Fun Drinks Choices for Valentine’s Day

Drinks picked by Helena

Valentine's day, Galentine's day or ‘I'm just going to give myself some love’ day can be a stressful time with all the pressure to HAVE FUN. Fear not, though! I have donned my cupid cape and found 8 fun drinks and drinks gifts that are perfect for Valentine’s Day, whichever element of it you are celebrating!

Spirits

Personalised London Dry Gin & Single Malt Whisky

The Whisky Exchange are offering a customisable London Dry Gin and a stunning, customisable, Sherry finished, single malt whisky for you to gift a loved one this V day. For each, you can choose from six label designs and ten messages - or simply write your own text! The gin is crisp and refreshing; a classic London Dry with lots of citrus and juniper. The whisky is rich and round with notes of dried fruit, caramel and Christmas cake. Prices include personalisation and gift tube.

Gin: ABV 44%, Size 700ml, £39.95
Whisky: ABV 48%, Size 700ml, £54.95 

Ballycastle Red Velvet Cream Liqueur

Fans of Baileys Irish cream will love this, especially those who have enjoyed their new Red Velvet version and are looking for something less pricey. Aldi’s version is an indulgent blend of double cream, spirit and red velvet cake, serve it chilled over ice with a strawberry if you can find one. Forget dessert, This IS your dessert!

Find it in-store for £7.25 (700ml)

Mermaid Pink Gin Gift Set

The Isle of Wight Distillery is rapidly building an excellent reputation thanks to their stunning range of gins, vodka and rum that are all plastic-packaging free. This pink gin combines the flavour of fresh, Isle of Wight strawberries with their famously smooth, aromatic and complex gin and the bottle could not be prettier! If you want to take your gifting to the next level, however, then seek out their gift set, which includes a bottle of the Mermaid Pink Gin (70cl) and two gold-plated, gorgeous, copa glasses. 

Gin: ABV 38%, Size 700ml, £39.90
Gift pack: ABV 44%, Size 700ml, £65.50

Wine

Specially Selected Sparkling Shiraz

A sparkling red? Yes, for something a little different. Try this slightly chilled. It’s one of the rare style of red wine that goes with chocolate too (the darker the better). Sparkling Shiraz has been an Aussie no-so-well-kept-secret for a while! It will take you for Valentine’s day into summer barbecues in the sunshine too and this onen is awesome value.

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: £6.99
Find here: Aldi

Coral Ethical Rosé Wine

This delicate, Spanish pink is an organic and vegan-friendly rosé wine with Tempranillo grapes in a carbon-neutral winery and packaged in an ultra-light bottle that uses recycled and recyclable materials. Think aromatic notes of grapefruit and strawberry with a refreshing, peachy palate. 10% of its profits are also donated to the restoration and conservation of coral reefs, which represent 25% of marine biodiversity. A rosé with heart!

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: From £9.99
Find here: Abel & Cole, Adnams, Amazon.co.uk

W/O Frappato, Terre Siciliane, IGT 2020

A little taste of Sicily in a ‘wild glass’, which means glass bottles that are 100% post-consumer recycled. The first in the UK to do this! It does mean that each bottle is slightly different with a minimalist,easily  biodegradable label. Frappato is a native grape to Sicily and it offers a comforting, rustic red that’s all about spicy red fruit compote notes. It’s an unpretentious, comfort  blanket of a wine! Your new go-to week day favourite. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: From £11.99/bottle or £9.99 for 6
Find here: Laithwaites

Specially Selected Amarone della Valpolicella D.O.C.G 2018

Amarone is a great choice for those looking for a rich and velvety red wine this Valentine's day. Think dark cherries dipped in melted dark chocolate and spice. Delicious! This is part of Aldi’s impressive ‘Specially Selected’ range and for an Amarone, it is excellent value. It even sounds like the Italian word for love: ‘Amore’. Yes please! I’ll have a glass of that.

