How writing a daily journal helps mental, emotional & physical health

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Mind, Sense & Soul: WRITE

We should not underestimate the powers of creative writing and journalling to heal mental, emotional and even physical wounds. Daily journaling with real paper and pen has been talked about a lot recently as studies have shown the incredibly positive impact it can have on our health. Why?

• Writing honestly from the heart about your feelings regularly, especially stressful events - literally helps get things out of your system, helps you come to terms with things and is instantly calming, dropping cortisol levels.

• Journalling lowers cortisol levels, allowing you to heal quicker if you are hurt or sick, studies say, by more than 4 times faster than usual. 

• Writing about your day helps organise your thoughts so it's easier to find solutions where needed.

• If you have a tendency to feel overwhelmed, journalling helps you feel you have more control over your life. 

• If you reflect on your day, you’re also more likely to see patterns and learn lessons about what works for you and what doesn’t, so you can stop making the same mistakes.

• Writing every day helps with clearer thinking and learning how to better express yourself, which will soon start improving your communication with others. 

What to journal

It’s normal to have no idea where to start with the blank page at first, so here are some suggestions:

• What happened today that was stressful? Write as if no one is going to read it. Swear! Do the lot. Get it out. Add your single next step towards dealing with the issue if it helps. 

• List 3 good things that happened today. Which small or big things were you grateful for? You’ll very soon start noticing more little happy things in the day, which in turn will help you feel more content.

• Include your to-do list and list of open loops to tackle the next day. This stops them going round in your head and will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. 

Convinced? Go and find yourself a lovely notebook and a posh pen. Make it sacred. Do it every day and let us know what you think.

There’s so much more to read around this subject. Check out some of these great teachers: 

Article

83 Benefits of journaling for depression, anxiety & stress - by Courtney E. Ackerman

18 Amazing benefits of journaling - by Dee at Vanilla Papers

Podcasts

Get started with journalling - The Pat Divilly podcast.

Open your mind and change your life with Dr Tara Stuart and Dr Rangan Chatterjee

How to be more you with Dr Rangan Chatterjee and Matthew McConaughey

Some lovely personalised notebooks (#NotAnAd)

www.papier.com

This video series was made in partnership with Mcguigan ZERO, the premium, alcohol-free,

Australian wine range.

The Countless Benefits of Flowers and Plants on Your Mind, Senses and Soul.

Put simply, being around plants, flowers and trees triggers a response within us that surges through billions of different neural pathways in our brains. When this happens, we naturally feel more positive. That’s why a walk in the park or being around lots of flowers can really help!!

As you begin to settle into your homes for yet another Lockdown, Green is going to be more important now, than ever. Whether it be trees, plants or flowers, here are just a few of the benefits you can expect to find:

• Improve the Healing Process

• Better Performance and More Energy

• Feel More Relaxed

• Enhance Concentration and Memory

• Lowers Background Noise

Improve the Healing Process

Plants in office spaces result in lower sick rates and the reason we have plants and flowers in many hospitals is because they help people recover more quickly. There’s also indoor air quality too – they suck in all of that stale air, breathing out fresh oxygen which keeps our systems pumping away. 

Here are a couple of other health perks countless studies have identified: 

● Lowers blood pressure
● Reduces stress
● Boosts immune system
● Creates a positive mood
● Improves sleep

Better Performance and More Energy

These beauties improve out state of mind – the subliminal affects they emit boost our mood and make us feel much more alive and active. Exactly what we need if working from home. 

Feel More Relaxed

"Biophilia" is an innate affinity of life or living systems, which is exactly what plants are. By having them in our homes we are continually reminded that these living organisms exist. They soothe us, allow us to not feel so alone and remind us of what being alive is all about. Sunshine, sky, wind, the smell of flowers, the trickling sound of a water feature – all of these things have the same affect. 

Enhance Concentration and Memory

The effect of nature has been proven to stimulate our senses, improving performance, memory and mental cognition. A notable study at the University of Michigan showed that memory retention had increased by 20% for those who surrounded themselves by plants. Whether your room is covered in them or you’ve just got a little plant on your desk, you can begin taking the steps to reduce a sterile environment. 

