Supermarket Wine Bargains: Aldi Winter 2023

In Supermarket Wine Bargains, we go through the latest supermarket offerings and highlight any gems that are definitely worth picking up. These winter wine bottles aren’t necessarily on offer, but Aldi is such tremendous value for money that they’re still fantastic for the price. From juicy Italian reds to crisp Kiwi whites, the bottles below are absolute gems and will keep you merrily sipping all the way to Christmas, and mostly for under £10 too!

Aldi Red Wines Winter 2023

Castellore Primitivo

This is one of, if not the best Italian red for under a tenner at Aldi, with bold richness and concentrated flavours of dark berries. There is an earthy spice grounding it too, with a slight acidity cutting through and smooth, jammy finish. Top notch all rounder for midweek Italian dishes.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £6.29

Specially Selected Valpolicella Ripasso

This a loud wine for the price, boasting Ripasso structure and spicy intensity, with warm clove underpinning sweet cherry and a subtly nutty note to the finish. You get a generous amount of complexity and flavour without denting the wallet too much either.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £7.99

Specially Selected Amarone Della Valpolicella

This Venetian red costs a bit more but it’s worth it. You get all the stylistic hallmarks expected, with zippy acidity and rich, velvety mouthfeel. Toasty spicy oak sits underneath dark chocolatey cherries majestically for an exquisitely balanced wine you can explore all night.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £16.99

Animus Douro Red

Animus Douro Red has been a reliable stalwart of Aldi’s core red range for a while, always shining with exceptional value for money. There are plenty of jammy red fruits and a splash of bright acidity keeping it fresh. Try it and find out why it’s so many customers’ go-to.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £6.49

Canyon Springs Californian Zinfandel

Simply superb Cali Zinfandel for the price. It doesn’t suffer from that overbearing sweetness some do, instead coming through with ripe blackcurrant and black cherry jam, a little oak, and dreamy vanilla notes. Dangerously drinkable.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £8.99

Specially Selected Kooliburra The Reprobates Red Wine

This is another red that just cannot be sniffed at for the money, this time from Australia. It’s packed with red berries that come through with great sweetness, and a smooth and silky mouthfeel with a touch of spice. Punchy with the alcohol too.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £7.49

Aldi White Wines Winter 2023

Castellore Organic Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie

This is a classic Pinot Grigio expression with nice light dryness, sharp citrus and crisp green apple notes. You also get some delicate juicy peach through, and the £7 price tag makes it a complete must buy.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £6.99

Specially Selected New Zealand Pinot Gris

This is Aldi’s rock-solid introduction to Pinot Gris, hailing from New Zealand’s North Island. It’s utterly refreshing, with vivid grapefruit, ripe pears, and floral hints. It balances out with a welcome peppery warmth too. Like all the others, it’s very impressive for under £10 and would be delicious with salty seafood or pork.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £7.79

Specially Selected Austrian Grüner Veltliner

This is a nice representation of Austria’s flagship grape, carrying that trademark crisp freshness and minerality, all the way to the kick of spice at the end. Apple and pear come through, but the cool-climate is felt and this isn’t completely fruity, instead it has gentle florality and subtle grassy, celery notes. Easy to like.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £6.29 (usually more!)

Filos Estate Greek Chardonnay

This Greek Chardonnay takes the grape in a new and interesting direction. Think lively acidic lemon and lime, crunchy apples, and soft peach, and a clean, crispness throughout. The citrus bulking out the middle is particularly moreish, as is the slight creaminess.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £8.99

Specially Selected Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie

Aldi do this lovely Loire Muscadet with upfront melon and zesty orange behind. The dry and light feel is typical of Muscadet, and the salinity and vanilla play off together nicely, settling out to be very well balanced indeed. Make it sing with seafood and you’re laughing.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £7.49

If you’ve got a different supermarket nearer to you, then check our website for our other Supermarket Bargains, like Waitrose’s November offers here.

The Best No-Lo Alternatives To Enjoy This Winter

Dry January isn’t far away, but alcohol-free drinking is increasingly becoming much more than a one-month experiment. More and more people, especially under the age of 30, are cutting down on booze, which means better alternatives every year.

It is still an emerging area however, and there are loads of underwhelming No-Lo alternatives out there charging a lot of money for something not far off water. Fear not, because we’ve been on a scouting mission and found the best alternatives for pretty much whatever drink you like. Let’s dive in!