ABV: 15%
Size: 750ml
Price: £19.99
Find here: ALDI

Bubbles

Codornìu Cava Rosé  NV

Codornìu is the big name in Cava, producing a fantastic range of traditional method bubbles in all sorts of styles and at all price points. It is fantastic value for some classic Spanish bubbles, with a herbaceous nose and a crunchy, red cherry tang. This is definitely a winner with all sorts of food.  

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Price: £9
Find here: Ocado

Splash out: Veuve Clicquot Rosé

The widow ‘Veuve’ Clicquot invented rosé wine so this really is the original! A super special bottle where the Pinot -Noir dominant wine is the most elegant pink colour and super silky, with delicately complex aromas and flavours of brioche, summer fruits, toast and apricot. This is truly a fizz to savour; give it time to let it open up in the glass and enjoy!

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: £49
Find here: Tesco

If you enjoyed this, then don’t forget to have a look at our other wine and spirits recommendations!

Thursday Club with Talk Radio: Italian Nebbiolo

This week, it’s Nebbiolo Three Ways! Nebbiolo is the grape that hails from the rolling, foggy hills of Piedmont in Northwest Italy. It makes red wines that can look pale and delicate like Pinot Noir, but get them in your mouth and wow! The power! Classic tasting notes are tar and roses, violet, marzipan and subtle tobacco leaf. 

Today. I've chosen the two most famous red styles of this grape and one bonkers sparkling. Each of these would suit a cosy dinner, whether that's à deux, with friends or by yourself in front of Netflix with a pizza. 

Sparkling Nebbiolo Rosé

This is a first for me! Made with the grape that usually makes those beefy, red wines from Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont, this a beautifully packaged bottle. On the nose, it has that classic, Nebbiolo rose petal and violet notes and on the palate, subtle notes of creamy nutmeg and a savoury spice. Drink it alone or it would be amazing with Bresaola and cold cuts.

Aldi £12.99

Winemaster’s Lot Barbaresco D.O.C.G

Barbaresco wines tend to be a little softer in style with their tannins as the grapes ripen earlier here. Think more ripe blackberry notes with some red fruit and a touch of liquorice and umami truffle. 

Aldi £17.99

Ascheri Barolo D.O.C.G

Barolo is a famous wine producing area in Piedmont, Northern Italy and is made using the Nebbiolo grape, as above. This one is certainly decadent with rich ripe notes of plum, cocoa and tobacco. 

Tesco £23

Classic Cheese and Wine Matches

It’s that time of year when we put together a mega cheeseboard and pick at it ALL DAY! For several days. What joy! With help from the brilliant folks at Paxton & Whitfield cheesemongers, I've chosen some classic wine and cheese combinations to help you navigate the cheeseboard.

All cheeses below can be found at PaxtonandWhitfield.co.uk

Goats Cheese + Sauvignon Blanc

The Cheese: Selles Sur Cher

A French goats' cheese from the Loire Valley, France, Selles sur Cher is a classic French goats’ milk cheese that’s finely textured, succulent and velvety. It has an aroma of walnuts and the flavour is also nutty but with a hint of lemon and salt followed by a mellow sweetness. The Cher river runs parallel to the Loire, home of world renowned Sauvignon Blanc that is fresh, bright and grassy. These wines match perfectly the bright lemony flavours of this cheese.

The Wine: Stone & Bones Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Portugal 

More elegant than Marlborough, More fruity than a Sancerre, this zesty, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc from Portugal is a deliciously different, mid-way style that will sing with this goats’ cheese.

Find it for £10.99 mix 6 price at Laithwaites. 

Premium Cheddar + Pinot Noir

The Cheese: Westcombe Reserve

Cheddar is undoubtedly the UK’s most popular cheese, outselling British and Continental counterparts, yet so often it is thought of as a cooking or an everyday cheese. Over the last few years, the team at the award-winning Westcombe Dairy, Somerset, have made big decisions to improve the quality of their cheese. Lots of these decisions have been in the field, rather than the dairy, one of them being to farm in a more sustainable, regenerative way. These decisions have resulted in some of their best ever batches of cheeses. The team at Paxtons has selected a single day’s production of cheese, from the 12th of March 2020, to age further and create a special profile especially for its customers this Christmas. With a full body and notes of warm toasted nuts, this promises to be a very special batch of cheese indeed.

