine scene at Renegade? Raffles, winemakers, premium food, our very own Aidy Smith hosting and of course, tonnes of beautiful British wines.

Elevating Cocktails With Tea

In the modern realm of craft cocktail bartending, bartenders are always looking for ways to impart complex flavour profiles with real depth into their signature slings. From organic produce such as fresh fruit and vegetables to specialist ingredients such as acid powders and thickening and emulsifying agents, anything that can add complexity in flavour and texture can and will be employed.

To understand how to use tea effectively, we must first understand the variations of tea. The two major categories are herbal teas made using various herbs and spices steeped in hot water and include chamomile, ginger, and peppermint teas, and tea coming from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, which has six further subcategories; green, white, yellow, oolong, black and dark. The difference between these six types of tea is how the raw leaves are processed post-harvest.

Tea has versatility in not only breadth but also depth. When using tea in a cocktail there are two main questions to ask yourself before starting your process - What kind of tea do I want to use? And what kind of flavours do I want to extract from the tea leaves? The answer to these questions will determine what kind of tea leaves to use and how to impart their flavours into your libation.

With this knowledge, we will explore some of the delicious brew-based cocktails created by bartenders worldwide and the various techniques they employ!

SPIRIT INFUSION

The Earl Grey Marteani was created by legendary New York City bartender Audrey Saunders for the opening menu of her bar Pegu Club. This gin-sour serve is a brilliant introduction to tea, cocktails, and both in combination, owing to its ease of replicability and the fact that it is just damn delicious.

The recipe calls for Earl Grey tea-infused gin, which may seem daunting to a beginner but requires no speciality equipment and minimal active time. Simply add ¼ cup or 8 grams of loose leaf earl grey tea to 750ml of London Dry Gin and leave to steep for at least 2 and up to 8 hours, before straining through a coffee filter and bottling.

Looking at Saunders’ choice of process is intriguing here as an infusion into the spirit allows the alcohol to leech out the flavour faster than cold brewing it before turning the cold brewed tea into a syrup, as well as allowing for a more shelf stable product than a tea syrup!

With these pros, however, always comes a con. As alcohol leeches out flavours a lot faster than water, it also pulls out the bitter tannic profile contained in all kinds of teas. To combat this, Saunders added egg white to the drink to soften the bitter, tannic finish of the drink.

While infusing the tea into spirit was ideal for Saunders’ application, infusing tea into a whole bottle of gin may not be the most ideal for home bartending use, so let’s turn our heads to the alternative of tea syrups!

SYRUP INFUSION

Image credit: 1820rooftopbar on Instagram

When infusing tea into syrup, your choice between hot or cold brewing the tea will determine the flavours you extract from the tea. A cold brewed tea will be a more delicate extraction with the predominant flavour coming from the process used to preserve the tea leaf post-harvest, whereas, a hot brew will give you a more tannic profile a lot more akin to your regular cuppa.

A great example of hot brewed tea syrup in a cocktail is the Apricot + Dragon Ball Tea from the 1820 Rooftop Bar in Edinburgh, which uses a blend of 5 different teas to mimic the flavour profile of Johnnie Walker Black Label!

We spoke with the creative lead on the project Connor Norris on his thought process for the choice of teas and method of extraction:

“The cordial made a lot of sense in this serve, and the blend of teas chosen was based on the tasting notes of Johnnie Walker Black label that were perceived by the team. Rooibos tea was the backbone of the blend, providing the malty base and bridging the gap between the flavours of tea, and single-grain whisky. Lapsang tea offered the smoke that Caol Ila brings, while Hibiscus brought the fruity notes of Cardhu and the floral profile of Glenkinchie. Earl Grey mimicked some of the tropical notes found in Clynelish, and to round it out, Breakfast Tea added the classic tannic flavours that are brought to whisky through their cask aging.”

Connor’s method of infusion was a hot brew using the sous vide, which allowed a quicker infusion for the high-volume purposes of the venue but also allowed the tannic dryness of the tea to contrast against the sweetness of the apricot jam used in the cordial.

It is an all-around delicious beverage so we suggest it as a fantastic example of what a tea cocktail can be if you get the chance to visit.

