The Top 8 Flavoured Vodkas You Need to Try

A fantastic original vodka is difficult to surpass and let’s be honest, in the past the world of flavoured vodka has released some shockers trying to do so. However, there are some absolute gems too.
Whether you just want to try something different or you’re looking for some innovative mixology must-haves, here are some of the very best flavoured vodkas that got it spot on and have the awards to prove it.

Eccentric Cardi Bay Vodka

Scooping the top Master award at the latest Vodka Masters, Cardy Bay references Cardigan Bay on the west coast of Wales and that’s because this vodka is inspired by the yellow gorse flowers growing in that area – not your everyday vodka flavouring! They create a distinctly floral coconutty vanilla flavour to the expression for a wonderfully rich and creamy feel. We appreciate the effort put into the bottle too – this really feels a vodka that’s had a lot of work put into it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £32

Koskenkorva Vodka Sauna Barrel

With just 2200 people living there, the tiny Finnish village of Koskenkorva is the production home of this fantastic vodka. We’ve mentioned their original bottle before, and Sauna Barrel has all the same pure smoothness but with hints of smoky heat, hence the name. The flavouring comes from resting in oak barrels picking up on the bourbon smokiness they used to contain. The infusion is subtle, and although the idea of a Finnish sauna doesn’t make the mind immediately jump to delicious drinking, it absolutely works! It’s another Master award winner, so find out for yourself!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5% 
Find here:  £21.49

Manchester Spirit Grapefruit Vodka

This British vodka uses rotary evaporation (roto-vap) techniques to extract the pure zingy vibrance of fresh grapefruit, with no chemical flavouring used. It’s 100% natural and tastes it, with a clean but creamy mouthfeel. The bitterness is perfectly balanced, and we’d recommend topping this with soda or as an extra juicy citrussy Cosmo!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £30

Absolut Lime

The original Absolut bottle, inspired by medicine bottles of a bygone era, is eye-catching enough, but the enchanting green hue of Absolut Lime is even more striking. Inside, it’s bursting with a tangy citrus kick from all-natural lime with no added sugars. It’s produced in Sweden like all other vodkas from the range so has the same smoothness and minerality, but with that refreshing lime and slightly sweet finish. This could easily be a new cocktail kit essential for citrussy twists on the classics.

Size: UK 700ml / US 1.75L
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £18.56 / US $26.98

Masons Citrus Vodka

Masons have thrived since expanding from gin production into vodka, and Citrus Vodka is one of their more praised expressions. The delightful tang is down to vapour infused grapefruit and lemon, cutting through the pure Masons vodka. Think brightness, freshness, and smoothness. Try it for a punchier Cosmo and you might not look back.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.80

Pravda Espresso Flavoured Vodka

This Polish vodka is the real deal. From 100% rye grain, it’s distilled 5 times with Carpathian water before the decadence of roasted Arabica coffee beans are added. The Espresso flavour really kicks and creates a thick, subtly sweet liquid that oozes style. Drizzle it over your ice cream, pour it over ice, or add it to your coffee and cocktails - whichever route you choose you’re going to love it!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £27.99

Vestal Black Cherry Vodka

Staying in Poland, check out Vestal Black Cherry Vodka. The potato vodka base that Vestal is renowned for brings a creaminess to which luscious black cherry is added. Sweetness plays off against tart nuance perfectly, with notes of cacao and marzipan creating a surprising bakery feel. It’s rich, dark, and sweet but without the sickliness that some cherry-flavoured drinks come with. There are honestly so many great serves for this, but after trying it on the rocks, it’s also delicious with lemonade or cola, especially for drinkers with a sweeter tooth.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £20.89

Shanty Seaweed Botanical Vodka

We have to shout out the gorgeous bottle for this vodka first! Local to production, Dorset artist Emma Brownjohn has designed the artwork to wrap around the bottle distorting it as if viewed underwater – love it. The liquid uses a variety of interesting botanical spirits (sea buckthorn, bergamot, yuzu, galangal, wasabi for example) and of course, 5 organic British seaweeds. Each is vacuum distilled to retain the delicate notes within that umami flavour before blending with the grain spirit. The vodka is full of complexity with sea botanicals, subtle citrus and a pleasant salinity perfectly balanced in a super smooth mouthfeel. It’s about as far away from the synthetic taste as you can get and a must-try for any vodka lover.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39

If flavoured vodka is just not your thing, then we’ve got some super straight down-the-line recommendations too, with The Best Vodkas of 2022!

From Aquaman to Vodkaman: Jason Momoa’s Meili Vodka

Best known for fronting Aquaman and playing Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, Hawaiian star Jason Momoa is entering the world of drinks… or should we say returning?