The Wine: Gabel Pinot Noir Kalkstein 2018

German Pinot Noir has a gloriously silky, lactic feel to it making it exceptionally elegant, yet easy drinking. Think ripe red berries with a touch of spice and a hint of smoke. 

Find it for £13.99 mix case price at Laithwaites 

Alpine Cheese + Chardonnay

Cheese 1: Beaufort

Beaufort is a huge Alpine cheese weighing between 40-60kg that is named after the Beaufort Valley in France where it was first produced, where mountains reach altitudes of 3000 metres.

It’s pale yellow, with a smooth and creamy texture and lacks holes like other Gruyère-style cheeses. It also has a very distinct, earthy aroma, reminiscent of the pastures on which the Tarentaise and Abondance cows graze to provide the milk used for the cheese. This is the cheese also commonly used to make cheese fondue because it melts easily and it’s a winner with bold, white wine like Chardonnay.

Cheese 2: Comté Vieux

A limited edition Comté Vieux cheese that’s extra mature, aged for approximately 29 months in French caves . Made with the raw milk from Montbeliarde and French Simmental cows, the flavour is nutty, full and rich, with fruity tones and more of the crunchy Tyrosine crystals formed during the aging of the cheese. 

The Wine: Redhead’s Harmonie Fox Coonawarra Chardonnay 2021

Coonawarra has traditionally been famous for big, bold reds made with Cabernet Sauvignon so a Chardonnay is a step away from the norm. This is an ideal style of white for a flavoursome hard, nutty cheese as it has lots of ripe peach and apricot fruit as well as a crisp acidity and a touch of spicy oak. 

Find it for £11.69 mixed case price at Laithwaites 

Blue Cheese + Sweet White Wine

Cheese 1: Cashel Blue, Irish Farmhouse Blue Cheese

Cashel Blue is the original Irish blue cheese! Firm, salty and savoury blue cheese that starts as a firm textured, crumbly consistency but with ripening it takes on a soft, creamy, almost spreadable texture. As it matures, the flavour also changes, growing stronger and becoming spicier. The rind is very distinctive with a covering of grey and pink moulds.

Cheese 2: Blue Cloud

Inspired by soft, sweet Gorgonzola style blues, Blue Cloud is made on the beautiful Balcombe Estate in Sussex using milk from a single herd of Norwegian Red Holstein cows. The cheese is soft and creamy, with a heady, doughy scent reminiscent of freshly baked bread.

The Wine: Seifried, Nelson ‘Sweet Agnes’ Late Harvest Riesling 2019

A late harvest Riesling from Nelson, just next door to Marlborough, New Zealand,. Made with raisined grapes, it’s a lusciously sweet wine with tonnes of refreshing acidity. Think apricot, marmalade, lemon and tropical fruit. It’s not Port you need; it’s sweet white wine!

Find it for £14.99 per half bottle and mixed case price at Laithwaites

Want to know how to put together a cheese platter? Check out this article.

The best no and low alcohol drinks

‘Tis the season to let your hair down, which, let’s be honest, usually means indulging in a fair few drinks of the alcoholic variety! For those of you who are looking to moderate or who would just rather drink something non-boozy that actually tastes nice however, we have picked some of our favourite non alcoholic and low alcohol drinks that will still make you feel like you’re treating yourself to something special. Let us know your picks!

Sentia spirits

Sentia is a plant based alcohol-free spirit with a difference. Using special ingredients, it enhances GABA activity in your brain, leading to a feeling of relaxation and calm without the need of alcohol to get you there. It’s floral, bittersweet and has a spiced berry finish. Try mixing it into a non-alcoholic mulled wine – it tastes great! An acquired taste for some, think bitter berry and lavender with cinnamon spice and a hot, ginger kick

Size: 500ml
Price: £30
Find here: sentiaspirits.com

Savyll Non-alcoholic Cocktails

With so many non-alcoholic cocktails out there, it can be really daunting trying to pick your way through them which is why we were so excited when we came across Savyll cocktails. Every detail from the stunning packaging to the liquid inside has been carefully thought about leading to a great selection of vegan-friendly, gluten free, ready to serve cocktails. From an alcohol free G&T to an Old Cuban, there is a delicious cocktail for everyone. Not too sweet and they taste just like what they are supposed to be.