COLD DISTILLATION

This one is for my fellow cocktail bartenders who stepped into the prep space of their new venue and saw a rotary evaporator (rotovap) for the first time and wondered what exactly they had gotten themselves into - a feeling I have known all too well.

Fear not! As while a rotovap is an expensive and intricate piece of equipment, the theory behind its use is far simpler than the column and pot still distillation processes used in the making of spirits. Applying the same logic of hot versus cold brewing of tea to the vigor of your boil in your distillation chamber, you can achieve an incredible variance of end product while starting with the same raw materials. A few things to note first:

• As pressure drops, so does the boiling point of the liquid.

• As alcohol by volume increases, the boiling point of the liquid drops.

• A rotovap is by no means necessary in making great drinks, with tea or otherwise.

• For the sake of example, we will look at making a tea liqueur using distillation.

If the main goal of the extraction was to pull out the bitter tannins from the tea, then keeping the pressure relatively high and boiling aggressively at a higher temperature is the way to go. Whereas if you want to extract the flavours of the tea leaf and how it was processed, drop the pressure very low and keep the temperature low to keep the liquid on a simmer.

An old head bartender of mine once said that using a rotovap is very similar to using a barbecue - learning to read the fire and use that to your advantage is one of the keys to good barbecues. In the case of a rotovap, learning to read the boil and pressure and adjusting those to achieve the flavours that you want from them is the key to good rotovapped cocktails!

With this new-found knowledge of tea and infusion methods, you can sling yourself up a delicious tea cocktail with minimal faff for the home bartender, or go all the way to distillation for the professionals! An exciting world awaits…

By Fowwaz Ansari

Can You Drink Wine Out of Any Glass?

Photo credit: Will Wong

When wandering around the homeware section of a department store, it's not uncommon to see people perusing over wine glasses. But with so many choices out there it gets one thinking - What’s all the fuss really about? Can't I drink wine out of any glass? What should I look for when buying new glassware? Do I really need different glassware for different types of wine? 

Understanding wines is complex enough, but now there is the pressure to get a set of respectable glasses to show your appreciation of wine without breaking the bank, or the glasses! A glass is a glass, right? Well, not really. If you have ever pondered the questions above, then read on as they’re all about to be answered.

To start with, let’s go through the key elements of any wine glass, and how each plays a part in your overall experience of the wine, because there are additional considerations before you invest in your glasses. This step-by-step guide will help you make an informed choice to enhance your wine enjoyment at home and beyond.

The FIVE aspects of your ideal wine glass

Whether you are browsing online or in a homeware store, the look of the glass and its price might be your first considerations. Wherever possible, it’s a good idea to visit a physical shop to hold and feel the wine glasses in stock to get a sense of their size, weight and how they actually feel in your hand. It is worth considering if you are purchasing just a pair, or a set of four to six - storage spaces for your exquisite glassware shouldn’t be an after-thought.

Whilst manufacturers such as Riedel boast an extensive grape varietal range, some critics are less concerned about subtle differences than the fundamental characteristics that make an aesthetically pleasing and functional wine glass. But does the same wine smell and taste different across different designs and shapes? Yes, in both nuances and sometimes even in obvious ways! 

Imagine your favourite orchestra or band performing exactly the same piece across venues of different sizes and acoustics - you will pick up notable differences and details, especially in classical music.

Our sensory perceptions, nose and palate are highly personal. The glasses featured here are part of my personal collection. Other brands and designs are available. It may not be possible to try before you buy, but any well-designed and well-made wine glass consists of the following key elements.

1. Bowl

Photo credit: Will Wong

The heart of the vessel which holds the genie out of the bottle. Aim for a clear tulip-shaped design with a tapered top. Avoid coloured patterns, or oblique designs that obscure the true colour of your wine. After all, you see the wine as you pour, before you get to enjoy its aroma and the first sip.

We recommend filling the bowl to no more than a quarter-full - you are not serving a pint of beer in a pub. Aromas dance in this ‘space’, allowing you to swirl the wine round in the glass, which further releases the aromas before your first sip. Our sense of smell is often underrated, and it has an intricate effect on how we taste.

The right glass brings all the nuances of flavour to the fore and can improve your experience of a wine. It’s like an orchestral conductor or music producer at a mixing desk working with the same musicians (your wine), enabling the right balance of bouquet and accentuated flavour.

