The New Trio of Pub Snack Flavoured Beers

We all know that pub snacks and beer are a legendary combination, but one brewery is taking that marriage further than ever before.

Initially floated as an April Fool’s Day suggestion, Independent Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk has committed to their trio of beers inspired by iconic pub snacks. Like scampi fries in the pub? How about Scampi & Lemon Pale Ale? Or if that doesn’t take your fancy, perhaps the Pork Scratching Best Bitter, or Dry Roasted Peanut Stout?

The idea was born out of a workplace debate over the ultimate pub snack, co-founder Russel Bisset describes, “The ultimate pub snack is one of our favourite topics around the brewery; we even ran a tournament on our Instagram to see what other people think and try and settle the debate – pretzel pieces won. Brian Dickson, our Technical Director and Co-Founder, decided we should try and replicate some of our favourites in a beer.” I guess pretzel pieces just didn’t work out!

Whilst the beers are available for a short while on Northern Monk’s website, the real spirit of this creation is in supporting the pubs. Be it inflation, the pandemic or a whole host of other issues, the Great British pub has struggled over the last decade, so the 22 pubs stocking these limited-edition beers will keep the profits as part of the Faith in Boozers campaign. Whether your mouth is watering at the thought of one of the concoctions, or you’re just intrigued, check to see if there is a pub near you below:

The World’s First Powdered Beer

We all know instant coffee, but how about instant beer? Well, a 500-year-old German brewery, ‘Neuzeller Klosterbräu’ has made just that. Beer lovers, rejoice.

It really is made in the same way as instant coffee or protein shakes. By simply adding water to 45g of powder, you create the same amount of beer as you would buying a 1kg bottle. Obviously, this could have incredible environmental benefits. Manager Stefan Fritsche says, “We have calculated that, if we now relate this to Germany, we can save about 3 to 5 percent of the CO2 emissions for Germany alone. And if you look at it globally, that would be about half a percent of CO2 emissions worldwide that we could reduce.”

From what we can gather right now, the beer is non-alcoholic but they are confident that they will soon be able to add alcohol and carbon dioxide in powdered form too. It’s worth saying that this isn’t only one type of beer either because Stefan says they can powderize any beer and are looking to share this method with other breweries… so your favourite beer could soon be bought from powder!

Of course, the taste has to be right, especially in Europe where beer is extremely popular and drinkers may be sceptical of its powdered form. But, with greener solutions always being searched out, could this be the future of beer?

To begin with, the brewery will target Asian and African markets where there is less of a traditionalist mindset over beer, and where the environmental transport benefits are even more relevant. It doesn’t look like a European arrival is any day now – the head requires a milk frother at the moment, and the alcohol isn’t ready to be added just yet, but with the taste pretty much there, it might not be far off.

So, what do you think? Would you give powdered beer a try? Or do you think it's sacrilege to mess with the traditional brewing process? Reach out on social media and let us know!

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From Cocktails to Food: 4 Deliciously Different Ways to Enjoy Guinness

With St. Patrick’s’ Day coming up, the sight of ebony nectar-filling glasses will be everywhere we look, but can the same now be said for that on any other day? Towards the end of 2022, Guinness officially became the most popular pint in Britain, overtaking Carling. One in every nine pints in fact!

If you’ve long been loving the black stuff, then we’ve got some fantastic cocktails and recipes for you that place it centre stage. And if you’ve never been drawn to a pint, then perhaps these will hit the spot for you instead? They’re recommended by Guinness themselves and they should know best after all!

GUINNESS COCKTAILS

The Wilde Oscar

In honour of the poet and playwright extraordinaire, the inclusion of Guinness here makes for a darker, creamier twist on an Old Fashioned. A super smooth and creamy mix, the oak of the bourbon and coffee chocolate Guinness notes pair delightfully with a splash of syrup lifting the hoppy bitterness. This is a hearty cocktail with layers and layers of notes in every sip so take your time!