Size: 250ml
Price: 6x250ml cans £11.99 // 4 x 250ml bottles £13.99
Find here: Savyll.com

Wild Life Botanicals Sparkling Wine

One of Helena’s favourites, let us re-introduce you to Wild Life Botanicals - stunning ‘bubbles with benefits’ hailing from Cornwall. Infused with a mix of vitamins, minerals and botanicals, including Lemon Balm, Damask Rose and Rosemary, each 125ml glass contains 15% of your recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals and it is only 0.5% alcohol, meaning you sit back and feel really good about what’s in your glass.

Size: 750ml
Price: £15
Find here: wildlifebotanicals.co.uk

Crossip Rich Berry

Ever fancied trying your hand at a non-alcoholic cocktail but not been sure what ingredients to use? Well, if a hot toddy or even some mulled wine sounds appealing then you can’t go wrong with Crossip Rich Berry. It’s full of delicate spice alongside rich notes damson, blackberry and sour cherry that are a delight on the tastebuds. This one has a lovely viscosity too which means you could sip it alone. Check out their website for more serving ideas as well as their range of other delicious non-alcoholic drinks.

Size: 500ml
Price: £22
Find here: crossipdrinks.com

Blurred Vines ‘Spark’ & ‘Sharp’ by Three Spirit

We’ve been big fans of Three Spirit for some time so we were really excited when they brought out their non-alcoholic, sparkling, cold brew drinks. Lucky for us, they didn’t disappoint! ‘Spark’ is a fizzy elegant, floral, yeasty number made from a base of sake with spice from cayenne and sancho pepper and ripe fruit flavours of gooseberry and strawberry. ‘Sharp’ as the name suggests, is more crisp, mineral and elegant with a citrissy finish.

Size: 750ml
Price: £32 as a duo
Find here: Threespiritdrinks.com

Hofmeister Ultra Low Lager

Hofmeister beers are back with a bang and they are blimmin’ brilliant. This ultra low (0.5% ABV) is perfect for times like these when quantity increases, but you don’t want the hangover. Made with mineral water, locally sourced barley and Hallertau Hops, it’s full-bodied, sweet, fresh, grassy and hoppy with  and bready notes a good crisp finish. Highly drinkable.

Size: 330ml
Price: £17.99 for 12
Find here: hofmeister.co.uk

Sassy Organic Cider  

Sassy seems to have cracked the market, making Cider cool again. Partly, this is because they have got their packing right but really, it’s because the products are so good. Refreshing and tangy, try the Cidre Rosé for punchy, red apple fun that’s only 3% ABV. Gorgeous.

Size: 750ml
Price: £32 for 6 bottles
Find here: MaisonSassy.com

Lyre’s Italian Spirit

Lyre’s have smashed it with this Italian ‘spritz’ that is the perfect non-alcoholic version of Aperol, only slightly more interesting. Can we say that?! Oops, we just did. Check out the rest of their range of non-alcoholic versions of classics such as Vermouths, Triple Sec, Coffee liqueurs, Gins, Amaretto and more. 

Size: 700ml
Price: £23.50
Find here: Lyres.co.uk

Want more guides? Here is our Luxury Whisky guide, our affordable red wine guide, affordable white wine guide, gin guide, rum guide and cheeseboard advice!

How to Put Together the Perfect Cheeseboard

As Helena looks into wine and cheese matching, she gets some tips from Hero Hirsh, head of retail at the award-winning cheesemonger, Paxton & Whitfield about how to put together the perfect cheeseboard or cheese platter.

How much cheese per person?