2. Rim

Photo credit: Will Wong

All other things being equal, we cannot over-emphasise this final frontier before the wine hits your lips and palate. So, if you have a chance to view and touch any wine glass in person, hold it and feel its rim. In general, handmade and mouth-blown crystal glasses have much thinner rims than the machine-made, allowing a more even flow of the wine as it leaves the glass.

As you indulge in the first anticipated sip or kiss, a good glass gives you the sensation of sucking out of thin air. Your sensory focus lies more on the taste of the wine, as opposed to the thickness of the glass.

People often forget the romance involved with drinking fermented grape juice. After all, not every first kiss makes your heart skip a beat! 

3. Stem vs Stemless

Photo credit: Will Wong

Besides its function to support the bowl, the thickness and height of the stem also shape how the overall glass looks and balances with the base. Thicker stems might seem to provide greater stability, but it also adds to the weight and overall feel of the glass in your hand.

The match-thin stem of the Josephine No.1 White above looks fragile, but it’s actually very elegant to hold and allows you to swirl the glass effortlessly. It also separates your hand from the bowl and avoids warming up the wine or leaving fingerprints around the bowl. Although, it’s not really recommended for outdoor use. 

The Govino stemless glass is made from unbreakable 100% Tritan Co-polyester, making it ideal for outdoor picnics. Glass variants from leading manufacturers are widely available too. Besides the obvious disadvantages, they are more stable and better suited for balcony, patio or garden dining. 

4. Base

The ‘foot’ of the entire glass which holds everything together. This is also where you are likely to find the manufacturer’s logo (or any copycats’). It should be proportional to the size of the bowl and the height of the stem to maintain overall balance and aesthetic harmony.

WHAT IS THE Right Glass for each Wine?

Champagne & Sparkling Wine

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Who doesn’t love the sound of a sparkler cork pop, and the sight of dazzling bubbles rising up that glass before the toast? But what about its flavour as the fizz warms up and begins to fizzle out?

The three most common sparkling wine glasses are:

1. The Coupe

Up until the 1970s, Champagne was traditionally served in coupes. These wide-rimmed glasses were often made from crystal and, according to legend, were modelled on the curves of the Marquise de Pompadour, the official chief mistress of Louis XV. Others claim the shape was inspired by Marie-Antoinette’s breast, Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI. However, the glass was really designed in England in 1663, specifically for sparkling wines.

It looks great in a Champagne pyramid, but the wide rim exposes the Champagne to air rapidly, causing the bubbles to disperse leaving the wine to taste flat.

Example - Riedel Extreme Junmai Sake Coupe

2. The Flute

Probably the most popular and immediately associated with serving that festive or everyday fizz! As you take the first sip after toasting, the rapid gush of gas bubbles rush up the flute and practically mask the more delicate aromas and flavours. The straight-sided, open-topped shapes of the flute; just like the coupe mean that aromas easily escape into the atmosphere. 

Example - Riedel Vinum Vintage Champagne Flute

3. Tulip-shaped with in-curving tops

Aim for a clear glass with a slender stem. Champagnes or sparking wines need to be served well-chilled (7-10ºC / 45-50ºF). You definitely do not want your hand to warm it up with a stemless glass. The tulip-shaped is our preferred design as it helps enclose the sparkler’s aroma and funnel it towards the nose. It also allows just enough surface area for the wine to open up, without fizz escaping too fast.

Example - Josephine No.4 Champagne (hand blown)

If you’d rather not invest in dedicated Champagne glasses, try the following white wine glasses instead.

Young Whites (Albariño, Bacchus, Sauvignon & Pinot Grigio), Rosé or Lighter Reds (Beaujolais & Valpolicella) 

Photo credit: Will Wong

These wines are traditionally drunk young, with their fresh fruitiness. They do not usually require much aeration before serving. The above white wine glasses are smaller than those below to concentrate the delicate aromas of young whites and reds, or Rosé. The narrower bowl helps in preserving the wine’s subtle flavours and nuances. 