Lowers Background Noise

Plants have been used outside for years to reduce noise; they aren’t just for visual privacy. But they can have the same affect in the home as well. Reducing the irritating noises of things like cars and construction as a buffer. 

Where Do You Buy Them?

• Your Local Florist (see if they are delivering, what can you do to help?)

• Various online services like Bloom, Floom and FlowerBX

• Your local supermarket (Waitrose always have a great selection)

• Internal Greenhouses (they also have SAD light benefits (i.e. Click & Grow)

Here a couple of additional articles you can check out for the science behind it, the studies that have been carried out and to delve into my points a bit more:

The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Plants
https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/

Why Trees Can Make You Happier
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_trees_can_make_you_happier

Seven Benefits of Having Plants in Your Home Office
https://www.ciphr.com/advice/plants-in-the-office/

Why Indoor Plants Make You Feel Better
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/indoor-plants-can-instantly-boost-your-health-happiness-ncna781806 

Why Living with and Tending to Plants is Good For You
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201022-why-living-with-and-tending-plants-is-good-for-you

How Important is Light in our Everyday Life?

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Mind, Sense & Soul: Light

Bright, natural light, especially in the morning, boosts alertness, improves mood, reaction speed, gut health and helps you fall asleep faster at night. Without enough of it, we are all grumpier, slower and fatter!

Light is measured in ‘lux’ and even on a gloomy day, heading outside will give you 5000+ lux when compared to just 2-300 lux in a regular home or office. The upshot? Get outside, every day, in the light, especially between 8 and midday. It will make a huge difference to your mental health. 

S.A.D

Do you suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? Whether you think you do or whether you just need more light, it might be worth investing in a SAD light, to boost your daily lux intake. Find one we’ve tried and tested here (UK) and here (US).

Take Vitamin D!

Take Vitamin D, especially if you are in the UK right now. We need Vitamin D to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in our bodies and keep our bones, teeth and muscles working. Not having enough can lead to deformities and tooth problems, especially with children. The NHS says we need to take 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D a day between October and early March and now is particularly important as we have not been outside as much due to the pandemic.

Our bodies create vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors. You can also boost your intake from oily fish (such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel), red meat, liver, egg yolks, fortified foods (such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals) and of course, supplements. Try this minty tasting daily spray. Kids love it too ( I can confirm!)

There’s so much to learn about how getting enough sunlight benefits our physical and mental health. Here are some fascinating things to read and listen to by the experts:

Podcast

The Power of Light to Transform your Health. Linda Geddes talks to Dr Rangan Chattergee on the Feel Better, Live More podcast. 

Bitesize podcast (8 mins)

Full Podcast (1 hr 45)

Book

Chasing the Sun, by Linda Geddes. Buy it here.

Articles

What is SAD and do I have it? Read here.

The hidden power of light - Ingrid Fettell Lee. Read here.

The psychological impact of light and color. Read here.

To see our other Mind Sense & Soul videos, links and articles, click here.

This video series was made in partnership with Mcguigan ZERO,

the premium, alcohol-free, Australian wine range.

McGuigan Zero is alcohol-free wine created using state-of-the-art spinning cone technology. By drawing the wine into super fine layers for efficient vaporisation, alcohol may be removed at lower temperatures than ever before, thus resulting in a wine that retains its taste.

Fantastic Wine Gifts, Subscriptions & Experiences

We love our wine and have been spoiled for choice this year with the wonderful bottles we have tasted. Here’s a selection of some fantastic gift packages, experiences and subscriptions that really caught our eye and out taste buds, that have that extra wow factor, making them the perfect wine gift.

Wine Gift Packages

Feel Good Grapes: Brilliant Biodynamics Box

See for yourselves the upside of this winemaking ethos with this curated collection of 6 biodynamic wines. It feels great to know that the winemakers are bending over backwards to get life back into their vineyards, but it also means you get to taste fabulous, vibrant wines.