If your cheeseboard is part of a meal, about 100g to 125g of cheese per person and  possibly a little more at Christmas is ideal, so 150g each. This is because at Christmas, the cheeseboard will often sit out for longer so people will come and go for snacks throughout the day. We can certainly agree with that!

How do you put a cheeseboard together?

Think about offering a mix of styles, textures and flavours on the platter. This is why the combination of Cheddar, Stilton and Brie has always been popular as you've got a blue, a hard cheese and a soft cheese; different textures, different milks and different flavours to savour. If you’d like to add further cheeses, perhaps think about a goats cheese and a washed rind to complete the board. Five is a good number for a full board.

Should you consider other food in the meal when putting together the cheese platter?

Yes, certainly consider what other food you are serving for the meal or at the event. If the dish just before is rich and flavoursome, think about selecting cheeses that have a stronger flavour so that they complement preceding courses. The cheese course should be a continuation of flavours so it can be enjoyed so try to match the intensity. 

What are the ideal accompaniments to a cheese board?

If you’ve got lots of flavoursome cheeses, then keep accompaniments simple, so one chutney or honey, one style of biscuit or artisan bread and then perhaps some grapes or dried fruits. Arrange them around the pieces of the cheese on the cheeseboard. Finally, I’d add  in the cheese knife and then you have a visually appetising cheeseboard to enjoy.

Are there rules to how to lay out cheese on a cheeseboard?

There are no hard and fast rules about laying a cheeseboard out. The most important thing is to make sure that it looks visually appealing and that it is easy for guests to help themselves to the cheese. There are no real rules about which cheeses can and can’t sit close to each other on a cheeseboard. If you go for a good balanced selection as outlined above, everything should be fine. 

Any tips on how to store various types of cheese?  And what to do with any leftover bits of cheese?  

How you treat the cheese has an important impact on your enjoyment of it. Once bought, I would always recommend storing the cheese in a cold room or the bottom of the fridge - if possible wrapped in waxed paper as this allows the cheese to breath. Before serving, bring the cheese out to warm up to room temperature. Twenty minutes should be enough, particularly in a warm house at Christmas. Letting the cheese warm a little will help improve its flavours when you come to eat it.  

A good piece of advice for when buying cheese for your cheeseboard at Christmas is to buy less cheese but bigger pieces. Larger pieces of fewer types will keep better over Christmas time. Bigger cuts of cheese store better than lots of small cuts. A hard cheese, a blue, a soft cheese and a piece of cheese that is slightly different or surprising is all that you need to create an appealing cheeseboard. 

In terms of leftovers, cheese is incredibly versatile and leftover cheese makes a superb cooking ingredient. It can be used in soups, risottos, pasta bakes and as a finishing touch stirred into a gravy, or sauce, to add a little bit of richness.  

Visit Paxton & Whitfield for all your cheese needs:

www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

London Shops

93 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JE 
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7930 0259
Email: jermynstreet@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

22 Cale Street, London, SW3 3QU
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7584 0751
Email: calestreet@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Bath Shop

1 John Street, Bath, BA1 2JL
Telephone: +44 (0)1225 466403
Email: bath@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Great Drinks Gift Ideas for Christmas

Words by Ana Patterson

Merry Christmas all! Get ready to panic shop in 3, 2, 1…

…or perhaps not? Trying to decide what to get for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family members is a tough chore and not something you want to be dealing with this late in the game. Put down that pen and paper, stop scratching your head and start reading our 2021 Christmas Gift Guide!

Coravin Pivot

Throw away your old, simple bottle stoppers this minute – Coravin Pivot is on the scene! If you know a friend or family member who likes to drink nice wine, the Coravin Pivot is going to be a lifesaver for them. It allows one to stopper a wine bottle without letting it oxidise, meaning you can preserve a bottle of wine for up to 4 weeks – ensuring the last glass is as amazing as the first.