Example - Josephine No.1 White (hand blown) and Zalto Denk’Art Universal (hand blown)

Big Whites (Oaked Chardonnay, Viognier, White Rioja and even Orange Wine]

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Aged whites such as oaked Australian or Californian Chardonnay are best served less cold than younger whites. They would benefit from a larger bowl to help the wine open up and reach optimum serving temperature (14-15ºC / 57-59ºF).

Example - Riedel Veloce Chardonnay and Zieher Vision Intense (hand blown)

Light to Medium-bodied Reds (Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Grenache & Sangiovese, e.g. Chianti)

Photo credit: Will Wong

A traditional wide bowl and sometimes with a shorter stem helps enclose the delicate aromas with a larger surface area for oxygen contact. It directs the intense flavours to the correct part of your tongue.

Example - Riedel Veloce Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo and Spiegelau Definition Burgundy Glass and Josephine No.3 Red (hand blown)

Full-bodied Reds (Bordeaux blends, Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel)

Photo credit: Will Wong

The bowl shape is designed for bold red wines, with a broad base and a top that tapers/closes at the opening. The open and large surface area allows a significant amount of oxygen to contact the wine. The wider opening makes the wine taste smoother after some swirling and time in the glass. It brings out the fruit flavours and all the hidden complexities the winemaker likes you to discover!

Example -Josephine No.3 Red (hand blown) and Riedel Veloce Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

What If I Want One Glass for Everything?

Photo credit: Will Wong

We know that some of the suggested glassware above aren’t exactly cheap. Storage space could be a problem in a modern home too. Although less ideal for the bold tannic reds, we recommend two hand-blown glasses that are both well made and very elegant to hold and sip from. The key difference is the straight profile of the Zalto Denk’Art Universal vs the ‘kink’ on the Josephine No.2 Universal. If you wish to spend less, then the machine-made Riedel Veloce Chardonnay would also be a talking point due to its big tulip shape.

Is It Better To Buy Cheap Wine Glasses?

We share your anxiety when it comes to spending big on expensive glasses - hold on for our aftercare advice. Meanwhile, let’s do some simple maths. Say if you share a bottle of wine with your partner four times a week. That is reasonable so it translates to three 125ml glasses four times a week for only 48 weeks in a year (let’s say including Dry January). If you invested £50 on just one hand-blown glass, you would have used it almost 600 times in an average year. The premium you pay on each serving is just over 8 pence. We think it is an investment that will reward your sensory experience for years to come. 

However, if you were getting at least six to twelve glasses for frequent home entertaining, then the dishwasher-safe machine-made Riedel Veloce might be a better option.

Aftercare

Photo credit: Will Wong

Most of the recommended glassware here is delicate so we suggest hand-washing. Kind souls have posted many online video tutorials on ‘how to hand wash and polish wine glasses’. It could be a little nerve-racking at first but practice makes perfect. Here are a few do’s and don’ts that might help:

DO:

1. If left overnight, rinse each used glass with warm water then shake any excess water off.

2. Spray a little white vinegar into the base of each glass, especially if red wine was served.

3. Use only clean, warm soapy water to wash.

4. Hold the glass by the bottom of its bowl and use a silicone brush to scrub off any stubborn red wine stains.

5. Rinse under a warm (not hot) tap but beware of knocking your glass against the tap.

6. Hand polish with two pieces of lint-free/microfibre cloths.

7. Always hold the bottom of the bowl with one hand wrapped in a lint-free/microfibre cloth; never by the stem.

8. Carefully dry the outside and inside of the bowl, the stem and the base with the other hand wrapped in the second piece of lint-free cloth.

DON’T:

1. Soak the glasses in hard water overnight. The watermark from the limescale will be a nightmare to clean.

2. Wipe dry with the usual cotton tea towel; its microfibre would stick all over your clean glass.

3. Hold your glass by its stem whilst washing or polishing. That is the most delicate part and you could snap it.

A glass is more than just a glass when it comes to your stemware. In the good old days before wireless streaming, you would not invest in high end audio equipment, only to connect them with budget speaker cables. Even in this day and age of smart TV and live-streaming, the quality of your audio-visual experience not only depends on your hardware, but definitely the quality of your broadband too. You can listen to music out of your mobile phone’s tiny speakers, but it will not be the same as a pair of outstanding speakers or noise-cancelling headphones. 