The Best Rum Alternative

Caleño Dark & Spicy

Caleño is inspired by the vibrance of Colombia, distilling a tropical smorgasbord including pineapple, coconut, ginger, vanilla, and kola nut, which come through vividly. You get the rich deliciousness of dark spice and the brightness of the tropical fruits, with a surprising sweetness considering no sugar or sweetener is added. It’s not so much a direct swap for dark rum, but a super tasty versatile rum alternative, that can be paired with ginger ale for a spiced mix, or white rum mixes like piña colada.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £13

The Best Tequila Alternative

CleanCo Clean T

This is CleanCo’s take on blanco tequila, and beautiful it is too, inside, and out. The fresh agave aromas are instant, and the first seep reveals subtle melon and hints of olive, before the signature peppery finish. They even manage a little tingle on the tongue. Everyone that tries this seems to love the taste, so see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

Size: 500ml
ABV: <0.5%
Find here: £16

The Best Gin Alternative

Salcombe New London Light First Light Alcohol Free Spirit

Gin is probably the best candidate for no-lo alternatives because it’s all about the botanicals, and First Light might just be the best of the best. Free from alcohol but full of flavour, 15 hand-picked botanicals such as orange, sage and lemongrass join juniper, ginger and habanero for a versatile, supremely well-rounded blend. The juniper and citrus are clear and bright, the floral wafts are inviting, and there is a gorgeous warmth with the ginger and pepper, as well as grassy freshness. Such an all-rounder, and comes to life with a little tonic and orange garnish.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £24

The Best Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

Savyll Collection

Mocktails are more plentiful than spirit, wine, and beer alternatives so it can be hard to pick out the best, but we love Savyll. Not only is the packaging on point, but the flavours inside match that sophistication, bringing the special elegance a good cocktail should always have. This includes their refreshing Bellini, clean-cut Mojito, tangy Paloma, and easy-drinking Moscow Mule, which has a delicious fiery ginger kick.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £9.99 for 4

The Best Beer Alternative

Adnams Southwold Ghost Ship 0.5%

This Citrus Pale Ale, mirroring their 4.5% beer of the same name (aside from most of the booze of course) is a very impressive effort indeed. It gets rave reviews, loved for its light freshness, zest and distinct hoppiness. The grapefruit and blood orange shines too.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 0.5%
Find here: £3.70 for 4

The Best Wine Alternative

Wednesdays Domaine ‘Sanguine’ Red

Conveying the lighter bodied reds, this expression begins with de-alcoholised Tempranillio from La Mancha in Spain, which is artfully intertwined with the dark fruity depths of plum and blackcurrant. Bad no-lo wines suffer form a lack of intensity and complexity – this does not. Plus, you wake up feeling hydrated and refreshed – a win win,

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0.18%
Find here: £14

The Best Champagne Alternative

Oddbird Blanc de Blancs

Oddbird started in Sweden and have made a name for themselves across Scandinavia for their top of the range alcohol-free sparkling wines. This is made from 100% Chardonnay in Languedoc-Roussilon, picked young to capture vibrant freshness, before a year of aging in oak imparting nutty richness. The difficult part comes with keeping the signature elegance and intensity when removing the alcohol, but they manage it, and there’s a bounty of crunchy Granny Smiths as well as notes of almond croissants and a delicious minerality.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £11.99

The Best Sparkling Tea

Saicho

Tastefully designed, this is a delicate Jasmine sparkler (though they do Darjelling and Hojicha too). They’re fairly new, and have a great, distinctive tea flavour that some sparklers miss out. Jasmine blossom registers with the nose, as does the Fujian province green tea’s gentle floral aroma. There’s apple sherbet, vanilla, and lychee to be enjoyed too, and it’s honestly a very interesting and refreshing experience that won’t be like anything you’ve tried before.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £17.99

If you’re new to the bubbly world of sparkling teas, then here are some others well worth trying!

How To Make Simple Homemade Cocktail Syrups

A simple syrup is an essential skill in mixology, sweetening chilled drinks easily and balancing out any bitterness, but not all drinkers seem keen on making and using them for some reason. They really take so many cocktails to that next level, and it’s so much cheaper than buying them.

They’re really, really simple to make, and the great thing is, you can easily experiment with extra ingredients to create flavoured syrups. You’ll probably have some of the ingredients already in your kitchen!  These are our best simple, easy-to-make cocktail syrups to elevate your cocktail game.

How long do homemade simple syrups last?

Once cooled, store your syrup in a sealable and sterilized glass bottled and refrigerate to slow the growth of bacteria. It is fine to keep at room temperature, especially if you’re using it imminently, but it won’t last quite as long.

In the fridge, a syrup should remain in perfect condition for 1-2 months, slowly degrading after that, though it may still be useable for longer. However, we recommend freezing it into large ice cube trays so you can pop them out in ready-to-go portions (recipes will usually call for 10ml-25ml of syrup). Also, this way it lasts forever. Well, not literally forever, but a hell of a long time. If you start seeing fuzzy sediment and bubbles, and of course if it smells, it’s going or gone off.