Find here: £100

Hattingley Valley - Trio Gift Box

A hatt-trick (see what we did there?) of outstanding, award-winning sparkling wines from one of the countries most awarded wineries. It includes the Classic Reserve, the Rosé 2015 and the stunning Blanc de Blancs 2013. Together, these would have been £133.50 so there’s a great saving there too. The perfect present! 

Find here: £96.47

Bellini Case  - The Wine Society

The world’s oldest, not-for-profit wine club The Wine Society is offering a huge range of gift packages, from their ‘Christmas tidings’ case, to the ’Champagne and Chocolates Case‘ and this, the ’Bellini Case‘. The Bellini case includes The Wine Society’s own excellent quality, family-produced Prosecco, together with both a rhubarb and a white peach fruit nectars from the Van Nahmen range.

Find here: Full range of gifts from £22 to £145

Celebrity Wine & Food Hampers

Pop icon Kylie Minogue and Graham Norton have released their first-ever Christmas Hampers. Kylie’s “Wild Rosé” and “Lovers” hampers feature her best selling wines, alongside culinary delights and gifts hand-picked by the Kylie herself. Graham’s Christmas hamper is for white and bubble lovers, celebrating his best-selling Sauvignon Blanc and Prosecco, accompanied by delicious food. 

Find here: From £125.00 

Barbadillo En Rama Sherry Gift Set

Pastora Mananilla Pasada En Rama is no ordinary Sherry. It was resurrected by Barbadillo back in 2015 to replicate what Sherry used to be traditionally. Bottle ‘en rama’, which means raw, this Manzanilla has had no filtering or finishing, so it keeps as much flavour and freshness as if it had just been drawn straight from the cask. You’ll get a bottle of Barbadillo Pastora En Rama, two tins of delicious Perello Gordal Pitted Olives, two sherry glasses and a gorgeously retro style box, where you can use the lid as a wall hanging! 

Find here: £35

Subscriptions

Port.Club Port subscription from Churchill’s

Port is not just for Christmas! Port.Club from Churchill’s is the ultimate gift subscription for the port curious and port lovers alike, offering a delicious, decadent quarterly surprise. Included in the membership is access to unique travel and educational experiences both in Portugal and online. The Port Packs all come with one everyday port, one special occasion port and one unique club port, selected and blended by Churchill’s founder and head winemaker Johnny Graham. As a special launch offer, anyone who buys a membership will receive one additional pack to gift to someone for Christmas worth £70! It’s an awesome way to get into one of the world’s finest and most underrated wine styles in a relaxed, totally accessible way. 12 months price £240. Quarterly price £70.

Find here: From £70

LITTLEWINE Club

This brand new company was formed by established wine trade members with a passion for organic and naturally made wines. They’re offering 4 subscription packs from £50 a month: Roots, Grower, Backstage Pass and Cosmos, with added perks such as access to winemaker tastings. Little Wine use eco-conscious packaging and gift-wrapping too, which is a bonus for us and the earth!

Find here: From £50 a month 

C&B Wine Odyssey

From one of the UK’s oldest established wine merchants who really know their stuff, send someone on a wine odyssey, with 6 bottles delivered straight to the doorstep on a pre-selected day of the month and the choice of 6 or 12 monthly payments. Subscribers also have access to tasting notes, recipes, producer videos and lots of other fun and educational content.

Find here: £160 & £240

Experiences

Champagne Experience Gifting Vouchers

Searcys have launched a range of 30-plus gift experience vouchers for use across their iconic venues, from dinner at the Gherkin, afternoon tea at Blenheim Palace or lunch at the stunning Bath Pump Rooms, among other venues all over the UK. From beautifully gift boxed single bottles of champagne to extravagant staycation tasting experiences, there’s a huge range for an epicurean. See all their gifting options and experiences below.

Find here

Wine Tasting Tour & Experience at Oastbrook in Sussex

Oastbrook is next to Bodiam Castle in the beautiful countryside of south-east England, where Wine Tasting & Vineyard Tours take place from spring to October 2021. Every tour includes a couple of hours with your very own winemaker guide, America, taking in the stunning boutique vineyards and organic farmland. Each experience rounds off with a tasting of Oastbrook wines in the heart of the picturesque Estate with complimentary handmade local cheese, biscuits and chutney. Book the tour or get the gift voucher for £25pp from Oastbrook.com. You could add a bottle of their Sparkling Rosé 2014 too for £38 while you’re at it!