Whether you are buying just one glass for all your needs, or different ones for different purposes, we hope this guide helps you make better and informed choices. Above all, overcome the fear of breaking any ‘expensive’ glassware. Enjoy the clear vision from a quality glass. Feel its elegant lightness when swirling and sipping. The rewards will pay back your initial investment many times over for years to come.

By Will Wong

How to Choose the Best Corkscrew for Your Favourite Wine

Photo Credit: Will Wong

You just want to crack open your favourite bottle and pour yourself a glass. Surely it can’t be that difficult!? So why are there so many types of corkscrews? Which is the best and do you need more than one?

Drinking wine should be a relaxing experience, but a crumbled cork, or one stuck part way down the neck of your bottle is anything but. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at five of the most popular corkscrews and answer those questions, so you find which one is right for you and the wine bottle you are trying to get into!

What are The FIVE Most Popular Corkscrews?

The Waiter’s Friend Corkscrew

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Chances are, if you walk into most restaurants or bars, you’ll find waiters, bartenders or sommeliers using one of these, the most common corkscrew out there.

Pros:
1. Small and portable
2. Affordable
3. Comes with a blade to cut the foil.
4. Doubles up as beer or crown cap opener.
5. The adjustable hinge makes it easy to draw the cork with leverage, as long as you pierce the cork in the middle and drill in a clockwise direction.

Cons:
1. For brittle old or dry corks in aged bottles, the need to drill twice might snap and break the cork.

The Screwpull Corkscrew

Photo Credit: Will Wong

This is a variant of the more common design widely available.

Pros:
1. Extremely easy to use. Place the opener over the bottle neck and just turn clockwise.
2. The cork is drawn without the need to pull.

Cons:
1. No foil cutter or crown cap opener attached. 
2. A little bulkier and generally pricier than the Waiter’s Friend.

The Butterfly or Winged Corkscrew

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Designed by Alessandro Mendini for Alessi in 2003, with Anna’s smiling face. This is a designer and collector’s item for your wine connoisseur friends, or yourself. Other designs and brands are available.

Pros:
1. The double arms or wings make opening a bottle a doddle. 
2. As you twist clockwise down the cork, the arms raise automatically.
3. You just need to push them down to the default positions and the cork is drawn.
4. Some other models double up as crown cap openers with their top.
5. A wide range of designs and materials available.

Cons:
1. No blade or foil cutter attached.
2. It does most jobs effortlessly but may not be foolproof for an old and brittle cork.

The Lever Wine Bottle Opener

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Highly intuitive and simple to use: turn the lever by three-quarters of a circle till the worm/spiral is raised. Securely hold the two handles round the neck of the bottle; then reverse the lever to its original position and now the worm is totally inserted into the cork. Now, turn the lever once more and the cork is drawn effortlessly. 

Pros:
1. Most designs come with a stand as well as a foil cutter. 
2. This is probably our favourite option for either natural or synthetic corks.

Cons:
1. Bulkier and heavier than most other options; not really portable.
2. A wide range of prices depending on the brand and design.

The Two-prong (Ah-So) Wine Bottle Opener

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Also known as the Ah-So opener, this is best for very old bottles (10 years +) with natural cork which could have become dry and brittle. You push the longer prong down one side of the cork, followed by the shorter one on the opposite side. Then wiggle it back and forth to slide the two prongs further down. With a firm grip on the sides of the two prongs as well as the top handle, slowly turn the cork to draw it whilst feeling your heart beat. 

Pros:
1. It does not pierce through the cork thus reduces the risk of snapping it.

Cons:
1. Best use a foil cutter to make a clean space.
2. Requires trial and error, and a little practice on how best to wiggle the two blades down the sides of the cork, before turning and drawing it.

Which Corkscrews Work Best With The Most Common Bottle Closures?

The Best Corkscrews for A Cork with a Foil Cover

Photo Credit: Will Wong

You can use any of the above; and probably wouldn’t need the Two-Prong one. My favourite at home is the lever as it simply requires two seamless motions with very low risk of pushing the cork down or breaking it.

The Best Corkscrews for A Cork with No Foil

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Such bottles are best stored horizontally in the dark away from fluctuating temperatures. We have had the unfortunate experience of losing half a bottle of natural wine on the rack; as the pressure inside the bottle pushed the cork out when summer temperatures hit 42ºC!