How long do homemade flavoured syrups last?

Generally, follow the same guidance as above. Get it in the freezer, and if not the fridge. When flavoured with fruits, herbs, and other ingredients, they will go off quicker, however. A refrigerated homemade flavoured syrup should be used within 2 weeks, but again, way, way more when frozen.

Simple syrup

Daiquiri, Mojito, Tom Collins and loads more, a simple sugar syrup is essential for balancing some of the world’s top cocktails. The mix is easy to remember too because it’s 1 part sugar to 1 part water. You pour both into a saucepan (making however much you want, but always in equal measures), and heat over a medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and you can see through the mixture. Once the first simmers start, remove from heat, cover and cool completely. White sugar is most popular, but experiment with Demerara sugar for cocktails like the Old Fashioned.

Vanilla Syrup

Useful not just in cocktails like Espresso Martini, White Russian and Pornstar Martini, this can also be used to make Vanilla Latté at home. You can make it with vanilla pods, but extract works absolutely fine and is much easier. You simply follow the simple syrup recipe and add in your vanilla whilst it’s cooling. For 250ml of water, use ½ tbsp of vanilla extract.

Cinnamon Syrup

This beautiful autumnal sweetener smells absolutely divine. Knock up the simple syrup, and as you take it off the heat from the simmer, add in 2 decent sized cinnamon sticks (for 250ml) and let them infuse for at least 15 minutes. Keep stirring. It’s perfect for Apple Cider cocktails and of course, a Cinnamon Twist.

Winter Spice Syrup

Delicious in a Winter Spice Old Fashioned and Dark and Stormy, you can add in whatever you like with this spice mix. This is one where we would say brown sugar works better for that caramel feel. Make the simple syrup with that, and whilst it’s still simmering, stir in 1 tsp of cinnamon (or 1 small cinnamon stick), 1tsp of ground ginger, 2 cloves, ½tsp of ground nutmeg and a 2 cardamom pods. Once all the spices are added, take off the heat pretty much straight away and let them cool for at least 15 minutes. Strain out any solid spices and bottle!

Mint Syrup

From Mojitos to Juleps to Minty White Russians, the mint syrup brings a gorgeous, natural, fresh sweetness to cocktails. If you’re tired of muddling mint against sugar granules and trying to mix it into a chilled drink, then use a mint syrup instead. You can use peppermint extract, but the freshness comes from real mint. For 250ml water, simply add in 5 mint sprigs (about 50 leaves) to your cooling but still hot simple syrup and let it steep for 15 minutes (more for more intense flavour), before removing the leaves.

Cranberry Syrup

This method goes for strawberries and raspberries too. Heat a 1:1 ratio of berries to water in a pan until they gently simmer, and the berries break up. Sieve this, so you have your berry-flavoured water and heat this with the sugar until the two have combined like the simple syrup recipe. You can use a coffee filter for a clearer, completely smooth syrup if you wish. It’s perfect for a wintery Cranberry Mojito, or Pomegranate and Cranberry Punch.

Ginger Syrup

Tougher ingredients like ginger need something a bit different. Peel and chop into small pieces, and blend with boiling water and sugar in a 1:1:1 ratio e.g., 250g ginger, 250ml water, 250g sugar. Then pour the mix in a pan and take the heat up to a simmer, before straining, cooling, and bottling. It’s perfect to bring sweet spice to cold-season cocktails like Ginger Toddy and the Moscow Mule.

Jalapeño Syrup

Jalapeños crop up in more and more cocktail recipes, releasing spicy, fresh flavour into Spicy Margaritas and Spicy Gimlets. To make this kicking syrup, wash and slice two fresh jalapeños (for 250ml), taking out any seeds for milder spice levels. Create your simple syrup and stir in your peppers as soon as you take the heat off. Let them sit for 30 minutes for a good level of spice. The peppers should turn from a brighter green to a khaki colour. Once cooled, strain into your container and refrigerate.

Bitters are another cocktail elevating ingredient that are said to be the ‘salt and pepper’ of the cocktail world – check them out here!

The Best Boozy Coffee and Hot Chocolate Recipes

Is there anything better than a steaming hot drink when it’s cold outside? Well, maybe – booze! These grown up coffee, hot chocolate and tea cocktails are deliciously comforting, but also pack a punch, be that with Baileys, whisky, rum or whatever! Decadent, indulgent and utterly soothing – treat yourself to one of the beautiful recipes below.

Baileys Hot Choc

This is a classic, and of course you don’t have to use Baileys (find alternatives here), but it’s a winter favourite that lots of you will have in the cupboards. This recipe keeps it fairly simple because there’s already a lot of delicious flavours going on, but try including different creams, cinnamon, and/or coffee liqueurs if you fancy going all out. Rich whiskey undertones, a sweet hot chocolate hug and the soft texture of whipped cream – nom. We’d recommend making the hot choc with water but if you want it even thicker, then try a half and a half mix, or all milk – it’s up to you of course.