Find here: £99 (on offer from £119) 

Dottie’s Luxury Espresso Martini Christmas Gift Set

Dottie’s is all about premium coffee when it comes to their ready-to-drink Espresso Martinis, meaning they’re full of flavour and super delicious! Pour straight into a glass and wait a minute for the crema to settle and pop a coffee bean on the top. This is the first real, premium espresso martini in a can you can buy! The gift set comes with two cans of their famous Espresso Martini and two beautifully crafted Italian crystal coupe glasses. Decadence at its very best!

Find it here: £39

Majestic’s Ultimate Christmas Wine Club

Majestic have scored a blinder with gifting AND sorting Christmas dinner this year. Welcome to the Majestic Wine Club: a 12-bottle case of hand picked wine for Christmas which can be bought as a one off purchase or as part of a subscription. The case includes Champagne, Crémant, a selection of big, comforting reds and an epic tawny port. Each bottle is new and exclusive to Majestic and the case comes with education materials, an attractive guide and links to video tasting guides. The ‘Wine Club’ case is available on a strictly limited run.

Order here for £159 by 23/12/21 for pre-Christmas delivery

Banks Brothers Wine Discovery Set

Chef Tommy Banks and his brother James launched these premium wines in a can earlier this year to rapturous applause from wine professionals. They are genuinely fantastic. If you have an indecisive wine lover in your life, then this wine discovery set is exactly what they need this Christmas. It comes with 7 different wines inside beautifully designed cans. You’ll receive a Syrah Mourvèdre, a Chardonnay, a Riesling, a Grenache Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend and a Pinot Noir. If you’ve ever wanted to try spotting the difference between different types of wine, this is a great place to start! 

Find it here: £40 for 6, £78 for 12 

STIR-UP Cocktail Subscription Club

STIR-UP is all about going on journey of discovery through the world of classic cocktails with the freshest ingredients, the finest spirits and expert tricks and tips to finesse your creations. Beautifully packaged, with a monthly delivery of individual ingredients for 4 cocktails, each box costs from £34.95 and is delivered directly through your door. No waste, super fun and the perfect reason to get together with friends. We love the Blackberry Old Fashioned and the Mai Tai. Yum!

Find it here from £34.95

M&S Marksologist Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

Ready-to-drink cocktails are the perfect gift as the lucky receiver can open up the bottle and have a taste right then and there! The M&S Christmas Elves have been hard at work this year and have provided us with 6 different cocktails! There’s a Clover Club, Old Fashioned, Passionstar Martini, Espresso Martini, Negroni and a Verdita Margarita. You can either buy the cocktails separately or in a case of 6.

Find it here: £18 for 500ml, £108 for all 6 

OTO CBD Cocktail Bitters

Without a doubt, this is the most sophisticated bottle of bitters you will ever own with that matte black bottle sporting a shock of orange. It’s the world’s first CBD bitters, combining organically grown hemp plants with a bespoke range of botanicals with antioxidant properties. It’s savoury, herbaceous and complex – delicious in a wide range of cocktails (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) or even splashed into water for a more relaxing night. We are obsessed with ours. 

Find it here: £58.65 (on offer from £69) 

Azu Spirits Tasting Sets

This gift isn’t just a bottle, it’s an experience that can be shared amongst friends this holiday season. Azu is offering spirits tasting kits in both British Gin and Scotch Whisky. The kits come with numbered bottles and guides to each spirit so you can taste them and discover what makes them unique. If you go for the gin selection you’ll also be provided with perfectly portioned bottles of tonic! If you want a fun gift, why not try out the ‘Who Am I? Guess The Malts’! It’s education, entertainment and a great gift, all rolled into one.

Find it here: from £45

Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point 05 Beer

There’s something so special about receiving a limited-edition gift at Christmas, which is why we’ve included this delicious limited edition beer in our gift guide. Innis & Gunn are known for the limited runs of their rare beers, handcrafted in Perth and matured in Scotch whisky casks. Their current star is ‘Vanishing Point 05’, an 11% Imperial stout matured in 15-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky Casks for a year. It’s deep, dark, chocolatey and even comes with its own goblet! Make a beer and whisky lover very happy this Christmas with Innis & Gunn.