Whilst filming Game of Thrones in Belfast over the previous decade, the brawny Momoa bulked up on a diet of pizza and Guinness and even got to try his own edition, ‘The Mano’. Guinness’ first sour creation was inspired by the actor’s Hawaiian heritage and tattoos, and he obviously got a taste for the industry because he launched Mananalu in 2019, an environmentally-minded canned water brand. This is a focus that Momoa has brought over to Meili Vodka (40% ABV), the new sustainably produced craft spirit.

A joint venture between the actor and fashion designer Blake Halvorson (founder of Junk Food Clothing and MadeWorn), Meili is bottled in 100% recycled glass with no two bottles being identical. Produced from natural Montana springs, the grains are sourced from local farms and the finished article is left to, “rest and breathe” in the mountain air before bottling – whether that has any science behind it or not we’re not sure, but it’s a nice image.

In this new world of celebrity spirits, it can be difficult to stand out and as of yet, there’s little word on the quality of the vodka itself, but to be fair it hasn’t officially launched just yet. That moment will come when Momoa speaks at the WSWA’s 2023 Access Live in Florida in April, but for now, their ideas seem admirable.

What’s more, limited online releases suggest a price of around $23.99 which is remarkably affordable when you consider the ‘celeb tax’ that is usually added on to endorsed products. Wider offerings will no doubt roll into a town near you soon, but if you’re a Momoa superfan then you can order already from selected retailers like here.

Flävar: The Upcoming World of Swedish Schnapps

If you’ve not heard of Flävar just yet, then chances are you will have by the end of 2023. The Swedish schnapps brand landed in many UK venues from May onwards, most notably cementing a place for itself on the Wetherspoons bar where 15,000 shots of each flavour are being poured out every week! So, what is it that’s captivated British drinkers?

Set up beside the easy-on-the-eye Lake Boren in southern Sweden, Flävar uses some of the freshest water anywhere to craft award-winning vodka with indulgent flavours. Railing against, “memories of garish neon glittery shots slammed back in the student union” as founder Rolf Munding put it, these 25% ABV schnapps are not only delicious, but super smooth, stylish, clear, and crisp. The distinctive and nostalgic herbal schnapps taste anchors the sweetness of their current three flavours in what appears to be a winning combo!

Inspired by traditional Swedish flavours, there’s Strawberry and Lime for a succulent and vibrant taste of summer, then bittersweet warmth of Raspberry and Liquorice and Salted Caramel, praised for its moreish sweet and salty character. With Blueberry and Lemon on the horizon as well as a fleet of other new flavours, Flävar looks like it’s here to stay.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about for yourself, you can expect to see Flävar on supermarket shelves soon, but until then you can order a 700m bottle from their website here for £19.99.

If you’d like to read more product reviews, click here!

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night

January 25th brings Burns Night, the birthday of The Scottish Bar, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. His classic works like Auld Lang Syne are known across the world, and traditionally, haggis and Scotch are served after reading Rabbie’s words to ‘address the haggis’.

It’s the perfect excuse to pour out a special dram, but believe it or not Scotch lovers, not everyone loves it! So, whether it’s wine, spirits, or even alcohol-free drinks you’re looking for, these are the best alternatives to sip on during Burns Night, that give nods to the event without going the whole hog, or the whole haggis. Enjoy!

WINE

Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

Another fantastic wine drinker’s choice for Burns Night is this Double Barrel Shiraz... because it’s literally aged in Scotch whisky barrels! Available in almost all supermarkets, this Jacob’s Creek range includes other wines finished with Scotch, but the Australian Shiraz is really top notch. It’s first matured in traditional oak wine barrels, building richness and elegance with hints of blueberry and ripe plum. Finishing in Scotch barrels leaves for a seriously moreish easy-drinking smoothness as well as vanilla and charry oak notes. It’s a fantastic food-friendly Shiraz that would sing alongside beef, mushrooms, and blue cheese.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £10 (usually £12!) Sainsbury’s // US $21.99

1000 Stories Chardonnay

1000 Stories make a number of wines, with each fermenting in charred barrels that once housed iconic Kentucky bourbon. We’ve picked out their Chardonnay which reimagines the Cali classic without losing the characteristic of what makes the full-bodied grape so loved. The result is lush, charred vanilla and toasted caramel perfectly balanced by the more familiar baked apple and pear. The inclusion of a little Viognier adds even more intrigue with tropical hints in the background. Gorgeous!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5% 
Find here: UK £16.50 Tesco // US $16.99