Ingredients
60ml Irish cream liqueur
100ml hot chocolate
Whipped cream (optional)
Grated chocolate (optional)

Method
Make your hot chocolate separately (try it so it’s just right) and pour it gently over your Baileys. That really is it, unless you top up with whipped cream and some grated chocolate for a special touch… which we always recommend.

Irish Coffee

One of the most indulgent and delightfully rich winter warmers, Irish Coffee is pretty much mandatory at this time of year. It’s so warming and velvety smooth, and if you’ve never clicked with it then try out all these subtle variations here. The fundamentals don’t change too much from Irish whiskey, black coffee, and cream, usually with some sugar too, but like any simple classic, adjust it to your preference. This original recipe is the one we recommend for waking you up and soothing the soul.

Ingredients
45ml quality Irish whiskey (like Powers or Teeling)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
120ml hot, fresh coffee
20ml double cream (can lightly whip)

Method
Preheat your glass a little, and slowly add your favourite whiskey, sugar, and coffee. Once combined nicely, pour your cream over the back of a spoon (a valuable skill to learn), making an inviting and luxurious cream top. Slainte!

Hot Scotch Tea

At its essence, this is a Hot Toddy tea remix. In fact, some Hot Toddies are actually made with tea. For so many people, tea is the most comforting and familiar drink there is, so combining that with this sweet and warming tonic to battle the cold weather is magical. Combining different teas and whiskies for this is great fun, but regular English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Rooibos works a treat. Also, if you’re into Japanese whisky then try using that with green tea – it’s big over there as a chilled drink, but would work hot too.

Ingredients
1 clove
1 cinnamon stick
½ lemon juiced
1/2 tbsp honey
100ml-150ml tea
40ml Whisky
Lemon twist (garnish)

Method
Add your tea first, and then mix in the whisky, lemon juice and honey until it’s completely disappeared – it needs a good stir. Chuck in the clove and the cinnamon if you like it and let them infuse. There are no hard rules, so just add more whisky (oomph), or more lemon (less sweet), or more honey if needed (more sweet).

Spanish Coffee

Carajilo, popular in Spain and Mexico, is the combination of fresh coffee, sugar and liqueur or spirits, and this showy variation on it, more popular stateside, is delicious. Brandy is common, but dark rum is gorgeous, bringing together a rich, caramelly flavour that pairs with the orange liqueur, coffee liqueur and coffee for a dessert style hot cocktail with intense flavour and kick. It can also be set alight if you wish! (see the method below).

Ingredients
25ml dark rum
35ml coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
25ml Triple Sec or Grand Marnier
90ml strong coffee
Whipped cream (or 25ml heavy cream)
Granulated sugar (for rim)
Orange/lemon wedge (garnish)

Method
Rub the lemon or orange wedge around the rim of your glass and roll it in sugar (make sure it’s super fine and shake off any excess bits). Now, once you’ve poured in your rum and orange liqueur, you have a choice. You can dazzle guests and set them alight, thereby caramelizing the sugar rim before extinguishing it with the coffee liqueur. Or, you can just add the coffee liqueur and do without the flames. Depends how brave you’re feeling! Top up with hot coffee and float the cream using the back of a spoon.

Vert Chaud

The Vert Chaud, or Chaud Vert, is a classic après ski drink popular in the French Alps, and no wonder because not everyone has chartreuse lying around. But, even though is a bit pricey it’s adored by so many, and here the powerful, herbaceous, peppery notes and fresh palate combine gloriously with hot chocolate. The minty flavours in particular come out with the heat, creating a mint-chocolate paradise.

Ingredients
40ml green chartreuse
120ml hot chocolate
Whipped cream (optional garnish)

Method
Super simple pouring of both into a handled glass or mug, stirring to combine. The whipped cream tempers the intensity of the chartreuse nicely and puts a cap on the boozy aroma for the first sip, but it’s up to you as always.

Hot ‘n’ Minty White Russian

This warm twist on the classic offsets silky sweet white-hot chocolate against hearty vodka, rich espresso and distinctly, a cooling, flavoursome peppermint syrup. It’s thick and full-bodied, with that lush chocolate and lively espresso, packs a vodka punch, and the peppermint touches the lighter side of the palate.

Ingredients
25ml vodka
25ml espresso shot
80ml white hot chocolate
15ml peppermint syrup
Whipped cream (optional garnish)

Method
You could combine everything in a saucepan so it’s nice and hot, but if the espresso and white-hot chocolate are nice and hot, then simply combining and pouring in vodka and peppermint syrup should come out at a drinkable temp. Whipped cream if you like to finish!