Don’t forget to check out our Christmas wine, gin and whisky recommendations!

Luxury Epicurean & Sensory Gifts for a Perfect Christmas

Although we are big fans of all things drink at 3DHQ, we love a nice scented candle or a quirky drinks related calendar too. Here are some of our favourite picks this festive season…

Parks Luxury Scented Candles

There’s nothing quite like the luxury of an incredible smelling home and being massively into our aromas, we love Parks candles. Made sustainably with 100% natural wax with a range of options from small to large, Parks offer fragrances across all aromatic ranges from citrus, spicy and fruity to woody and floral. Our favourites are the Nordic Spruce, which fills your home with the aroma of Christmas trees and the Cinnamon and Clove candle. They’re Christmas all over!

Find here: £5 - £75

Book: The Art of Whisky - Black Edition

A splash-out gift for whisky lovers in the form of a simply stunning art book, which takes readers on a breathtaking visual tour of whisky production. Only 1000 copies were made, numbered and hand bound in leather before being presented in a bespoke leather and suede slipcase. Understated yet sophisticated, this stylish tome would not look out of place in any contemporary or classic interior. If you’re feeling really fly, there’s a copper edition too for £1,250. Let us know if you would like our address to pop one over… 

Find here: £450

N25 Caviar

Aidy discovered N25 this year while on the hunt for some fabulous caviar for his 30th birthday. Let’s just say he wasn’t disappointed! As far as selection goes, they have everything you could ask for and more... Baerii, Hybrid, Oscietra, Schrenckii, Kaluga, Beluga, Almas and Albino. See, you’ve probably never seen that many choices! The crème de la crème is their signature caviar; Kaluga. Cousin of the famous Beluga caviar, this could quite possibly be the rarest sturgeon in existence. There is also Almas and Albino Beluga which elevate the experience visually too thanks to their yellow and white colours. With 24 hour shipping throughout Europe and the fact they sell Krug like it’s on tap alongside a variety of super quality seafood such as lobster – you’re in good hands.

Find here: From 57 Euro

Phillips hue lights

I was first introduced to Philips Hue about 5 years ago and it has changed my life. We often disregard just how important lighting is and the affect it has on our moods. Philips Hue hits every colour on the colour spectrum and comes in a variety of lightbulbs for existing fighting, standalone lamps and even strip lighting. You can create a variety of ambient lighting moods for waking up to give you energy, peace-time for a little midday meditation or nap time and as the evening rolls around to calm your senses and get you ready for a good night’s sleep. Their app allows you to control everything seamlessly via smart devices such as Google and Alexa and there is a plethora of in-app functions to get the most out of your tech. I cannot recommend these more highly. 

Ranging from £25

Glencairn Gin Goblets

The maker of the world’s favourite whisky glass, Glencairn Crystal, has launched the ultimate gin drinking vessel: The Gin Goblet! Using their famous Mixer Glass as a starting point, the Glencairn design team carefully considered the needs of the gin drinker, the bar staff and the distillers, giving it a unique lip for easy drinking, a curved top to enhance aroma, an elegant stem to keep your hand away from warming the gin and a smaller bowl to require less ice and stop the gin from being diluted. You can also have them personalised with hand engraving.

Find them here: £10 each

Mostly Foodie Days of 2021 Calendar

A must for content creators or anyone with kids, this vibrant calendar captures just about all the food and drink days of 2021. It looks brilliant on the wall too! You can get it in A2 or even A1 size and while you’re at it, pick up some super cute legoman greetings cards. 

Find here: £15 A2/ £50 A1

Coravin Pivot

The Coravin Pivot is a new, entry level device from Coravin that extends the life of your everyday wines for up to a month! No more wasted bottles. It works by replacing the air in the bottle with inert Argon gas, kept in by a rubber stopper. It’s brilliant value at its introductory offer of £99 and one to start with before graduating to its more elaborate systems. We recommend you get a few extra rubber stoppers too.