SPIRITS

Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend

The peak of rum heritage is Mount Gay who release some absolute crackers, and the dark and brooding XO is right up there. Resting for between 8-15 years in a combination of American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks creates a precision balance. A lovely oakiness underlines everything, decorated with inviting notes of waxy pear and sticky toffee fig pudding. Full-flavour, impossibly smooth, and finally the very gentle warming spice that you need on Burns Night – it’s the best rum option to replace Scotch. Try it with a large coconut water ice cube to really accentuate the coconut notes too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £54.59 // US $64.99

Firkin Gin Islay Cask

Firkin Gin produce some delicious gin, many finished with wines and whiskies. We even tried their Côtes Du Roussillon in, ‘The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky’, but on Burns Night, gin lovers should go to their Islay Cask! Best known for Scotch, Firkin Gin have imparted that Islay character into this London dry-style gin by resting it in oak casks that used to house local whisky. In amongst the juniper, lime and honey botanicals, peat smoke wafts through on the nose before distinct vanilla and sea-breeze notes on the palate. The peppery finish ties up the peaty elements nicely, for a gin that is both light, zesty, and coastal, but smoky too. Explore it neat but perhaps serve with ginger beer after that.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £34.99

Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo Tequila

Raised in Texas but born in Scotland, Michael Ballantyne founded the award-winning Storywood to produce tequila, ‘with the heart of Mexico and the soul of Scotland’. It’s unusual to see Speyside and Tequila in the same sentence, but the 100% blue weber agave añejo matures in Scotch casks from the area for 14 months to create one of the most uniquely layered tequilas around. Think caramelised nuts and toasted oak, intertwining with the earthy and vegetal agave that sits at the heart of it. Innovative and well worth a try to see if the combination is a hit for you!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.30

Kalak Peat Cask Vodka

Another expression you don’t see often but just so happens to be the perfect alternative to Scotch for Burns Night... cask-aged vodka. Kalak’s crisp Irish malted barley vodka is distilled four times and finished in virgin American oak casks charred over Irish peat fires. What an image that is! A mellow smoke coats the bakery profile of vanilla, gingerbread, and cream wonderfully. The whisky presence is far from overbearing if you’re worried about that, it just adds a new toasted layer to the existing characteristics. We think this would also create some really unique cocktails, like a Smoky Martini. Cheers to Rabbie!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.90

Beeble Honey Whisky Liqueur

If you’re anything like us you’ll be instantly curious about that distinct honied hue and giant bee, and even more intrigued about what ‘honey spirit’ is. When the founders began their first hive, they found it difficult to avoid wasting the honey that stuck to the frames. They tried soaking them in whisky and the first Beeble batch was born. They now have over 130 sustainable hives, and still only use honey, water, and whisky. English apple blossom honey blends with Scotch for a super silky and floral bottling at just 30%. If you really don’t like whisky, then maybe stay clear but if you want to explore a much easier drinking sweet liqueur version, then this is a must try. It won a Great Taste Award in 2020 for its original flavour so see what you think!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 30%
Find here: £32

NO LO

Feragaia

If you don’t drink alcohol but still want to sip on something special for the celebrations, then how about Feragaia? It’s a Scottish alcohol-free spirit combining 14 wild botanicals including chamomile, bay leaf and seaweed with local Scottish water. The grounding spices like pink peppercorn work well with the coastal Kelp and fresh lemon and blackcurrant for a really balanced and clean feeling of flora and earth. It might look like a very pale whisky, but Feragaia doesn’t intend to try to replicate a spirit, instead they hope that this stands in its own right as its own thing. Bravo!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £19.94

Crossip ‘Dandy Smoke’

Crossip has a great range of booze-free spirits, but it was Dandy Smoke that picked up The Independent’s Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Spirit of 2021, and it has that Scotch profile we’re looking for. It’s smoky (obviously!) and velvet smooth with satisfying viscosity, which is important because a thin feel can be an issue with booze-free spirits. Underneath the enjoyable texture are layers of warming spice with a subtly medicinal punch not dissimilar from Islay expressions. It’s a smaller bottle than most but a little goes a long way with this one. Try it with cola or ginger ale, or even at the base of a fresh mocktail!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £22

If after all that you’ve come full circle and just want quality Scotch for Burns Night, then check out our list of the very best, from budget to blowout.

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Budmo! Dima’s Cocktail Book Supporting Ukraine

Dima Deinega is the man behind namesake brand, Dima’s Vodka, an award-winning triple-grain expression picking up prestigious gongs from the IWSC, World Vodka Awards and Vodka Masters… and now, he’s also the man behind, ‘Budmo!’, a book of vodka cocktails from his homeland.