It’s easy to look at something like peppermint syrup and think that it needs buying or is complicated, but syrups are actually some of the easiest things to make and can completely elevate your cocktails. For more syrup recipes, go here!

Supermarket Wine Bargains: Waitrose November 2023

In Supermarket Wine Bargains, we scout the latest supermarket gems that we love, and list them when they’re on offer – simple. You can find the Waitrose bargains below, but you can check out Morrisons and Sainsburys too. Every single pick is a wine that is great value even at its regular price, so with the discount they’re absolute must tries… and they’re pretty much all under £10 too!

*Updated: 13/11/2023*

Waitrose Red Wine Discounts November 2023

Terre di Faiano Primitivo Organico Puglia

A rich blackcurrant aroma welcomes you into this delicious, organic, full-bodied Italian red, with a mellow softness to a palate that’s bursting with dark fruits and berries. There’s a rounded touch of oaky vanilla and chocolate too. Perfect for sharing with friends over pizza or pasta.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £8.99 (usually £10.99)

Montidori Sangiovese

This is so good that we recommended it as a secret santa gift. The partially dried grapes deliver a captivating richness and superb intensity of flavour for the money, and the touches of soft spice and subtle dryness are welcome additions. Dark berries galore.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £8.99 (usually £10.00)

Little Giant Barossa Shiraz

Don’t tell Waitrose but this wine should really cost more than it does, especially with this discount. Plush with dark fruits and spice before an alluring smooth finish, it’s the ‘giant’ body of this Shiraz that keeps you coming back. The Christmas pudding note is perfect for festivities too.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £9.99 (usually £12.99)

ColleMassari Montecucco Rosso Riserva DOC

With £6 off, there’s no better time to try this memorable Italian red. The warmth of Sangiovese with the structure of Cab, it’s punchy with raspberry and blackcurrant, and a year in oak brings through a marzipan, vanilla richness.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £9.99 (usually £15.99)

American Gothic Lodi Zinfandel

Adorned with the iconic American Gothic painting, this California Zinfandel hits with rich and robust flavours – think ripe plums and smooth blackberries. Smooth everything in fact. It’s wonderfully easy drinking with oaky tobacco notes for added depth.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £8.99 (usually £9.99)

Waitrose White Wine Discounts November 2023

Zenato Villa Flora Lugana Veneto

From the beautiful shores of Lake Garda comes this Italian white with Turbiana grapes. Known for their acidity, that certainly shines through with vivid citrus and lofty stone fruits. Intriguingly, there are earth undertones and floral notes, making a smooth, fresh, and delicious wine with a growing reputation.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £10.99 (usually £12.99)

Seifried Estate Sauvignon Blanc

What an offer this is for a really high-quality Sauvignon Blanc. There’s so much elegance and crunchy acidity for under £10, with that delicious mineral tang too. The nose is curiously herby, before opening up into grapefruit and tropical citrus flavours and an almost creamy mouthfeel. Beautifully balanced.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £9.99 (usually £14.99)

Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

A real crowd-pleaser of a Marlborough Sauvignon, we highlighted this when it was on offer at Sainsbury’s, and now it’s Waitrose’s turn. The famously biodiverse Awatere Valley is the home of this tropical expression, carrying vibrant acidity and tastefully put together minerality. For the money, it’s superbly rounded.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £8.99 (usually £11.99)

Springfield Estate Special Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc

The feeling of instant crispness and zingy refreshment is bold with this one, and it would really sing alongside fish dishes. It’s light and low intervention, so becomes a characterful expression and although the acidity is intense, there is lots to love with vegetal, stone notes as well as lofty tropical flavours.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £9.99 (usually £14.99)

Pinot Gris Urmeer Löss

The story of this wine begins a long, long time ago, when the Urmeer sea covered the Rhinehessen region of Germany. When this dried up, it left mineral rich soil with a whole host of benefits, which with the dry climate contributes to top notch wines. Zingy pear, razor citrus, delicate florality and a eyebrow raising light freshness that is crying out for spicy food like Thai.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £7.49 (usually £9.49)

Waitrose Rosé Wine Discounts November 2023

Champteloup Rosé d'Anjou Loire

The key to all Rosé is the sweetness balance, and this perfects that (depending slightly on your personal preference of course). The freshness of flavour is preserved, with strawberry, cherry and melon jostling for position and drinkable lightness that’s a dream.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £7.99 (usually £8.99)

Le Grand Ballon Sélection Touraine Rose

Reliable, pale Loire Rosé with tonnes of fresh fruit and a moreish lightness finishing with a dry and defined finish that brings the crispness. If you’re fond of more acidic leaning Rosé, then you’ll love it.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £8.99 (usually £10.99)

La Cerisa Rosa Pinot Grigio Rosé

A lovely price for a lovely Rosé, La Cerisa Rosa from just south of Milan has that inviting coral colouring and delicate fragrance you want, followed by a dry, crisp profile with gentle berries and a smooth lightness. There’s a decent whack of an acidity too.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £7.49 (usually £8.99)

We keep our eyes peeled on the supermarkets for the best wines and let you know when they’re put on sale. If you’re a Waitrose shopper, then keep coming back here for updates! Morrisons? Go here. Sainsbury’s? Go here.