Find here: £99

Geo Glass Gold Tumblers 

A gorgeous twin pack of metallic edged, hand-blown tumbler glasses that are modern and minimalistic with a vintage twist. We love these with Negronis and Old Fashioned cocktails, but anything with a mixer will look super swish in these! Perfect for the mixology fiend in your life and to bring to life your own home bar.

Find them here: £28 for 2

Click & Grow Indoor Smart Garden

The past year has been… yes, we won’t even go there. While 99% of the population took up making banana bread, those with gardens decided to plant flowers and herbs – how successful they were is another story. While we weren’t all lucky enough to have an outdoor space to unwind, Click & Grow have brought the greenery to us! This revolutionary technology is like an indoor greenhouse, allowing you to grow seed to plant or flower in as little as two weeks. Tried and tested, we can happily swear by it.

Find here: From $99.95

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

Taking Australian coffee culture into the night, where it is so much more than just a drink. Mr Black was born out of a love of perfect coffee and great distilling put together for a good time! This one is concentrated just like a great espresso and has a hint of caramel sweetness on the finish. As well as single bottles, they offer a range of gifting options such as an Espresso Martini set (£39.99), a festive Espresso Martini set (with booze for £65) or the Mr. Black Holy Trinity: three bottles of their best; their iconic coffee liqueur, their single origin Colombia liqueur and their Amaro version.

Find here: £25.99 - £29.99

Don’t miss our wine, cocktails and no-low gift guides too!

Hot Sauce by Dunstan’s Recipes

Those who make hot sauce well have achieved a somewhat cult status in their field over recent years. Welcome to a new mover and shaker in this market - and absolutely one to watch! Dunstan’s Recipes is a family run, luxury condiments business with a focus on spice and a deep love of complex flavours. The owners, brothers Oscar and Alex Dunstan, started the business from scratch and are quickly building a name for themselves at farmers markets and selling to their local community. They now ship world wide! Try their premium sauce ‘Toxic Masculinity’ (£10) if you like it uber spicy with a blend of Scotch Bonnet and Naga Bhut Jolokia. For those looking for a gentler blend, try ‘Humbug’ (£5), for a hot, Christmassy take on cranberry sauce.

Price: £5 - 10 for 170g

Find it here.

Stunning Wines to Enjoy this Christmas

We love our wine and have been spoiled for choice this year with the wonderful bottles we have tasted. Here’s a selection of some that really caught our eye and our taste buds, that have that extra wow factor, making them the perfect wine gift or sip over the festive season.

Sparkling

Champagne Duval-Leroy ‘Clos Des Bouveries’ 2006 Vintage

Not just any Champagne, the ‘Clos des Bouveries’ is an ancient vineyard plot owned by the Duval-Leroy family that boasts the perfect location and terroir for champagne grapes, giving them exceptional concentration and fruit. Made with 100% Chardonnay and partially fermented in oak barrels, it combines purity with complexity and body. Gorgeous.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £121 and find the rest of the range here

Beau Joie Brut

Translating as ‘beautiful joy’, this Champagne is just that; a stunner on the eye and a delight to drink! The striking bottle oozes luxury with its unique copper casing, which also acts as a wine cooler when chilled - and the champagne inside is definitely something to write home about. The even better news… Beau Joie is available in three variants: a crisp, clean, rosé Champagne, a fruity elegant demi-sec and a unique, zero-dosage brut.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £89.95

Delamotte Blancs de Blancs NV

2020 marks the 260th anniversary of this house, founded in 1760 by Francois Delamotte. It’s the sister Champagne to the celebrated Salon, arguably the world’s rarest champagne and is the hidden ‘insiders’ gem that true winos adore. 100% Chardonnay from the region’s top Grand Cru vineyards, the non vintage manages to combine freshness and complexity with elegance and accessibility, showcasing gorgeously understated notes of lemon, grapefruit and brioche, backed up by a moreish chalkiness and soft, creamy mousse. For the price, it’s unbeatable. It also comes in half bottles! Perfect for the stocking.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £42.46 (on offer) // £22.91 (half bottle)