If you’re wondering, Budmo (pronounced Bood-more) means, ‘let us be’ and is the shortest and most popular Ukrainian toast, usually featuring a hierarchy of toasts around the table. Dima’s book celebrating the art of toasting features fifty essential recipes created by expert mixologists from Kyiv cocktails bars, celebrating vodka’s special place in the culture. As Dima himself puts it, “Vodka is an integral part of the Ukrainian lifestyle with generations of expertise and tradition behind it. With different regional flavour profiles, it crosses class and status boundaries and is suffused into the country’s culture, uniting the nation.”

Highlights include the Kyiv Mule, The White Ukrainian, the Beetroot Bloody Mary and Parovoz Bar’s Green Pea Cocktail, a smoothly shaken cocktail entwining the richness of Dima’s Vodka with green pea shoots and celery bitters! You even get a QR code to walk you through making each one, as well as insight into the exciting Ukrainian bar scene, vodka infusions (nalyvkas), traditional pickles and beautiful accompanying photos.

Most importantly, a minimum of £5 from every purchase goes towards First Aid Ukraine in their time of need, and you can purchase the book on its own for £25 or combine it with a gorgeous bottle of Dima’s for £55 (the perfect star of the show for your vodka cocktails).

Super inventive recipes, stunning Vodka, and the opportunity to support and celebrate Ukraine – Budmo to that we say.

If it sounds like it’s up your street, please visit Dima’s website to learn more about their premium products and purchase the cocktail book!

The Best Hot Toddy Cocktail Variations

What is a hot toddy?

There’s nothing quite like a hot toddy to soothe the winter chill in our bones is there? The history of the hot toddy is by no means set in stone. In India, toddy has long been a fermented palm tree sap concoction, and by the end of the 1700s, it came to mean, ‘a beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices’ in the United Kingdom.

One man credited with its popularity is Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish physician who prescribed hot brandy, cinnamon, syrup, and water in the 1830s to his patients with flu. Now that sounds better than tablets to us!

These days, the winter warmer is loved by many to jump-start mornings, soothe colds, and sore throats, as a nightcap, or just to heat up during the chilly nights. So versatile! And the good thing about that is, there are tonnes of room to adapt the recipes...

So, without further ado, here are our best hot toddy variations, whatever you’re in the mood for, and even if you don’t like whisky!

For the traditionalists: The Original Hot Toddy

Some recipes are as simple as whisky + sugar + water, and others read more like full shopping lists, so we’ve kept it fairly simple with cloves and cinnamon for mellow and warming spice, honey for sweetness, lemon juice to cut through and of course, a gorgeous splash of whisky at the heart of everything. Balanced and beautiful, it’s soothing comfort in a mug.

Ingredients
1 clove
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
100ml-150ml hot water
35ml Whisky (Johnnie Walker Black Label is great)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Grab your favourite mug or handled glass and add the water. Mix in the whisky, lemon juice and honey until it’s completely disappeared. Chuck in the clove and the cinnamon if you like it. Most important of all, have a taste and adapt it how you like! You can add some sugar, or some more lemon, or even a splash of whisky if it’s not got enough oomph.

For the bourbon drinkers: Ginger Toddy

Bourbon works just as well as Scotch in a Hot Toddy, so it’s just down to your preference, but we love it with the ginger here. Those warming spicy notes, with vanilla and caramel bourbon hints create a delicious bakery feel to the cocktail. This is guaranteed to leave a lovely zing in your mouth and warm you down to your toes!

Ingredients
35ml bourbon
15ml ginger syrup
100ml hot water
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Combine the bourbon, ginger syrup and hot water in your favourite mug and stir thoroughly, adding a splash of lemon juice if you want extra zing! Then enjoy!

For the cider drinkers: The Hot Apple Toddy

Now be aware that this has a serious kick to it because the water is being swapped out for apple cider. You can still add cinnamon and a clove if you wish, but if you’ve used a good cider then there should be bold enough flavours without. Along similar lines, if you’d prefer an even fruiter version, use apple brandy instead of whisky! Oh so satisfying and that subtle tang is lovely.

Ingredients
1 tsp honey
100ml apple cider
35ml whisky or apple brandy
1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Method
Heat up your cider in a saucepan and pour this into your mug or glass coated with honey at the bottom. Add your whisky and optional spices and stir well.

For the gin lovers: Hot Gin Toddy

There are even options for you gin lovers out there. The Hot Gin Toddy relies on the beautiful botanicals in the gin, with the heat opening them up and giving them a new lease of life. It’s just as warming, but with a pleasantly aromatic profile that’s surprisingly light and refreshing too.

Top Tip: Dry gin will work better because the botanicals tend to react to hot water more reliably.