Ingredients
45ml Bourbon (like Bulleit)
30ml Guinness
15ml syrup
Dash of bitters (botanical)
Orange peel and maraschino cherry (garnish)

Method
Stir everything except the garnish together in an ice filled mixing glass and strain over a large ice cube before adding the inviting garnish.

Black Velvet

This cocktail has one of the best backstories around. In 1861, Queen Victoria and the country mourned the death of her husband Prince Albert. So mournful was the mood, that a London steward felt that even the drinks should be black and if you need a black drink, there’s only one place to go. They’re a curious coupling, with the hoppy silk of the Guinness and the effervescent lightness of the bubbly being a surprisingly moreish combo.

Ingredients
90ml Champagne (Crémant works fine too)
90ml Guinness

Method
Unbelievably simple aside from one small bit of bartending magic. First, fill your flute with Champagne and then top up with Guinness by pouring it over the back of a spoon to layer the cocktail nicely. Enjoy!

GUINNESS RECIPES

Guinness Shepherd’s Pie

Ireland claims Shepherd’s Pie as its own, dating back to the 1700s, and by including its most famous drink, this really is the ultimate St. Patrick’s dish. The depth of flavour provided by the Guinness is surprising in just how much of a difference it makes, and the hearty combination of creamy mash, rich meat and malty beer works wonders. The recipe below is seriously amazing. 

Ingredients (for 10)
1lb ground lamb
2 onions, diced small
1 medium carrot, diced small
5 minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 cup chicken stock
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
125ml Guinness
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 cup peas
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the potato mash: 1lb Yukon Gold potatoes, 120ml cream, 100g butter, 6 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Method
Everyone has their own way of making Shepherd’s Pie so truth be told, simply including the Guinness when you add the stock is all you need to do. However, this recipe is amazing if you want to try it.

On medium heat, add the garlic, onions and carrots to your oil and cook gently for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the tomato puree and cook for another 10 minutes, before adding the lamb and turning up the heat to brown it off. Then simply add everything else in (not the potatoes obviously!), including that all-important gorgeous Guinness, and simmer until the mixture is reduced.

For the potatoes, boil equally sized quarters until tender. Meanwhile, sauté the garlic with butter and add cream – then once the potatoes are drained and the steam is released, mash them and fold them into your mixture.

Spread the lamb evenly in a baking dish and top with potatoes making sure there are no gaps. Bake for around 25 minutes in a oven preheated to 200 °C and once the potatoes have browned to your taste on top, garnish with parsley and voilá, it’s ready to serve. 

Guinness Raspberry Chocolate Torte

You might expect a Guinness in a stew or pie situation, but perhaps not in a Raspberry Chocolate Torte? Now, Guinness recommends their Foreign Extra Stout to drink on the side of this, but we’re going to be ambitious and include it. It’s by no means the dominant flavour, but it gives a special kind of depth and slight tang that plays off the raspberry gorgeously.

Ingredients (for 16)

455g bittersweet chocolate (61% dark)
455g butter
455g Sugar
10 egg whites
200ml Guinness (original or Foreign Extra Stout)
4 heaped tbsp plain flour
Butter Cream: 340g butter, 120g unsweetened cocoa powder, 575g confectioners’ sugar, 160g seedless raspberry jam, 2 tsp vanilla extract

Method
Melt the chocolate and butter and whisk in the sugar until it’s completely mixed. Wait for it to cool down to room temp, meanwhile whisk egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mix, whisk the Guinness into the combined mix slowly and finally add your flour little by little. The mixture should be fairly runny, so make sure to slowly add the flour.

Grease two tins and pour the batter evenly, baking for around 25 minutes at 160°C (a skewer should come out with a few crumbs attached, so ever so slightly undercooked).

Whilst waiting, whisk the butter, cocoa powder and sugar to make the buttercream. Then add the raspberry jam and vanilla, mixing at a higher speed for a good minute. You may need to add a little milk here to help reach your desired consistency of buttercream.