Bollinger Special Cuvée 007 Limited Edition

This special cuvée was created to celebrate a 40 year collaboration between Maison Bollinger and the James Bond franchise, while at the same time, marking the launch of No Time To Die. This wine comes in a limited edition gift box that brings together Bollinger’s signature Special Cuvée, the Aston Martin DB5 and James Bond, with its sleek, silver birch colour and silhouette of the man himself. Special Bolly just got even more special in our opinion!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £46.50

Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvée 2014

A very limited release from Hattingley valley made by rising star winemaker Emma Rice, this gorgeous English sparkling wine is a premium blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (the exact same grapes used in Champagne). It is perfect for enjoying with pre dinner snacks and has just won the accolade of ‘Supreme Champion’ at the WineGB awards, making it the best sparkling wine in the UK. We’ll drink to that!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £85

White

Six Brothers Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2019

Founded by Richie Vandenberg, an ex ‘Aussie Rules’ footballer and captain, the Six Borther wines were names after the heroic Vandenberg brothers who fought for their country at the outbreak of World War II. This Chardonnay is just the ticket for turkey, creamy cheese dishes, pastas or even fish. It’s aromatic and powerful, with flavours of white stone fruits, creme brûlée, hazelnut and citrus peel. Creamy on the palate too, it’s a perfect festive white. Opulent and delicious.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £22.99 mix six price from Majestic

Gusbourne ‘Guinevere’ Chardonnay, Kent, England 2018

Yes, a still white wine from England and it is breathtaking! This exceptionally elegant Chardonnay is packed with complex notes of citrus peel, brioche, orchard fruit and citrus with the leanest, saline backbone. There’s so much going on but it doesn't shout loudly. Guinevere is the perfect name.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £25

Saintsbury Chardonnay, Carneros, USA

A rich, sunshine Chardonnay is precisely what you need on a cold, Christmas day. Notes of marshmallow and vanilla are offset by a lick of lemon citrus and a cool, mineral core. Channel California while you sip! We love this wine and this mix six price, you could treat someone to their own stash. Pair it with the Pinot Noir (below) and you’ve covered all bases.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: UK £20.99 mix six price // US $34.58

Rosé

Soho House's Lady A Rose

You may have heard us banging on about how rosé - especially Provencal rosé is perfect with festive meals, so what a great idea to ship in a case of this as a gift for someone (or yourself)! This unique Rosé is a collaboration with the iconic, biodynamic Chateau la Coste estate in Provence and Soho House. It’s delicate and elegant with peach and strawberry notes, yet with a creamy weight on the palate. Perfect alone or with turkey and all the trimmings!

Size: 75cl
Find here: £19.90

Etna Rosato, Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2019

Nerello Mascalese grapes grown on bush vines in the volcanic soils of Sicily’s Mount Etna make for unique, interesting and delicious wines. Supremely elegant but multi-layered and textural, this is a beautiful, textural yet vibrant pink with subtle notes of red plum and cherry. A gorgeous winter pink and a great food wine, especially with fleshy fish dishes. 

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £11.25 

Red

Boekenhoutskloof Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

South Africa had a tough time during lockdown with alcohol sales being banned, resulting in very hard times for producers and merchants. You can support them by drinking fabulous wine - and this is a firm favourite of ours. 

Pronounced BURK- ERN-HOOTS-CLOOF (which is a delight to say out loud - try it!), this Cabernet Sauvignon from the Helderberg area showcases the perfect blend of old world and new world styles. Perfumed, complex and alluring, those classic Cabernet notes of cedar and blackcurrant are there in abundance and balanced so beautifully with a crisp acidity, cool minerality and moreish notes of bay leaf, graphite and cacao. Beguiling and utterly delicious.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £39.99 mix six price // US From $35 here

Saintsbury Pinot Noir, Carneros, USA

Cool climate California produces some beautifully aromatic, cherry-scented Pinot that’s soft as silk. This is an incredibly easy-drinking Pinot Noir packed with dark and red berry fruit and gentle cinnamon spice. A perfect partner for turkey and festive fare and a create follow on from the Chardonnay (above).