Find it here: £15.00

Pink Diesel Rosé

Pink Diesel Rosé is not just a great rosé to consider for your wine loving friends, but it’s also a great foodie rosé. Hailing from Bandol AOC in the heart of Provence, an extra splash of the Mourvèdre grape brings red fruit, weight and texture, making it a great, more refreshing choice for Christmas lunch than heavy reds. A creamy, fruity rosé, it combines ancient methods with modern winemaking techniques to produce a beautiful wine with notes of honey, peach, red berry and citrus. It’s eco-friendly too with all grapes handpicked in low yields from a small, single vineyard in Bandol, Provence, so really there’s nothing not to love!

Find it here:  £15.95

Copper Rivet Distillery Gin Duo, Jigger and Cocktail Stirrer Gift Box

Gin lovers far and wide will be flocking to this beautiful gift set by Copper Rivet Distillery that includes two bottles of their gin (one Dockyard, one Damson), a copper jigger and a copper bar spoon. You’ll be ready to mix up your favourite gin cocktail in no time while sporting some classy barware that’ll be the envy of all your friends.

Find it here: £25

Cucielo Negroni Gift Set

The Negroni is the most stylish cocktail on the block right now, and what’s even more stylish is being able to knock one up yourself! As all seasoned mixologists will know, the Negroni is a delightful combination of gin, vermouth and Campari. Cucielo’s gift set includes their delicious Rosso Vermouth di Torino and two of their Il Tempo Vola crystal Negroni glasses. The perfect gift for a Negroni lover!

Find it here: £38

Signature Brew Pub in a Box

Can’t go to the pub? Bring the pub to you this Christmas! Signature Brew’s Pub In A Box features a selection of craft beers, glassware, pub snacks, a music quiz and some exclusive playlists tailored to each beer which makes for a fantastic all around experience. We all know someone who’s dying to own their own pub, or perhaps someone who’s already set up shop in their back garden – so here’s to them!

Find it here: £30

Looking for more? We also have Christmas gin, rum, white wine, red wine and luxury whisky guides available!

Great Value Red Wines for Christmas

It’s fair to say that we really are spoiled for choice with wine in the supermarkets these days. Some have really stepped up their game in recent years too, offering great quality, entry-level wines that won’t break the bank as well as some finer classics that even if you’re trading up, would easily cost more elsewhere. Here are some bold and beautiful red wines hand-picked by us for your festive feasting pleasure. 

Graffigna Reserve Malbec

From the higher altitude of Argentina’s Uco Valley, this is quite simply just a darn good Malbec for the money. Rich and chocolatey with a ripe blueberry note. Lovely. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find here from Sainsbury’s: £7

Casa Roscoli Organic Primitivo

Organic and vegan friendly, this is a wonderfully juicy Primitivo. So easy to drink and packed full of plum and blackcurrant fruit with a touch of baking spice. Not too sweet and cloying either. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Zinfandel (Italy)
Find here from Tesco: £8

Specially Selected Amarone

Amarone is making a comeback this winter as we reach for its comforting notes of dark cherry, raspberry and cocoa. This is big and brooding - ideal with beef and hard, truffle cheese. Just what you need in the cold! 

ABV: 15%
Size: 750ml
Find here from Aldi: £12.99

Magnums for celebration

Ramón Bilbao Crianza Rioja Magnum

Nothing says celebration like a big bottle and this is one hell of a crowd pleaser. Think wild strawberry, spice, a touch of licorice and leathery notes starting to appear. A great, reliable producer too and fantastic value.

ABV: 14%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Tempranillo (Spain)
Find here from Tesco: £19

Viñalba Reserve Malbec Magnum

Another classic, reliable Malbec only this time, in a big bottle! Concentrated and inky, this has a lovely texture where graphite meets bramble fruit. Elegantly poised - and a must with meat. 