12 Brilliant Boozy Presents For Your Secret Santa 2023

The eagerly anticipated, or in some cases dreaded secret santa is here, and whether you’re out of ideas for someone you know, or completely at a loss because you’ve barely said hello to them, we might have the answer below.

If you know what drinks they like, then we’ve scouted the internet for specific gifts that are surefire hits. If you’re not so sure, then check out the drinks related gifts that have broader appeal at the end – there’ll be something, we promise!

The Best Secret Santa Presents for Gin Lovers

Franklin & Sons Ltd Spirit & Mixer Gin Perfect Serve Hamper

Franklin & Sons have been at the forefront of tonics and mixers since the Victorian era, when Christmas became the Christmas we know and love today. They have a famously eclectic and expansive range, and they’ve included some of their classics here, along with the perfect gins for them and two Copa glasses. With pairings like Tanqueray and Elderflower & Cucumber Tonic, this hamper emphatically shows what the perfect tonic can do.

Find here: £19 (usually more!)

100 Gins Scratch Poster

Forcing ourselves to try new drinks can be easier said than done, but one way of keeping to it is by scratching them off. So, if you’ve got a gin lover for secret santa, then this lovely A3 poster with 100 gins from around the world is a good way to start exploring. If you’re feeling generous, you could throw in a gin to get them started too.

Find here: £12.99

The Best Secret Santa Presents for Whisky Lovers

Christmas Whisky Tasting Set

Whisky has a reputation as a drink that takes some getting into, so if your secret santa has mentioned wanting to get into it, then a tasting set is the best way to start. This set contains five wax-sealed drams curated for festive sipping, including GlenAllachie 12YO, Teeling Small Batch and Four Roses Bourbon to experience a variety of whisky profiles.

Find here: £25

Glencairn Glass with Pipette

Glencairn Crystal is the go-to glass for whisky connoisseurs, and this beauty comes with a glass pipette to add controlled amounts of water to premium expressions. As any whisky lover will appreciate, water droplets can really change the liquid and evoke different notes, so this is a classy and useful present for them.

Find here: £17

The Best Secret Santa Present for Rum Lovers

Spiced Rum Gift Set

This is a really nicely put together rum set, featuring 50ml bottles of The Kraken, Dead Mans Fingers, Admirals Old J Cherry and Bacardi, offering spice across the spectrum. But that’s not all. Franklin & Sons premium mixers are included too, giving the rum drinker everything they need for their perfect Crimbo tipple.

Find here: £24.99

The Best Secret Santa Present for Wine Lovers

Wine Escape Room Game

Escape Rooms have been massive for a few years now, and this one brings the challenge into the home. Sadly, the wine is behind bars, and it can’t be opened until four stages of puzzles are completed and the combination padlock is opened. Oh, and before someone gets the hammer to attempt a desperate jail break, the solution is included in the pack. You’ll have to get your own wine, so you can actually get anything that fits the metal cage.

Find here: £24.99

Montidori Sangiovese

At the end of the day, the best thing you can get a wine lover for secret santa is… wine. We’ve picked out this bottle for its extraordinary value. Some of the grapes have been dried, so it comes through with mouthwatering richness and bold flavours, with so much soft spice intensity. If your secret santa is capped at a tenner, then this will really seem like you’ve gone over budget.

Find here: £8.99 (usually more!)

Fun Alcohol Related Secret Santa Presents

Prisoner Drinking Game

In this game, if you do the crime, you do the time. The dice is rolled, and the lowest number is placed in actual handcuffs. The ‘criminal’ then has to navigate their way through various challenges as the ‘jury’ guesses whether they will be able to do it or not. Keep guessing wrong, and it will be a long and very drunk night indeed.

Find here: £19.99

Top Spoons

If you’ve got someone that loves the pub for secret santa this year, then this pub crawl card game will be right up their street. This pub crawl takes the player through the best and worst Wetherspoons boozers, as they attempt to outscore their opponents to own every establishment going.