Ingredients
1 tsp sugar
35ml gin (dry)
100ml hot water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick (garnish)
1 lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Super simple, just mix everything really well with the hot water and give it a final stir with the cinnamon stick. Make sure the water isn’t boiling hot because this may be too harsh on the gin.

For the rum drinkers: Hot Rum Toddy

Rum fits so nicely into the Hot Toddy recipe, with those warming spices and underlying sweetness accentuated beautifully. Whilst Scotch has always been the Hot Toddy go-to in the UK, rum used to be far more readily available in America, so this or brandy was usually used. Any rum works, but we would suggest dark rum for that deep caramel flavour, and the spicier notes.

Ingredients
1 tbsp honey
35ml rum (preferably dark)
100ml hot water
1 cinnamon stick
Lemon wedge (garnish)

Method
Stir together everything so that the honey is completely dissolved and drop in the cinnamon stick giving it plenty of time to diffuse. Garnish with a lemon wedge to finish, and squeeze in a little juice if you prefer! Truly a fireside sipper that gives the original a run for its money.

For the vodka drinkers: Toffee Apple Hot Toddy

This may ring some bells because we recommended it as the perfect Bonfire Night cocktail when Lewis Stairs, founder of Sunday Cocktail Club joined us in Ep.96 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast. It’s gorgeously smooth, with that slightly sweeter bourbon intertwining with crisp toffee vodka. The apple juice completes the hot toffee apple vibe, and it’s a fantastic option if you’ve got a sweeter tooth.

Ingredients
25ml toffee vodka
50ml bourbon
40ml apple juice
Splash of lemon (optional)
Cinnamon stick (garnish)

Method
All you’ve got to do is heat everything up in a saucepan until it’s hot throughout, but not bubbling. Keep some cool apple juice behind to cool it down if needs be. We love the very subtle sour edge that the lemon provides, but feel free to leave it out – it’s your creation! Feel free to check out Lewis making it here.

For the non-alcoholic drinkers: Apple Berry Toddy

There are lots of alcohol-free hot toddy variations using different types of tea, but we wanted something that still has the boozy profile to it... just without the booze itself. Step up Crossip Rich Berry, perfect for mulled wines but also hot toddies. It’s packed with rich blackberries and cherries, and a lovely layer of spice. Obviously, there isn’t quite the power that comes from a spirit, so swap out the water for some lovely hot apple juice and it’s a warming winner with heaps of flavour.

Ingredients
25ml Crossip Rich Berry
125ml Apple Juice
Lemon (garnish)

 Method
Like every hot toddy, it’s easy to pull together. Just heat everything together and decant! A little squeeze and garnish of lemon is a nice finishing touch. The only difficult bit is trying not to finish it all in one sitting!

If you are looking for more delicious drink ideas this January, why not check out our recommendations for the best no and low alcohol drinks?

Words by Calum Ecroyd

The Best Pre-Lunch Christmas Drinks

Once the mimosas have been drunk, breakfast had and Christmas lunch is beginning to be prepared, the chef, and everyone else for that matter, might be wanting a little something to drink before the grand meal gets under way. Personally, I don’t eat much at breakfast, so one of the next drinks can be a great substitute, whether with or without alcohol. One of my favourite drinks of all time is the Bloody Mary. Traditionally made with vodka there are other options out there. If you’re not a tomato juice fan, then a gin and tonic can go down very well pre-lunch too. And there is always the traditional Christmas drink of Sherry. Forget the old days of cream sherries, there are plenty more options of something tasty to sip away at to get your appetite going.

The BEst Spirits for a Bloody Mary cocktail

Glen's Vodka

Glens Vodka is the second best-selling spirit in the UK. And it is made in Scotland! Made by the Loch Lomond Distillery Company, who know how to make great spirits, this is a clean, smooth and easy going vodka created for mixing, and it is great value for money. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find It Here: £13

Dima’s Vodka

We at The Three Drinkers have long been a great supporter of Dima’s Vodka, and in my opinion, it is the best vodka on the market today. It has superb flavour without being flavoured, it has a great texture that feels creamy in the mouth, and it is incredibly smooth. Beyond all this, it comes from Ukraine and is created by Ukrainian Dima, hence the name. Every bottle sold goes to help fund the Ukrainians in their battle against Russia making buying a bottle even more worth it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find It Here: £35

Ardbeg 10 Year Old

For whisky lovers out there, this makes one of the best Bloody Marys I have ever had. Choose a rich thick tomato juice, or even add some passata to the drink, and once the spices are added, with the Ardbeg 10 Year Old, a smoky, earthy, and delicious drink evolves. With the power of the whisky, you can use as little or as much spice and Worcester sauce as you like, and it’ll taste great.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find It Here: UK £42.90 // US $52.99