Chill overnight and add the cream to the top of each cake, layering them upon one another! decorate with raspberries and you’re ready to dive in.

If you’re after Irish Whiskey for the big day instead, how about our very own blend?! That’s right, with The Three Drinkers have launched their own wine-finished Irish Whiskey with the amazing Sliabh Liag Distillers – find out more here!

Tasting Planes and Tasting Trains: The Best Wine and Spirits Tastings

In the world of wine, a tasting flight is sometimes used to describe a selection of wines for tasters to sample and compare. Well, in New Zealand, one company has taken that to new heights by making it a literal reality.

Booze trains (and now planes too) are a growing attraction for drinks lovers like you and me to experience local drinks on the tracks or in the skies. Far removed from the usual hectic, cramped stress of transport, these idyllic odysseys are sprouting up all over, so here’s a rundown of a few you might want to check out!

UK

Real Ale Train - Watercress Line Dining

Chugging through the Hampshire countryside is the Real Ale Train. Departing from Alton Station near Farnham along the Watercress Line to Alresford, breweries from the surrounding areas will be on the menu with pints reasonably priced at £4, or half pints for £2.

Every ticket comes with a complimentary pint to kick things off, and you can buy individual tickets for £20 or secure a charming six-seat compartment for £150.

The Real Ale Trait also stops by the West Country Buffet where you can feast on chilli, burgers, curry and more before washing it down with more great local brews.

Check out the website for the release of new dates because they sell out quickly!

Keith & Dufftown Railway

North East of the Cairngorms in Scotland, the Keith & Dufftown railway is one of the most Northerly preserved railways in the country, as well as being one of the longest and gloriously scenic. Ten miles of line awaits between Dufftown and Keith, passing the Glenfiddich viaduct, mountain scenery, Loch Park, Drummuir Castle…and that’s not even half the journey!

Various events are held on board, such as the Whisky Train in Spring trying specialist drams from the many distilleries in the area. There’s also the Emerald Isle Express for £40 per person offering ‘whisky’ as you travel through the land of ‘whisky’.

Events come and go, but the same stunning route remains so it should definitely be on your radar if you’re looking to explore this part of Scotland.

Explore their website for any new events and to book and to see the train in action check out Episode 2 of The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky on Amazon Prime.

East Lancashire Railway – Rail Ale Trail

East Lancashire Railway’s Rail Ale Trail takes you onboard one of their beautiful heritage steam or diesel trains and through the lush valleys and quaint villages, guiding you through the history and heritage of the area and delving into surrounding area’s brewing traditions.

Whilst you’ll enjoy a local bottle of ale on the train, this experience involves more guided tours to traditional pubs in the Irwell Valley and a hearty pub lunch.

The tours all begin at Bury Bolton Street Station, but from there they vary. Some involve short walks, others almost hikes. The price looks to be set at £59.50 regardless though so explore their website for more information! Journey goers rave about it once it’s finished so you’ll have to be quick.

It’s worth mentioning that they also have gin nights and wine nights occasionally too if that’s more your thing!

Other Rail Ale Trails

Rail Ale Trails are massively popular and available all over it seems, and whilst they do often provide some local ale on board, they are more focused on visiting pubs along the way. Here are some Rail Ale Trails that might be nearby you:

Churnet Railway, Staffordshire
Devon & Cornwall’s numerous trails
Great Central Railway, Loughborough
Spa Valley RaSpa Valley Railway, the High Wealdlway, the High Weald

INTERNATIONAL

Invivo Air – Cloud Wine

The image at the top of this article is of the world’s first winery airline! That’s the promise of Invivo Air, who not only produce their own wine in New Zealand but have created a flight from Auckland to Queenstown to try them on.

30 guests tasted over 16 wines whilst cruising at 18,000ft, as well as a vineyard tour with winemakers’ dinner and overnight stay at the 5-star lakeside Hilton Queenstown Resort and Spa. That’s a lot packed in! Celebrity wines like Graham Norton’s and Sarah Jessica Parker’s are nestled amongst Invivo’s own and New Zealand’s finest, with the cabin even decorated with hanging vines.

