Here’s our pick of drinks to try this Christmas.
Dubliner Irish Whiskey Bourbon Cask
As rich in character as any Dubliner, this is a smooth, tasty and versatile Irish whiskey. Loud, lively and loved, just like the city itself. As comfortable in a cocktail as it is neat or on the rocks. This warm, versatile Irish whiskey was aged in Bourbon casks, making it smoother than a lake at dawn. Tasting Notes: Touches of vanilla and orchard fruits to begin. Before long, honey and caramel notes arrive, stirring a slight hint of pepper to turn up the volume at the back.
Neat & Shaken and Amazon
Nc’nean
Nc’nean’s signature recipe at cask strength is the organic single malt in its most natural form, giving it a higher ABV than most other expressions in the range (approximately 59%). The gentle fermentation and distillation process accentuates the delicate and fruity flavours in the spirit. Just like the flagship expression, each bottle has been matured in specially treated red wine and American whisky barrels, alongside a small number of sherry casks, to develop Nc’nean’s unique trademark body and sweetness.
RRP: £74.95
Nc’nean Distillery: Organic and sustainable whisky
Opihr Gin
A unique style of London Dry Gin created by the Master Gin Distiller at the world’s oldest gin distillers, using exotic botanicals, herbs and spices. Opihr London Dry Gin is produced at G&J Distillers. It is crafted with a selection of exotic hand-picked botanicals, carefully chosen by Opihr’s Master Distiller, Joanne Moore, including Cubeb berries from Indonesia, Black Pepper and Ginger from India, Coriander from Morocco and Orange from Spain.
DrinkSupermarket, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons and Neat and Shaken
Jamu Wild Water
Jamu Wild Water was born from a love of natural ingredients and a desire to create a product that not only offers healthier hydration, but also harnesses the power of plants to actively nourish
Sparkling Raspberry combines antioxidant-rich elderberry and soothing mallow root with prebiotic fibre.
Sparkling Blood Orange mixes rosemary extract and immune boosting echinacea with prebiotic fibre.
Sparkling Lemon boasts vitamin-rich nettle and dandelion extracts with prebiotic fibre.
Jamu Wild Water is available in 250ml cans, RRP £2 a can from Jamu Wild Water – Award winning Prebiotic Sparkling Water and Amazon.
Bolney Wine Estate
Bolney’s Cuvée Noir is a unique sparkling red wine, that pairs perfectly with Christmas Pudding and a Cheeseboard! Aromas reminiscent of red fruits, especially red cherry, redcurrants and sweet blueberries. On the palate, the sparkling red has a wonderful creamy richness and full-bodied mousse, packed full of ripe summer fruits, with a hint of sweet spice on the finish.
Stockist: https://bolneywineestate.com
Diplomático Rum’s Reserva Exclusiva
An ultra-premium rum with a range of complex rums that deliver signature flavours. The brand has a unique rum-making tradition that creates versatile and characterful rum blends, ideal for sipping or mixing into cocktails.
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum
SEA CHANGE
Special Christmas Packs
‘Tis the Season (3 bottles): Prosecco, Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, £52.99
Christmas Day Pack (3 bottles): Sauvignon Blanc, Prosecco, Malbec, £38.99
Festive Fizz (3 bottles): Prosecco, Prosecco Rosé, Free, £38.99
Roseblood by Chateau d’Estoublon
This is a show stopping wine, luminous pale eau-de-rose in colour, with hints of peach and melon. It is expressive, with notes of raspberry, tangy wild berries, and white flowers. This is an elegant and delicate rosé where the harmony of the grape varieties (grenache, cinsault, syrah, and a hint of rolle) expresses itself on the palate with citrus notes. It pairs beautifully with turkey, as well as a scallop starter and red fruit desserts. Roseblood Rosé is most certainly not just for summer!
Price: £20.99
Stockist: Majestic stores and majestic.co.uk
Lyre’s: Non-Alcoholic Spirits
Classico Grande, 750ml (£9.00) – Perfect for moderate and mindful drinkers for the festive season, this sparkling wine alternative is a gift you can raise a glass too. Delighting the taste buds with fresh fruity flavours such as classic green apple, pear and peach, Classico Grande is the ideal party starter.
Italian Spritz, 700ml (£23.99) – Giving the gift of Italian sunshine, this delicate bittersweet, non-alcoholic expression, evokes notes of rhubarb, orange and mixed herbs.
Amaretti, 700ml (£23.99) – A take on a nutty amaretto liqueur characterised by notes of almond, spicy herbs and vanilla.
Lyre’s website
MOTH’s delicious cocktails in a can
A luxury present under £40 – and a cocktail lover’s dream gift.
Each MOTH duo glass pack contains:
2x glasses; 1x ice tray; 2x Margarita; 1x Espresso Martini; 1x Old Fashioned; 1x Negroni; 1x Cosmopolitan
Mikolasch
Mikolasch is Ukraine’s first single-farm organic vodka. Distilled from top-grade corn, Mikolasch is produced in the renowned, nutritional-rich soils of the Lviv and surrounding regions of Western Ukraine. Mikolasch is distilled from top-grade corn, using spring water sourced from an on-site well that runs off the Carpathian Mountains.
Price: £25
Co-op Tilimuqui Sparkling White
Raise a toast to an ethical Christmas with Co-op’s Irresistible Fairtrade Tilimuqui Sparkling White. A perfect alternative to Prosecco, each bottle supports the farmers and workers in the isolated village of Tilimuqui.
Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Tilimuqui Sparkling 70cl
The Cocktail Co
A Mancunian pe-bottled cocktail brand, has crafted a delightful new range of top-quality winter specials, ready to get you into the festive spirit. Simply shake, pour into a warm pan, heat, then garnish and enjoy in a heat-resistant cocktail glass of your choice. With two deliciously cosy flavours, these drinks are perfect if you’re catching up with your friends, snuggled up on a cold evening, or hosting a dinner party where you don’t have the time to make home-made cocktails, and yet don’t want to compromise on taste!
WREXHAM EXPORT 5%
Wrexham Lager is a subtly hopped lager with a clean aroma which is light, easy and refreshing to drink. The lager is currently available in the following formats: 330ml bottles – 12 pack (£18.99) or 24 pack (£37.98), 5L mini keg (RRP: £22), 440ml can – coming soon.
Wrexham Export has impeccably balanced malt and hop characteristics resulting in a fresh, crisp taste on the palate. It’s deceptively smooth for its strength.
The lager is currently available in the following formats: 330ml bottles – 12 pack (£18.99) or 24 pack (£37.98), 5L mini keg (RRP: £22), 440ml can – coming soon.
https://www.storibeers.wales/store/wrexham-lager/wrexham-export-lager-5-abv-330ml-bottle
AMAZON
This Christmas Pudding Handmade Gin Liqueur is bursting with festive flavours like clementine, nutmeg and cinnamon. The Handmade Gin Company craft their Liqueurs from scratch and it’s the unique flavours paired with their award-winning juniper-led gin that makes this a Christmas must-have. All the liqueurs are distilled in small batches of less than 50 by a small team of artisan British distillers, to ensure the highest standards and premium quality. We recommend serving the Christmas Pudding Handmade Liqueur in a refreshing G&T or short over plenty of ice or in prosecco.
Christmas Pudding Handmade Gin Liqueur, Currently priced at £21.49
Cygnet Gin
Founded by classical opera singer Katherine Jenkins OBE and social-impact filmmaker Andrew Levitas, Cygnet Gin is a category disrupting smooth liquid infused with botanicals. Available as Cygnet 22 (£47.50), made with 22 botanicals, including the healing Manuka honey and Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin (£35.99), crafted with the purest Welsh water, this award-winning spirit seeks to offer an unparalleled drinking experience. Working with influential designer Eric Villency, the bottle’s sleek tall neck is reminiscent of a swan’s neck, (the symbol Swansea), remaining true to its Welsh heritage. Whether searching for a sip of holiday magic, or a standout centrepiece for the Christmas table – Cygnet Gin is a beautiful gift that will last the test of time; both recyclable and refillable, reuse as a vase, water carafe, or diffuser once the liquid has been enjoyed!
Papa Salt Coastal Gin
With a shared passion for gin, Josey McNamara, Tom Ackerley, Margot Robbie, Regan Riskas and Charlie Maas sought to create a delicious, easy-to-drink gin that captures the feeling of an idyllic Australian beach day. The taste highlights distinct Australian botanicals like wattle seed, wax flower, and oyster shell, creating a citrus forward gin with a hint of spice and an incredibly smooth finish. Papa Salt sold out within 48 hours in the Australian market, due to popular demand.
Mixtons
Mixtons infamous Spicy Melons cocktail has donned a festive overhaul, taking on a rather masculine (dare we say Santa Claus) fit – these lip-smacking tinnies are now dubbed Holy Baubles, in a hilarious twist on their rather feminine named predecessor. The limited-edition new look Christmas design was born through the idea of recycling the cute cans into tree ornaments once they have been gulped down – sustainable, plastic free and they look the part too!
The Ultimate Gift for Him (Under £70) – Uncle Nearest Whiskey
As the fastest-growing American independent whiskey brand, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has a fascinating story of honour, respect, and an unlikely friendship between an enslaved man, named Uncle Nearest, and Jack Daniel, the white chore boy, who became the founding father of Tennessee Whiskey
Made from a combination of corn, rye and malted barley in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Uncle Nearest can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a whiskey or bourbon cocktail. The company’s UK whiskey portfolio consists of two offerings:
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey – £67.90 from Master of Malt
Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey – £56.37 from Master of Malt
Responsible Drinking: Please confirm your age
The Perfect Gift For Her (Under £40) – Espolòn Tequila
Espolòn Tequila, offers a taste of Mexico with its vibrant and perfectly balanced profile, made from 100% Blue Weber Agave. Whether she’s a fan of a Spicy Margarita or a Paloma, Espolòn Tequila brings a fresh, modern twist to holiday cocktails. The UK offering includes:
Espolòn Tequila Blanco – £34 from Ocado
Espolòn Tequila Reposado – £36 from Ocado
Welcome to Espolòn Tequila | Espolòn Tequila
Wrexham Export 5%
Wrexham Lager is a subtly hopped lager with a clean aroma which is light, easy and refreshing to drink. The lager is currently available in the following formats: 330ml bottles – 12 pack (£18.99) or 24 pack (£37.98), 5L mini keg (RRP: £22), 440ml can – coming soon.
Wrexham Export has impeccably balanced malt and hop characteristics resulting in a fresh, crisp taste on the palate. It’s deceptively smooth for its strength.
The lager is currently available in the following formats: 330ml bottles – 12 pack (£18.99) or 24 pack (£37.98), 5L mini keg (RRP: £22), 440ml can – coming soon.
For more information, visit here
For the latest headlines from the City of London and beyond, follow City Matters on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