Having said that, you don’t need a foil cutter and could examine the state of the cork easily against natural light or using the torchlight on your mobile phone.

Again, any of the first four corkscrew options work.

The Best Corkscrews for A Wax Seal

Photo Credit: Will Wong

They look classy and alluring, don’t they? This ancient method has made a comeback especially with natural, organic and biodynamic wine producers. 

Whilst we have seen experienced winemakers use a knife to cut the wax away from the bottle’s rim, others vouch that this is totally unnecessary. You can just pretend there is no wax there and drill right through. Once you’ve screwed the ‘worm’ all the way in, simply pull the cork up and it should break through the wax seal. ‘What if the wax proves stubborn and starts crumbling around the neck?’ you ask. Fear not. Get a piece of clean damp cloth to wipe round the bottleneck and slowly draw the cork. Wipe away any remaining debris and you are good to pour, swirl and sip!

What is the Best Overall Corkscrew?

So, which corkscrew should you get? Is there one best all-rounder or do you need different tools for different bottles?

Well, The Waiter’s Friend probably ticks most boxes. It’s budget friendly, light and portable. We would start with that if you are relatively new to wine, or get a low cost butterfly option.

Opening very old bottles (over ten years in storage or vintage-wise) requires a different approach. Yes, get that foil cutter and wiggle your way through with the Ah-So (not necessarily pricey and widely available online).

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Honestly, the best option is not having to use one at all. Natural cork (mostly from Portugal) has been the industry standard and tradition for centuries; and now increasingly synthetic ones are here to stay. 

Whilst debates between using the more sustainable natural cork and metallic screwcaps carry on, I love their simplicity to open and also the ability to store vertically if you don’t have enough space on your wine rack. There are now premium screwcaps designed to allow varying tiny amounts of air into the bottle.

As seen above, this Austrian producer has cleverly used the screwcap and bottleneck to promote a distinctive visual and national identity. For various reasons, many producers especially in Australia and New Zealand have been bottling with screwcaps for decades. That applies whether the wine costs £40 or £400. This might alter for the once all-important export market in China as screwcaps are perceived as closures for cheap and inferior wines. 

What’s your preferred corkscrew and why? Or maybe you have some tips that have served you well over the years? Get in touch and let us know!

If you’re interested in the right way to store wine correctly before opening it, then we’ve got another guide here on just that!

By Will Wong

Christmas Drinks Essentials for Your Home Bar

If you’re hosting Christmas guests, then a well-stocked ready to go home bar is a must have. You’ll probably have a lot of these in anyway, but this guide just helps fill any gaps in your inventory so that everything festive drink is catered for.

Of course, Christmas is the perfect time to put a home bar to good use, but they’re a great feature to have all year round. Whether it’s going the whole hog, and carving a small, bespoke area for it, or just expanding on the drinks cupboard, take a look at our guide on creating the perfect home bar here. Before you do that though, let’s dive into the Christmas drinks essentials! We have tonnes of recommendations for specific bottles across the website, and we’ll link to some throughout, so you know where to go.

Christmas Spirits

The star of the cocktail, spirits are obviously essential, but wide-ranging and expensive too. If you’re planning on making some festive cocktails, then vodka is the most popular cocktail spirit, so it has to be included (these our are favourite wallet-friendly vodkas). However, this is where you will need to cater to your guests. If you know what they like, then we’d recommend buying a premium bottle of this, or multiple, and only getting a budget option for a less popular spirit.

Gin’s resurgence continues, and it’s probably the most popular British spirit in the 2020s so far, so a bottle or two would be wise – perhaps a London Dry and a flavoured gin (we have some recommendations here). We also think gin bottles are the most beautiful available, so they spruce up the home bar nicely.

A Whisky is a must, not just for cocktails and simple serves, but for cosy winter warmers like Hot Toddies and Irish Coffees in the evening. A good Scotch should suffice unless you’ve got serious dram drainers round, in which case branch out with a Bourbon and Irish Whiskey too.

Of course, Rum is another big one that people will likely want to sip on, and in an ideal world you’d be stocked up with a light and a dark, but if you aren’t sure what guests will want, go dark – it’s used in more wintery recipes, and works great in the Christmas punch.