Ahead of the launch, the founder said: “Invivo Air is the world’s first winery airline and we’re looking forward to guiding our guests through the ultimate wine lovers experience – both at 18,000ft in our winery in the sky and also on terra firma at one of our beautiful Central Otago vineyards.”

Otago is known for its award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and Pinot Noir, and it’s not just fine wine but fine food included. Guests will dine at the Botswana Butchery, a new five-star seafood joint that has opened exclusively for Invivo Air. Local New Zealand cuisine such as fresh oysters, whitebait, lumina lamb and salmon are all on the menu.

At the time of writing, there has only been one flight but more domestic flights are on the horizon as well as international availability. To experience Cloud Wine, go to their website for further details on pricing.

Wine Train, Napa Valley – Legacy Experience

A legacy is handed down over time, through family and tradition. And lots and lots of wine. Charles Krug. V. Sattui. The legacy of these Italian families represents a combined winemaking history of more than 200 years. And some very fine vintages. Some say this is where it all began. And this is where your journey begins

America has some amazing wine trains on offer but one of the best-known ones is the simply named Wine Train. Their legacy experience provides a 6-hour adventure through the iconic Napa Valley, with a 3-hour train ride departing in the morning. After a welcome glass of sparkling wine, your first tasting occurs onboard the open-air car by your onboard Maitre’D at the legendary Napa Valley welcome sign.

After this, you have a four-course meal inspired by the stunning surroundings and a further 2 hours of tasting at Charles Krug and V.Sattui Winery, exploring 7 prestigious blends. Finally, it’s back on the train which is an attraction in itself with plush velvet, gleaming brass, smooth marble and a dreamy vintage aesthetic. What a way to explore one of the world’s most important wine regions!

Unsurprisingly, this is pricier than most wine trains and tickets vary around $500, but as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it looks amazing. See what’s in store for yourself on their website!

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train – Bourbon Excursion

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train is two beautifully restored 1940s dining cars pulled through Kentucky by two 1950s locomotives. Departing from Bardstown which just so happens to have been named the Most Beautiful Small Town in America numerous times, the breathtaking Kentucky countryside awaits. The Jim Beam distillery, Jesse James’ safe house, and the Jackson Hollow Trestle in Bernehim Forest for starters.

During these two-and-a-half hours of exploration, a gourmet four-course dinner is served. On top of this, master distillers guide guests on a journey through bourbon history, pairing select liquids with your meals. Everything is included on this 32-mile roundtrip so if you’re a bourbon lover and want to visit its home, $127 doesn’t sound too bad, right?

For more details on the Bourbon Excursion, visit here.

Meet Laager – The New Beer Made from Naan Bread

There’s a new contender for the best beer to enjoy with Indian food, and that’s because the sustainability-focused Crumbs Brewing has launched a lager that is literally made from naan bread.  

Fuelled by a desire to depart from the corporate world and create something positive, husband and wife duo Morgan and Elaine Arnell started Crumbs in 2017. Believe it or not, this naan project is just the latest in their bread transformations. Using unsold bread from their local bakery Chalk Hills, they set about brewing beers inspired by particular breads. For example, there’s Pale Ale using zesty sourdough and their Ruby Ale, made from richer, spicier rye.

They were missing one thing from their range though, commenting, “We’ve been exploring the idea of a light refreshing lager for some time. All our beers are very distinct from one another, and it was the obvious gap in our range. That kind of beer is always perfect with spicy food like a curry, so it made a lot of sense to explore using naan bread in the brew.”

As is the case around the table at a curry house, it wasn’t long before naan entered the conversation. They did some digging and discovered that manufacturers and retailers were wasting unsold and wonky naan. They then developed their recipe with the Nigella seed at the heart of it, a key ingredient in most naan bread that provides much of the unique taste we love.