Find here: £9.99

The Ladybird Book of the Hangover

Perfect timing for Christmas, this is one of the funniest Ladybird books with perfect, old illustrations pairing up with perfectly observed hangover ‘guidance’. ‘Look out of the window. Can you recognise simple shapes or colours? Is there a moon or a sun in the sky? What sort of a name might you have? Where might there be bacon?'’ It’s not a scientific book by any means, but it is a comfort.

Find here: £7.99

Upside Down Wine Glass

This boozy illusion will cause a few double-takes, that’s for sure. It holds half a bottle of wine, and you drink from the bottom instead, through the hollow stem. Simple but effective.

Find here: £12.99

Festive Boozeballs

How about making the Christmas tree a bar? These baubles can be filled with anything and are absolutely perfect for a more decadent ‘interactive’ tree, as well as drinking games. Just make sure they’re hung on the higher branches if there’s kids or pets around!

Find here: £13.99

We have tonnes of drinks guides on our website, so if you want to pick up a bottle of something, whether that’s a reliable classic or an unusual eyebrow raiser, have a browse. How about gifting someone ‘Irish Moonshine’ AKA Poitín? Or perhaps a Sloe Gin if they’ve only tried regular gin before?

Luxury Whiskey Gifts and the Perfect Dessert and Cocktail Pairing from Bushmills

From luxury whiskey gifts to the perfect dessert and cocktail pairing, Bushmills has plenty to offer this Christmas. Irish whiskey fans now have the chance to experience some of its oldest and most treasured liquids with the recent launch of the 25 and 30 year old expressions.

These two luxurious spirits are the perfect Christmas gift for that special loved one who appreciates the whiskeys’ intensely complex flavours. The two expressions are triple distilled in wine-seasoned oak barrels all of which have been meticulously selected by Bushmills’ Master Blender, Alex Thomas.

The 25-Year-Old is matured between four to six years in ex-sherry and Bourbon casks, and then has spent up to 21 years in Ruby Port casks, resulting in layers of intense, dark fruit flavours, luxurious honey sweetness and gently toasted wood. Meanwhile, the 30-Year-Old was matured for 14 years in ex-sherry and Bourbon casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for 16 years, creating a sublime whiskey characterised by deep, signature sherry aromas and enticing fig, raisin and praline richness.

Both expressions are available at The Whisky Shop and House Of Spirits.

For those seeking something a little more adventurous than tea and cake this Christmas, Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Sager + Wilde have put their heads together to develop an exquisite new whiskey cocktail and cake pairing that explores the warm, rich, earthy flavours of the season.

The new cocktail – crafted using Bushmills 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Amontillado sherry, Angostura bitters and porcini maple syrup – was designed to perfectly set off an indulgent Spiced Pear and Walnut Cake served with Bushmills Butterscotch. The delicious pairing celebrates the smooth, honeyed flavours and chocolate and vanilla characteristics that make the 10-Year-Old so enjoyable when sipped neat – due to influences of  an extended sherry/bourbon cask maturation - with a sweet treat.

Available from now until Christmas at Sager + Wilde’s atmospheric Paradise Row restaurant, which is set in a beautiful old railway arch, it is a must taste for all whiskey lovers, flavour obsessives and seekers of exciting seasonal pairing experiences. 

Address: Sager + Wilde, 250 Paradise Row, London E2 9LE
Website
Price: £21 for dessert + cocktail
Dates: Available from now until Christmas

The Best Christmas Markets Near You in 2023

Chalets are being put up all over the UK right now, as once again, the beautiful, glittering Christmas Markets appear. It’s time to wrap up warm, cup a mulled wine, and savour a German hotdog whilst exploring the eclectic stalls.

If there’s a city you’ve been meaning to visit, then what better time to do just that than the most magical time of the year? We’ve listed some of the best Christmas Markets from across the UK below!

Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland, London

For the scale alone, we have to include Winter Wonderland. The Bavarian-style Christmas market is only part of the Wonderland, and makes up one of four gates (the Green), the other being for Cirque Berserk, the famous Ice Rink, and Santaland. Ice sculpture, ice slides, rides, a huge Disney wheel, a grotto, live music… you do need to pay an entrance fee (£5-£7.50) just to enter the market, this is London after all – but if you want loads to do, this is the place. The festive lights of Regent and Oxford Street are nearby too, as well as the best window displays in the city.

Dates: November 17, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Nearest station: Victoria and Paddington
Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch
Nearest car park: Q-Park
Website

South Bank, London

The South Bank Winter Festival, right by the London Eye, offers something a little different. There are tonnes of international dishes on offer at the stalls, the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge, and of course, that beautiful twinkling river view. Also though, there is an eclectic programme of festive shows and events in and around the area you can time your visit with.