ABV: 14.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find Here from Tesco: £10 for 750ml (magnum coming soon)

Sparkling Red

Specially Selected Sparkling Shiraz

Yes, you saw that correctly. A sparkling red! Australia has been producing wonderful sparkling Shiraz for years and years. Its slight sweetness makes it a fun, alternative choice for grilled meat and veggies. Serve slightly chilled but not too cold, as well as with meat, It can take some salty, blue cheese too. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Shiraz Blend (South Australia)
Find here from Aldi: £6.99

Sweet Red

Malamado Fortified Malbec (perfect with chocolate truffles or a chocolate log)

Christmas isn’t Christmas without some form of fortified red at the end of the meal, but if Port is a little too much, try this! Made in a similar way to Port, this is a high quality Malbec that has been fortified to 18%. A little softer than Port ‘proper’, this is chocolatey and velvety with notes of raspberry, cherry and spice. Have it with chocolate truffles after dinner - or for dessert - and it will sing! Incredible value from one of Argentina’s best producers.

ABV: 18%
Size: 500ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find here from Tesco: £9

Click here for our other gift guides: Drinks gifts, whisky, rum and great value white wines.

Affordable white wines for Christmas

The Christmas and New Year period is when we’ll be popping more corks than normal. Well, some of us will be!  Thing is, we don't want to break the bank, but we still want the wine to be really darn good. Is this possible? Yes! We’ve done the ‘hard’ work and sipped our way through enough wine this year, so we can bring you the most delicious booze for your buck. Here are some great, special, yet affordable white wines for Christmas.

Eylo Verdejo, Rueda 2020

Vibrant, tropical and zesty, Verdejo is a luscious, Spanish grape that lovers of Sauvignon who want something a bit different will adore. A little fuller-bodied than a Sauvignon, the Eylo has a lush note of smoky guava with its citrusy, crisp goodness. Drink this with goats cheese, white fish and smoked salmon - or just sip it alone. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Verdejo (Spain)
Find here from Laithwaites: £10.99

Tempus Two Quartz Chardonnay, 2020

Modern style, easy drinking, Aussie Chardonnay at its best and by that, we mean fresh and fruity with notes of melon and white peach - not a sickly oak bomb. This is a great food wine that will work with your turkey as well as nutty hard cheeses.  A proper, reliable crowd pleaser. 

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Chardonnay (South Australia)
Find here from Sainsbury’s: £7

Tesco Finest Soave Superiore Classico, 2020 

Soave lost favour as a wine style when Pinot Grigio took over for a while, but it’s finding favour again as a go-to, quality-driven, dry white wine style. Easy with everything, alone or with food, this particular version with its touch of salted almonds will appeal to everyone and at any time. 

ABV: 13%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Garganega (Soave Classico, Italy)
Find here from Tesco: £7.50 (IWSC 2021 Gold Medal Winner) 

Campanula Pinot Grigio, 2020

It’s not every day we recommend Pinot Grigio because to be honest, we were a bit over it. However, Hungary is producing some really fabulous whites at the moment and this little PG is rather good. It has the classic white pear and mineral vibe going on with a lovely balance and texture. Italy, watch your backs! 

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Pinot Grigio (Hungary)
Find here from Laithwaites: £9.99

Chapel Down Chardonnay, 2020

There’s something about Chardonnay grapes in Kent and the sunny 2020 vintage really made them sing! This is a glorious, mid-world style of Chardonnay that has a crispness that Chablis lovers will enjoy with an extra dollop of fruit to keep everyone happy. Peach, melon, a touch of vanilla pod and a cool slick of citrus. Lovely. 

ABV: 11.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Chardonnay (England)
Find here from Majestic £11.99

L’émigre Blanc, Graves, White Bordeaux, 2020

Ok, so £14.99 is not your cheapest wine but for a high class, White Bordeaux it’s actually pretty good value. White Bordeaux will usually be a blend of zesty, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc with the more waxy, weighty Sémillon. The result is rich and intense yet elegant, with a touch of spice. This white Bordeaux is organic with great intensity offering well defined flavours of elderflower, lime and blackcurrant leaf. Its label appeal is big too!

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Sauvignon Blend (Graves - Bordeaux, France)
Find here from Virgin Wines: £14.99

See our other guides on red wines, rum, gin and more!