The outcome is a super refreshing, light and slightly aromatic ‘laager’, with a gently floral finish. It sounds ideal for complimenting the flavours of the food, whilst cutting through the spice at the same time.

If you want to put their creation to the test yourself then you can order the tastefully designed 330ml bottles online, available in a 4 Bottle Gift Pack for £12, or you can pre-order the 12 Bottle Case for £29.

For more interesting beer flavours, why not check out Aldi’s Yorkshire Pudding Beer or Wild Beer Co’s Wasp Yeast Beer?

Aldi’s New Yorkshire Pudding Beer

For some it’s an essential part of the mighty Roast, for others it’s demoted to a take it or leave it bonus, and whilst we’re used to seeing it smothered in gravy, how does the Yorkshire pudding work in beer?

Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Things gave thirty entrepreneurs the opportunity to get their unique creations onto the supermarket’s shelves, and it was Father and Son duo Harry and Howard Kinder from the award-winning Malton Brewery that jointly scooped the prize alongside Harry Specters Chocolate Bars.

Judges loved the creamy texture and froth of their unusual concoction, which contains half an actual Yorkshire pud in every bottle and comes out at only 3.6% ABV, so it’s pretty mild but I guess you’d expect that when a big portion of the recipe is a Yorkshire pudding. Malton Brewery says it’s based on the first-ever recipe for this beloved creation, written by Hannah Glass in 1747, so it’s vegetarian but unfortunately not vegan.

Incredibly, this isn’t the first product of this kind! In 2020, Leeds brewery Northern Monk partnered with Aunt Bessie’s to release a ‘Sunday Roast’ brown ale, using Yorkshires and roast potatoes, as well as a Jam Roly Poly number. The popularity of this new Malton Brewery product is next level, however, so who knows, maybe the humble roastie was holding the pudding back from its destiny as an essential beer flavouring after all?

You should be able to find it in your local Aldi now, with each 500ml bottle costing £1.49, and packs of four and eight also available if you can’t get enough of them. Keep your eyes peeled though because they recently sold out within hours of being restocked online.

There’s a conveyor of unusual festive food and drink combinations every year, and much of it can be dismissed as a novelty bit of fun, but maybe there’s more to this one? We haven’t tried it just yet, so please let us know if you have, and whether or not it lives up to the hype!

Beavertown’s New Christmas Glitter Beer

If you buy a can of Beavertown’s new Frozen Neck IPA (4.3%), it will seem like a pretty ordinary (albeit delicious) Christmas makeover of the original Neck Oil. But pour it into a glass and that’s when the magic happens...

Glitter! All it takes is a gentle swirl and you’ve got your very own boozy snow globe. 

That’s not where the festive revamp ends either. The hops have been frozen straight after picking for added freshness, and whilst it retains the earthiness of the original, there is a grapefruit zestyness and sweet mango to it that is noticeably new. 

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not an earth-shattering innovation, but around Christmas time, it only takes little things to get in the mood and make sure it fees like a magical time of year, so if you’re a fan of the original Neck Oil (one of the most popular craft beers out there) then why not add some sparkles of the season in there? 

The “glittery, zingy, hazy IPA” leads the charge in Beavertown’s new Christmas releases, which also feature Ginger Ray, a more warming version of their Gamma Ray APA, and an unknown release on December 5th too! 

It’s currently available to pre-order here on their official site. You’ll be able to buy it for £2.30 per can, with 12 packs and 24 packs available too. Keep your eyes peeled!

The Best Boozy Christmas Crackers You Need To Try This Christmas

The fortune telling fish, miniature nail files and Dad jokes tumbling out of crackers on Christmas Day are enshrined in festive law and we wouldn’t have it any other way, but that’s not to say we can’t try for something a little more exciting, is it? 

These alcohol-filled crackers are perfect to spice things up a little on the big day, filled with whatever tipple takes your fancy! Whether it’s rum miniatures that pack a punch, create-your-own crackers, or cream liqueurs to get the Baileys open even earlier than usual, we’ve got it all covered and more!  