X Muse Vodka

Pronounced 10th Muse, this vodka is made with heritage varieties of barley in Scotland, which are distilled separately and then carefully blended. Based on the mythical 10th Muse which was supposed to be an amalgam of the other 9 muses, this vodka has huge amounts of flavour and complexity which shine through in a Bloody Mary. This is a vodka which really does push the boat out, but is worth every penny, and definitely worth the splurge on Christmas day. Beyond the tomato juice, this is a vodka to savour and sip.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find It Here: £55.74

The Best Gin for a Gin and Tonic 

Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin

The quintessential British gin. Gordon’s has been the country’s gin of choice for the humble gin and tonic for a very long time. And with good reason. It is a classic London dry gin with plenty of botanical flavour alongside the juniper and the resulting G&T is very, very good. It’s also great value and, if you don’t happen to be drinking, they make a very good 0% version, which, having tasted quite a few decent no alcohol gins, is my favourite.

Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin
Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
ABV: 38%
Find It Here: UK £16 // US $21.99

Gordon’s 0% London Dry Gin
Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find It Here: £12

Finger Lime Gin

Made from an unusual fruit, which although is called a ‘lime’, it’s not certain if it actually fits into the citrus family or not, this gin is definitely zesty with oodles of citrus flavours which mixes with tonic superbly well. If you can find some finger limes to garnish, the little green caviar-like cells will bounce up and down the drink with the bubbles creating a very pretty display. A little like a gin and tonic snow globe. Perfect for Christmas.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find It Here: £34.95

Anty Gin

Created by the Cambridge gin distillery, this is a special gin which, although made of ants, wood ants to be precise, tastes great, and adds a little more interest to a simple gin and tonic. A great talking point when guests or family descend on you for Christmas, it may be a convenient distraction from any brewing family feud!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find It Here: £194.99

The Best Sherry for Christmas

Tio Pepe Dry Sherry

This sherry is made from the Palomino grape variety and aged for around five years. It is crisp and zesty, and the perfect drink before a meal that is likely to be of gargantuan proportion. Easy to sip and take your time over, and especially good if you like dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15%
Find It Here: £9.50

Lustau Oloroso Emperatriz

If sherry means rich and nutty flavours with lots of dried fruit aromas and flavours to boot, then this is a sherry you’ll love. There is lots of complexity and alongside the usual flavours you will find dark chocolate and nougat. The Solara this sherry comes from was founded in 1921 to mark the visit of Eugenia de Montijo to Jerez, who was the last Empress of France.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find It Here: £20.95

Bodegas Tradición 30 Year Old Palo Cortado

Palo Cortado is an unusual sherry. Many cheaper versions are created by the sherry maker, but those that happen naturally are rare. They are created when the “flor”, which is a naturally occurring fungal barrier that lies on top of the sherry in the barrel to prevent the oxygen from getting to the liquid, naturally and for no reason disappears, allowing the sherry beneath to start to oxidize. The best of these naturally occurring barrels are put aside to become Palo Cortado. It’s hugely complex, yet has great delicacy and finesse, this is one of the greatest examples, and would delight any sherry drinker.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find It Here: £103.05

Having sated oneself between breakfast and the great meal to come, the main event is next. With a huge number of drinks to choose from, I will keep it simple. To find out how to indulge yourself during this gourmet festive event, move on to my next set of drinks here. If you missed the Best Drinks to Enjoy on Christmas Morning, click here.

From Budget To Blowout: The Best Vodka To Gift This Christmas

Vodka is a spirit that spans generations and nations, and whilst it was born in Russia and the East of Europe, there are now quality producers absolutely everywhere. It’s still a drink that comes with misconceptions though, so if you’re looking to convert a doubter, or just get a vodka lover something they’re guaranteed to adore, allow us to be your tour guides through the best vodkas to gift this Christmas... starting with incredible value options!

The Best Vodka to Gift Under £20

Wyborowa Vodka

Translated to, ‘Selected’ in their language, this vodka is hugely popular in Poland where every part of it is made. It’s been winning international awards since 1930 and remains an ever-present bottle in the value categories. The Polish rye gives the Wyborowa vodka its distinct gentle pecan taste mixed with subtle sweetness, and it’s smooth and pure beyond its price. Any vodka enthusiast will appreciate this and its place in vodka heritage.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £18.59 

Luksusowa Vodka

Luksusowa is another 1920s Polish vodka overdelivering. Produced from potatoes along the Baltic Sea’s coastline, the soil is ‘loamy’ producing pure flavour. The result is a super clean aroma that’s subtly chalky, minerally, with grassy qualities, so this really has that, ‘vodka of the earth’ feel. There’s a loveable creamy taste, and a mildly peppery aftertaste too. A classic that’s more than earnt its place in the vodka hall of fame.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £19.74 // US $16.79