Christmas Syrups

If you’re into cocktail making, syrups are a mixology essential and can transform drinks. Christmas syrups are also a fantastic way of making drinks feel festive and special, rather than just the same drink as any other day of the year. They’re surprisingly easy to make yourself, as we have shown here! A simple syrup is always good to have available (and it can rescue an underwhelming drink), but being able to easily elevate serves with cinnamon, winter spice, cranberry, ginger etc. will be a guaranteed hit

Christmas Liqueurs

The first name here has to Baileys. Served simply with ice, or in a Baileys Hot Choc, its quintessential Christmas drinking, and someone will want one at some point. If you want to give Baileys some competition this year, then believe it or not, there are similar cream liqueurs that a lot of people actually prefer. Take a look!

Elsewhere, coffee liqueurs like Kahlua are handy for lots of cocktails and have a rich, Christmassy profile and Amaretto has the indulgent, nutty sweetness that suits the season.

You can liqueurs for pretty much anything, from classic flavours to eyebrow raisers. The Giffard range is expansive and they stock pretty much every kind of liqueur you can think of to a high level, so browse their collection and see if something takes your fancy.

Christmas Wines

Wines depend hugely on the people you’re anticipating to host. If they’re into wines, then it’s easy to get carried away with all sorts of bottles, for solo sipping or different foods. Alongside spirits and mixers, sparkling wine is the most bought drinks product for the festive season, so you have to have this in your home bar without a question. Prosecco is the most bought, but Cava and Crémant are other fantastic value alternatives for bubbly cocktails and nostalgic classics like Bucks Fizz. They also wash down food nicely. Of course, Champagne is an option if you want to spend a little more.

For Reds, if you want to play it safe, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are universally popular across the world, but Malbec and Shiraz take the top two spots in the UK, so a couple of different varieties should cover your needs.

With Whites, you really can’t go too wrong with crisp whites like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio – the UK’s favourites.

As we say, if you’ve got some oenophiles round, then you probably want to try something more niche, or buy in a greater range of wines, and if cheese and wine pairings are expected, then things get a tad more complicated but we’ve got a guide on dream cheese and wine marriages here.

Christmas Glassware

Proper glassware is what takes your home bar to that next level, contributing towards an authentic bar experience. But don’t get us wrong, it’s not the be all and end all, and there’s no need to empty your wallets for all the different glass variations. You’ll likely be stocked up with many of these already, so it’s probably just a case of filling in some of the gaps.

A few wine glasses will of course be needed, ideally with smaller glasses for whites and larger for reds. Get some flutes for sparkling wine serves like Bucks Fizz, some rocks glasses for spirit-forward serves, and particularly if you’re getting the cocktail shaker out, some tall/Collins glasses for more elaborate serves. Let’s not forget a pint glass for the beer and cider drinkers too.

Christmas Mixers

They’re the most popular mixers for a reason, so getting some Coca-Cola and lemonade in is first priority. Beyond that, some delightful tonics for G&Ts, cocktails or diluting neat spirits. Ginger beer is also in keeping with the warmth and spice of the season, and a popular mixer for a variety of highball serves. Lastly, if you’re planning on making cocktails, then fruit juices are a must. If you don’t want to make your own, then apple, orange and cranberry are the most useful to have stocked.

Christmas Garnishes

Garnishes are another undervalued step in creating an authentic bar experience and give drinks that special little something that they deserve to have over Christmas. Fresh lemon and limes are the most obvious essential, bringing zingy citrus and refreshment to so many serves. Oranges and cherries are other popular garnishes in the fruit department.

Ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks will both be useful, the former for the rim of the glass and sprinkling on cream, and the latter for infusing with hot drinks. You can go as far as you like with garnishes really, because whilst the cocktail umbrellas might be a little out of season, you’ll find herbs like rosemary and thyme cropping up in recipes, as well as edible flowers, chocolate dustings, nutmeg, and all sorts.

A home bar is all about making it work for you, stamping your personality on it with preferred drinks and design, but the above is a guide to the essentials that will keep everybody pleased (or most people, at least – we can’t guarantee the satisfaction of all relatives). For more ideas, pay a visit to our in-depth guide, and browse our website for up to date recommendations on all kinds of drinks.