The Best Gin Christmas Crackers:

Fever-Tree Ultimate Gin & Tonic

If you’re a gin lover and you haven’t heard of Fever-Tree then we don’t know where you’ve been. They are about as reliable as it gets when it comes to premium tonic varieties, and this cracker set matches four of them wonderfully. The Audemus Pink Pepper Gin with Elderflower Tonic in particular is delightful, but there isn’t a bad option in the box!

Find here: £34 Box of 4

Franklin & Sons Gin & Mixers

Founded in Victorian London, Franklin & Sons are pioneers in the soft drinks space, using the best natural ingredients to churn out unique flavours and top-notch classics. Inside this beautiful box are six crackers with the same Christmas tree design, each containing an award-winning combo of gin and mixer. From classics like Rock Rose and Sipsmith Dry to newer innovations from Manchester Gin and Masons, this is a cracker pull you’d definitely want to win. 

Find here: £35 Box of 6

York Gin

York Gin orchestrates its range of stunning gins around the history of the equally beautiful city of York. Their box of six contains one of each flavour, telling the story from the Roman foundations (Roman Fruit) to the Chocolate Orange flavour honouring the iconic Terry’s, whose factory was just a couple of miles from the York Gin distillery. A 100% renewably powered distillery, with a great concept and award-winning gin to back it up – not a bad thing to pull out of a cracker at all!

Find here: £60 Box of 6 (or £10 for 1)

The Best Mixed Spirit Christmas Crackers:

The Lakes Distillery

Each swanky cracker contains one premium 50ml miniature to experience the range of products the Lake District distillery has on offer. There’s a classic Lakes gin that doesn’t shy away from vibrant juniper, and a zesty pink grapefruit version too. As promised, this is a mixed set, but that mix is completely up to you. You can select whichever four from those two gins, or a fruity, gently smoky whisky, as well as a very alluring salted caramel vodka liqueur! Or you can have all four the same, but a surprise element when you’re opening is nice wouldn’t you agree?

Find here: £20 Box of 4

Lakeland Spirits Mix

You get the best of both worlds with these crackers. Not only are there miniatures of the UK’s most popular spirits in Bacardi, Baileys, Smirnoff, and Beefeater, but you also still get the terrible jokes and hats that come with your standard cracker...there’s no escaping them!

Find here: £39.99 Box of 6

The Best Beer Christmas Crackers:

Bier Company

These beefy crackers will need a real tug of war to break them open, and that’s because they contain not one but two premium craft beers each! Also included in these stylishly designed colourful crackers are the usual party hats, riddles and jokes we all know and love.

Find here: £39.95 Box of 5 (£12.95 for 2)

Black Sheep Brewery

This Yorkshire brewery’s crackers are ideal for experimenting with a range of intriguing beers. You simply select how many of each you want from their list of nine. So, you could throw in two reliable Riggwelters, and then add on one Pineapple Milkshake IPA and a Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale? You’ve got a really inviting selection with plenty of classic and unusual IPAs, Ales and Stouts, so it’s up to you – that’s the beauty of it!

Find here: £5.50 per cracker

The Best Whisky Christmas Crackers:

Drinks by the Dram

This selection of six bowtied crackers arrives in a lovely box, each containing a 30ml wax-sealed mini dram from a curated selection of fine whisky producers. For example, there’s the award winning softly sweet Glengoyne 10-Year-Old, the rich and peaty palate of Smokehead, or the experimental World Whisky Blend, which has combined single malts, single grains, and bourbons of all kinds into one. It’s a nice selection that will please beginners and seasoned dram drinkers all the same!

Find here: £39.95 Box of 6

The Best Cream Liqueur Christmas Crackers:

Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat has put together 50ml bottles of, ‘Velvetised Creams’, with real chocolate, crisp vodka, and silky cream. These would be perfect to save for a Boxing Day boozy hot choc, or if you can’t wait (we don’t blame you), enjoy them as an after-dinner digestif. You can expect two original chocolates, two salted caramels, one mint, and an Espresso Martini version, all super decadent and definitely worth fighting over... or diplomatically swapping, whatever works. 