Zubrówka Bison Grass Vodka

 Completing the trio of excellent Polish value is Zubrówka which is infused with Hierochloe Odorata grass (there’s even a blade of it in the bottle)! It’s a unique variety grown in the Bialowieza Forest near the Ukrainian border – home to the eye-catching beast on the bottle, Polish Bison. Distilled from rye, the spirit is strained through this grass, creating the green hue you can see. As a result, there are plenty of herbal and aromatic notes at play, like cut grass, lavender, slight citrus and cracked pepper. This is a really unique sipping vodka and an incredible gift for a vodka lover. Have some fun working out the notes over ice, and then try it with apple juice or ginger ale!

Size: UK 700ml // US 1L
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £19.94 // US $26.99

The Best Vodka to Gift Under £30

Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka

Vodka from cow’s milk? Yep. This is a rather unusual vodka that has been on everyone’s lips in more ways than one. It’s created on a West Dorset dairy farm using the whey left over from the farm’s cheddar (also great if you want to combine them as a gift!). You won’t be surprised to hear that this creates a decadent and creamy mouthfeel and as a result, it is amazing at the heart of an Espresso Martini or White Russian, but not before giving it a go neat!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £24.99

Debowa Polish Oak Vodka

We love this bottle with its retro 3D design style, and the sliver of oak wood included in every bottle. As you might imagine from looking at it, this Polish oak vodka is still produced in accordance with a traditional polish recipe and creates unparalleled buttery smoothness at this price point. There are delicate nuts and vanilla, but it’s the velvet feel that grabs the headlines.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £25.43

Brecon Five Black Vodka

Named because of the pure rock-filtered Brecon Beacons glacier water that goes into this 5 times distilled vodka, this is a masterpiece from the late Dr Jim Swan. A lovely Welsh vodka born from the same team behind Penderyn whisky, it has won gong after gong for ultra-smoothness in the mouth and a fruity barley spirit twist. Pure, natural, and crystal clear, not what you might guess from the sleek bottle!

Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £23.94 (usually more!) // US $26.99

Reyka Vodka

This Icelandic wheat and barley vodka is distilled in the most Icelandic way you can imagine. It uses icy glacial spring water and geothermal heat from underground volcanoes, establishing its reputation as one of the world’s greenest vodkas when it launched in 2005. Full and rounded, with a clean but creamy vanilla note that plays against peppery spice and fresh citrus, Reyka would sit pretty in a martini or simply with tonic and ice.

Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £26.94 // US $35.99

Sapling Vodka

... or to give it it’s full title, ‘Sapling Climate Positive Vodka’. For every bottle sold, a tree is planted. The unique code on the bottle tells you where and more about their planting project with the High Atlas Foundation. So it’s not just a pretty picture on the bottle, that’s what we like to hear! The vodka itself is distilled exclusively from British wheat, distilled four times over for a pure and naturally sweet taste. Detectable through this purity are gorgeous herbaceous and citrusy notes, so this would be amazing as a classic Vodka Lime soda. Climate positive and a tick from us on taste – cheers to that!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26.94

Tito's Vodka

Tito’s Vodka is as handmade as it first sounds. Tito who lives in in Austin Texas, uses old-fashioned pot stills and each small batch is meticulously taste tested and distilled six times to give a clean and pure vodka perfect for a luxury cocktail. Corn distillation imparts a touch of sweetness to the batches, so something like an Espresso Martini that would be top notch. The corn also means it’s gluten free by the way!

Size: UK 700ml // US 1L
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £27.85 // US $27.99

Cîroc Pineapple

Distilled five times from a base of frozen French grapes, Cîroc is pretty much as smooth as it gets. Whereas with some vodkas, smoothness is achieved at the sacrifice of character, that isn’t the case here, and that’s before the pineapple flavour is even introduced! This vibrant tropical twist tastes natural and of crushed pineapple, rather than flavouring. It would liven up a vodka lemonade and make a stellar gift for anyone who is a fan of the original Cîroc.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £29.95

FAIR. Quinoa Vodka

This first vodka made from quinoa is organic and Fair Trade certified and created by French distillers and Bolivian farmers. FAIR has been around for over 13 years now, committed to true fairness because no drink is worth it if exploitation is involved anywhere in the long process from soil to bottle. On top of these values, this full but delicate vodka is minerally on the nose with a nice sweetness on the palate. The very subtle but pleasant oiliness creates an incredibly smooth mouthfeel, and we’ve heard this is going down brilliantly with vodka lovers so give it a try!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £29.99 // US $34.79