Dates: November 17, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Nearest station: Waterloo and Southwark
Nearest tube: Waterloo, Southwark and Embankment
Nearest car park: APCOA South Bank
Website

Edinburgh Christmas Market, Edinburgh

The city of festivals hosts an iconic Christmas market, which this year has expanded from Princes Street Gardens to The Mound and a few Royal Mile spots also. With the beautiful architecture and Castle as a backdrop, this market had a huge head start already. 60,000 lights mesmerise visitors of The Street of Light, lights and laser trails decorate the Royal Botanic Gardens, lose yourself in Santa Land’s Christmas Tree maze, glide (or just remain upright) across the ice rink, and overlooking it all, the glorious big wheel. Hot Toddies await.

Dates: November 24, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Nearest station: Edinburgh Waverley
Nearest car park: Castle Terrace
Website

Winter Wonderland, Nottingham

The enchanting Christmas market, aglow with twinkling lights, stands beneath a towering Christmas tree and stunning decorations, just one facet of the grand Winter Wonderland in Old Market Square. 70 Bavarian-style market stalls offer traditional handcrafted gifts, decorations, and delectable treats, so it's the perfect place for some last-minute Christmas shopping. It’s the biggest East Midlands market, so expect a grotto, an ice rink, observation wheel, festive fairground rides, live music, and the Ice Bar. Cosy cafes and old pubs are all around the market too, so there’s no lacking in choices of where to go.

Dates: November 7, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Nearest station: Nottingham
Nearest car park: Lace Market, Trinity Square and Broad Marsh
Website

Manchester Christmas Market, Manchester

Created in 1999, Manchester has one of the most varied markets in the UK, with over 300 stalls aligning across the walkable city centre. You could start in the grand Albert Square, moving across to King Street, the Exchange Square stalls, and Cathedral Gardens before the Winter Garden at Piccadilly Gardens. In fact, there are 9 festive zones in total! Everything you can imagine is on sale, from alpaca wool slippers to Tibetan bowls. One tip, many stalls are cash only and the ATM queues get long so get cash out before!

Dates: November 11, 2023 – December 22, 2023
Nearest station: Victoria, Piccadilly, or Oxford Road Station
Nearest car park: King Street West and China Town (parking in Ancoats is quieter and cheaper, and still within walking distance)
Website

Bath Christmas Market, Bath

One thing you can’t accuse Bath Christmas Market of is being just another template market, because the 160 chalets sit between the charming Georgian streets that look like nowhere else. In the shade of the magnificent Abbey, 70% of stallholders are local, and 60% of goods are handmade in the UK, and the calibre of stalls is renowned. The whole city is a World Heritage site, so take a step back in time and explore.

Dates: November 23, 2023 – December 10, 2023
Nearest station: Bath Spa (it’s also not far from London)
Nearest car park: Manvers Street, Avon Street and Kingsmead Square
Website

Cardiff Christmas Market, Cardiff

The Times’ Number One market in the UK, it’s been running for nearly 30 years so they’re well in the swing of things by now. The focus here is on handmade craftmanship, produced mostly by local businesses – be that jewellery, exquisite glass work or ceramics. Also, artists and crafters can sell for 5- or 10-day stints, so expect new faces and gems each week. Hayes, Trinity Street, St John and Working Street – these pedestrianised areas will all be blessed with the wafts of seasonal cooking and the glint of handmade treasures.

Dates: November 9, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Nearest station: Cardiff Central and Queen Street
Nearest car park: NCP Westgate Street, NCP Cardiff Rappots
Website

Winchester Cathedral, Winchester

Winchester Cathedral’s glimmering setup is one of few UK markets to make a dent into European Top Ten lists and was also voted the 2nd best Christmas market in the UK in 2018. 100 carefully selected chalets bring this ancient Cathedral to life, offering mouth-watering food and one-of-a-kind gifts. The Cathedral Choir add to the enchantment no end too!

Dates: November 17, 2023 – December 21, 2023
Nearest station: Winchester (near Southampton, and 1hr from London)
Nearest car park: Barfied P&R and St. Catherines P&R
Website

St Nicholas Fair, York

Steeped in history and stunning buildings everywhere you look, it’s no wonder York has aced its Christmas Market. As you stroll along, you'll encounter alpine-style chalets brimming with locally made crafts, art, and delightful treats. The grand Christmas tree is one of the best, buskers fill the air, and shimmering illuminations really create a mood. York isn’t that big, so you can explore the historic centre on foot, venturing into The Shambles Market for more medieval charm. Award-winning for a reason.

Dates: November 16, 2023 – December 23, 2023
Nearest station: York
Nearest car park: Coppergate or Q-Park, but York Park & Ride is free, with £3.60 buses every 12mins.
Website

Of course, there are more Christmas markets and let’s face it, there’s rarely a bad one, but we think these stand out. Enjoy!