Find here: £24.95 Box of 6

Baileys

Well, it’s a Christmas list so it was only a matter of time before Baileys showed up! These four colourful crackers complete the table, with two 50ml Irish Creams, a Coffee Liqueur, and an Orange Truffle flavour too. It’s the only cream liqueur to be awarded a World Spirits Medal every year since 2003 and when it’s so synonymous with Christmas, how can you not want it around? 

Find here: £14.99 Box of 4

Aldi Ballycastle 

The quality that comes with some of Aldi’s own versions of much-loved products is no longer a secret, and in terms of value, these 50ml Ballycastle creams are hard to beat. Inside there’s the classic, Chocolate & Clementine, Espresso, and White Chocolate, which sounds like a gloriously indulgent selection to us, just what every Christmas feast demands. 

Find here: £7.99 Box of 4

The Best Rum Christmas Crackers:

Sly Dog Spiced

Don’t worry rum lovers, because behind those ominous eyes is a Sly Dog miniature, filled with a Jamaican and Dominican rum blend and their secret recipe of spices. This is a sublime spiced rum with perfect balance, picking up Gold at the World Rum Awards in 2022. If you want something to crack open after the cracker itself that really hits the spot, then this is it. 

Find here: £30 Box of 4

The Best Cocktail Christmas Crackers:

Candy Cane Fizz & Berry and Bright Gin

Now this a box that screams luxury. The Cocktail Man in London has pulled together Chase GB Gin with his secret signature Sliqueur giving you everything you need to get started on that Christmas cocktail. You also get garnish, hats, jokes and don’t worry, there are very clear cocktail instructions because the last thing you need is another thing to get sorted on the big day. 

Find here: £59.95 Box of 4

The Best Vodka Christmas Crackers:

J.J Whitley 

J.J Whitley has been making spirits for 260 Christmases now (since 1762 that is by the way, just in case our maths is off), so it’s no wonder that they’re still winning awards on a yearly basis. It’s lovely and fresh on the nose and unravels into a creamy and full-bodied delight... and that’s just their Artisanal original! You’ll also get to try Vanilla, Raspberry, Watermelon & Lime, Blood Orange, and finally Passion Fruit. Serve them as chilled as a Christmas Day and you’ll be sure to have a jolly one!

Find here: £15.99 Box of 6

The Best Wine Christmas Crackers:

Virgin Wines 

You get more booze for your buck with these classy crackers, as each one reveals a 187ml bottle of fabulous wine. There’s Aussie Pinot Grigio, South African Chardonnay Viognier (which would be great with the Christmas dinner itself), Chilean Merlot, French Malbec, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and South African Cinsaut. Something for everyone

Find here: £35.99 Box of 6

Virgin Wines Prosecco

If Prosecco is more your thing, then Virgin still have you covered. Each cracker contains a 200ml Extra Dry Senti, an exquisitely crisp and fruity Prosecco with the perfect amount of fizz. Prosec-ho-ho! (Had to be done.)

Find here: £36.99 Box of 6

Create Your Own Christmas Crackers

Lakeland Fill-Your-Own

Often the most memorable moments around Christmas time involve personalised gifts and decorations, that show you’ve gone the extra mile and thought about the people you’re with. That’s why Lakeland have created these fill-your-own crackers. They arrive with some festive embossing and minor decoration, but it’s down to you to personalise them and fill them with whatever you like! If you know someone loves a particular drink but it can’t be bought in a cracker, then what a pleasant surprise for them to find it!

Find here: £14.99 Box of 6

If you’re now ramping up Christmas preparations, then why not booze-up the advent calendar as well as the crackers? Who says they’re just for kids? We’ve compiled our Favourite Advent Calendars For 2022, each one with a tasty treat behind every door!

Words by Calum Ecroyd