Emma The best drinks gifts for Christmas
Gifting a bottle of someone’s favourite tipple can be easy best friend points at Christmas, but here are some that they might not be expecting.
Mermaid Gin
This small-batch London Dry Gin is made on the Isle of Wight and is within a unique turquoise mermaid scale bottle. Citrus and peppery but with a hint of the sea as the most prominent of the ten ethically sourced botanicals is rock samphire, which is known locally as ‘mermaid’s kiss.
The bottle is also made from recyclable glass, the stopper is made from sustainably sourced natural cork and the tamper-proof seal is compostable. They have also been awarded the Plastic-Free standard by A Plastic Planet and work with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to monitor and restore seagrass, and With One Seed, a community forestry social enterprise that works to replant forests.
White Port from The Port of Leith Distillery
The Port of Leith Distillery company has extended its award-winning ‘Cask Partners’ range of port and sherry with the launch of a new White Port product.
Working with the company’s Portuguese partner Martha’s Wines the Port of Leith Distillery White Port is crafted from a blend of superior quality Malvasia fina, Viosinho, Gouveio and Donzelinho grapes.
Stobcross Whisky from The Clydeside Distillery
Stobcross is the first whisky from The Clydeside Distillery and it’s worth the wait. It’s a Lowland Single Malt, matured in American and European oak casks. In here you will find caramel, spices and a smooth tasting dram. The 70cl bottle retails at £45.
Christmas cocktails from Hunter & Grey
With three Christmas cocktails added to the menu, there is a tipple for everyone’s taste buds. Hunter & Grey offer delicious pre-mixed drinks directly to customers doors using the finest ingredients. Whether a gift, party, or occasion to reconnect with loved ones, Hunter & Grey delivers a quality cocktail experience this Christmas!
Christmas Martini – Christmas martini combines all the best flavours of Christmas in one bottle. Premium gin, Scottish liqueur, lemon juice, ginger & pomegranate
Winter Spiced Pear Martini – Premium gin with pear puree, lemon juice & winter syrup
Christmas Negroni – The Christmas Negroni is a combination of premium gin, Campari, sweet red vermouth, rhubarb & ginger
If the Christmas collection isn’t enough, they also offer classic favourites including the famous Pornstar Martini, Mojito, Espresso Martini and Strawberry Daiquiri to name a few.
The full Hunter & Grey collection can be found at www.hgcocktails.com
Crossbill 200 Single Specimen Dry Gin 2021
A special edition dry gin from Crossbill, using wild Highland juniper hand-picked from a single specimen bush that is c. 200 years old. Slowly macerated with fresh rosehips then distilled in soft Scottish water. Bottled at still strength to deliver an intense concentrated dry gin.
anCnoc 2009 vintage
Limited to 1,320 cases worldwide, Speyside Distillery Knockdhu has released a twelve-year-old whisky from their acclaimed vintages collection just in time for Christmas. anCnoc (pronounced a-nock) 2009 vintage, had been maturing since then in a combination of first-fill Spanish oak and ex-bourbon American oak barrels. This new expression has a spicy, citrus and honey aroma with flavours of spice, apple, dark chocolate and butterscotch.
This delicious craft gin delivers a true taste of Kent, with key botanicals including Blackberry, Apple, Cobnut, Hops, Lavender and Roasted Chestnuts.
Available in two delicious varieties, the classic ‘Primo’ London Dry Gin and the ‘Rubesco’ pink gin.
Can’t choose? A cute duo of miniatures featuring 50cl Primo and 50cl Rubesco is available for just £12, making it the perfect stocking filler.
What’s more, the stylish Cantium flask bottle can be used to keep drinks hot or cold for hours long after Christmas has finished so your gift will be remembered and loved all year round.
Available from www.cantiumgin.com, Harvey Nicholls, Fortnum and Mason and independent retailers nationwide.
Royal Mash Vintage Vodka
Royal Mash Vintage Vodka is made from Jersey Royal potatoes that are oversized and which would otherwise not be sold to eat. It is on sale at Harrods and online as well, link below.
Harrods describe the brand as having a “soft mouthfeel with delicate but distinctive potato skin and mineral notes. Very mild black pepper spirituous spice”. We are big fans of Jersey Royal Potatoes and it’s good to see them used in more products. Royal Mash Vodka is a 40% ABV hand-made vintage vodka: vintage because the flavour is affected by the differences, from year to year, of the terroir and the produce each year.
Height Of Arrows is the literal translation of Àrd-Na-Said, the Gaelic name for Arthur’s Seat. Standing at 251m, the height the furthest distance an archer could fire a bow.
So what is the Height of Arrows experience? On the nose, there is light pine and citrus notes but just wait for the taste. Juniper certainly takes the centre stage, and with the plethora of fancy flavoured gins that have appeared over the last few years, it’s good to see a new gin that is simply GIN!
Glaswegin Rhubarb and Raspberry Gin
Glaswegin Raspberry and Rhubarb pink gin are bursting with fresh flavours and crafted with ten carefully selected botanicals – Raspberry, Rhubarb, Milk Thistle, Italian Juniper, Russian Coriander, Angelica, Orange and Chamomile Flowers, Bay Leaves and Pink Peppercorns.
Gwalarn French Whisky
Gwalarn (which means the ‘northwest wind’ in Breton) is the first new product in 20 years from Celtic Whisky Distillery. (Find out more about Celtic Whisky Distillerie here)
Gwalarn, is a Celtic blend, in that it contains whiskies from Celtic regions, malt whisky from France and Scotland and rye from Germany which I didn’t know is also an ancient Celtic land. Gwalarn is slightly peated on the nose with sweet vanilla, honey and smoky tobacco notes. The honey note comes through in the tasting alongside some fruity and spiced aromas. It is smooth and easy to drink.
Valentian Vermouth
Valentian Vermouth was developed by David and Dominic Tait, brothers and co-founders of Valentian Vermouth based in St. Boswells in the Scottish Borders. Valentian Vermouth blends the flavours of Scotland and Italy by using Scottish new-made malt spirit, small-batch Italian wine and botanicals. (Link to our review here)
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