The Best Vodka to Gift Under £40

Edwards 1902 Vodka

The finest King Edward potatoes going into this premium English vodka lend themselves to a gorgeous minerally vodka with earthy depth. On the nose, on the other hand, there’s a fruity, chocolate aroma. For a spirit that only launched in 2020, it’s been heavily praised at all of the major international competitions and is 100% smooth and crisp enough to sip the night away. It would also luxuriate any cocktail though, so it’s up to you! So good!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.94

Broken Clock Vodka

Hidgate’s Broken Clock is produced at one of England’s oldest distilleries in Cheshire, and the flavour suits this down to the ground as it’s infused with russet apples and garden botanicals from old Georgian recipes. This perfumed nose is met by a richly rounded palate in a vodka that oozes character and heritage. Try it in a martini with an olive for a very memorable drink.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.99

88 Vodka

If you like 88 Gin then this award-winning vodka by the same folks is definitely worth a try. For those of you who are drawn to fruitier vodka, this is also for you. It showcases the citrus notes that can sometimes go missing in other expressions with a refreshing tartness, all whilst retaining a gentle creamy feel. Serve with your favourite citrus fruit of course!

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

The Muff Liquor Company Irish Potato Vodka

A follow up to the success of Irish Potato Craft Gin, it’s The Muff Liquor Company’s Potato Vodka! Made with famous Irish potatoes, it’s distilled six times to create a delicately tuned vodka with a creamy taste and vanilla on the nose. There’s real character with it being based on the old recipes of Granda McClenaghan, but with pure and crisp modern distillation. Gorgeous vintage label too – sláinte!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £35.96

Tom of Finland Organic Vodka

Let us introduce you to Tom of Finland, aka Touko Laaksonen, a gay icon who’s pioneering visual art had a momentous impact on gay culture in the latter half of the last century. His creations focusing on masculinity and homoeroticism influenced the world, with his work represented by the leather-clad moustached man on the standout bottle. The vodka itself is organically produced in small batches by Master Distiller Mika Mönkkönen at the second oldest family run company in all of Finland; Lignell & Piispanen. Distilled five times through traditional sheet filters, there is no burn whatsoever, just subtle rye spice from aroma to finish and silky smoothness all the way! This really is an absolutely delicious industry-acclaimed vodka with an amazing story, and the final cherry on top is that proceeds from every purchase go to the Tom of Finland Foundation!

Size: UK 500ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £35.99 // US $34.79

Chase Aged Marmalade Vodka

Here’s a really interesting vodka from England produced from 100 per cent estate-grown potatoes. It’s a beautifully bittersweet orange-flavoured vodka made with zesty thick-cut Seville marmalade that carries over into a long tangy finish. Definitely one to try for anyone who loves experimenting with fruity vodkas!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £36.99 // US $29.99

G.H.Q. Vodka

Handcrafted at a secret location somewhere in the Scottish Highlands by unknown distillers using confidential recipes and Cairngorm water, G.H.Q present this glorious creamy vodka. Whoever’s handy work it is they’re clearly smashing it because this has been picked out for praise after praise. There’s a lovely balance of minerality and herbal elements, and noticeable hazelnut and honey in the mouth. Super relaxing to sip on, and it’d go well with Mediterranean tonic or ginger ale! This one won’t stay secret for long!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £37.95

The Best Luxury Vodka to Gift

X Muse

This is a vodka with really amazing flavour, named after a sculpture at the Bonnington Estate which the co-creator Robert Wilson owns. We should clarify, this isn’t a flavoured vodka, it’s a vodka with flavour! X Muse is a barley vodka blending two different heritage varieties together with notes of both fresh and cooked fruits giving great complexity. There’s a standout silky texture with intoxicating viscosity, and delicate touches of ginger and nutmeg surface on the palate too for a sublime experience. An absolute treat for any vodka lover.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £55.74

Crystal Head Aurora Vodka

Crystal Head has built itself a reputation as the world’s purest vodka, sourcing water from a natural aquifer that’s hidden on the extremely remote St John’s Newfoundland (the most Easter point in North America). The iconic skull design is created in celebration of the Aurora Borealis aka the Northern Lights and uses high-quality English wheat instead of the usual corn for a slightly spicier expression, with floral aromas and subtle anise. Filtered seven times before a final triple-filter through a cone of Herkimer diamonds, this is absolutely stunning as always and feels as special from the moment you lay your eyes on it to the moment you take your last sip.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £59.94 // US $57.99

If you want to kit out your home for the ultimate boozy Christmas, then check out our favourite luxury crackers this year, each filled with a variety of different delicious drinks!

Words by Calum Ecroyd