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £20.99 mix six price // US $46.58

Vandenburg Six Brothers Pinot Noir, Tasmania, 2018

Sister wine to the Chardonnay above, this soft and rich Pinot Noir comes from a single vineyard located south of the Tamar Valley in Tasmania. Think of spicy, red fruit like cherry and raspberry compote with a subtle herbaceousness and moreish, truffle earthiness. Incredibly complex and elegant, this wine is drinking beautifully now but will also keep for 5 years or so. Drink it with duck and Asian sauces or lamb and roasted vegetables. Gorgeous!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14%
Find here: £33.99 Mix 6 price

McGuigan Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2014

One of the premium wines from McGuigan; the well-loved Australian wine. With its pleasing red wax top, this wine looks how it tastes: bold and velvety with notes of blackberry jam spice and a kick of pepper and eucalyptus. A great looking bottle for a gift and a belter with red meat.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 15%
Find here: £20  

Inglenook Zinfandel Edizione Pennino 2011

Inglenook has been owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola since 1975 and he named this Zinfandel after his grandfather’s music company, Pennino. It even has one of the song titles on the cork! Zinfandel from here is bold and brooding, full of lush, damson fruit and notes of dried fig coming out with its age. This one is exceptional and beautifully balanced to boot!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.8%
Find here: £58

Vineyard 7 & 8 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

2017 started so well in Napa but ended in devastating fires. Luckily, these vineyards were spared and the 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has developed into a beautiful wine, showing vibrant blackberry, currant, cassis and espresso, Great tension, and a beautiful finish. So impressive for such a challenging vintage. 

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14.8%
Find here: US £189.99

Looking for more ‘drinkspiration’? Then, make sure to check out our cognac, whisky and tequila gift guides!

Delicious Cognac to Drink and Gift this Christmas

Cognac is back with a bang and it’s not just for cocktails, my friends. Cognac is a spirit made with grapes, which is then aged in oak and it can be a great place to ease yourself into the spirits world. Often, it can be a little softer than whisky, with mellow flavours of candied orange peel, fudge and cinnamon spice. Like whisky, it has many levels of quality from the entry-level VS style all the way up to XO (extra old) and vintage cognacs (There’s our little video here with some basics if you want to know more.) In the meantime, here are some special cognacs that are perfect for gifting and sipping this festive season.

Camus Cognac VS Elegance

The Camus family has always been deeply involved in winemaking and distilling and make a wide range of Cognacs at differing quality levels and styles. This is their gentle, easy-going entry-level Cognac which boasts aromas and flavours of blossom, dried apricot, vanilla pod and spice. A brilliantly accessible introduction to Cognac. 

Size: 1l
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £32.96 // US $30.99 (70cl)

Courvoisier Fine VSOP

This classic VSOP, a quality step up from VS, is made by one of the best known producers of the region: Courvoisier. With its incredibly rich history, especially as the producer of cognac for the Napoleonic wars, Courvoisier has had a long time to perfect its style and this is an absolute benchmark for VSOP. Think of a silky smooth spirit, with notes of baked pear, red apples and hints of cinnamon spice, coffee bean and toast. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £34.95 // US $42.99

Rémy Martin Royal Accord Cognac

Powerful, smooth and rich with notes of toffee and cherry wood, this cognac sits between a VSOP and XO style. It was named in honour of King Louis XV granting the ‘Accord Royal’ to Rémy Martin in 1738, which allowed them to plant vines on royal land. This is a rich and robust Cognac. Given its age and pedigree, this cognac is an absolute steal!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £42.45 // US $53.99

Delamain Pale & Dry

This exceptionally elegant and delicate ’Grande Champagne’ cognac is the flagship spirit of the historic house of Delamain and it is celebrating its 100th year this year. Grande Champagne is the premium grape growing area of the region and it produces the finest eaux-de-vie to make cognac. As the label states, this extra old cognac is pale and dry, with a subtle, floral perfume, a hint of leather and a complex, yet round, fruited finish. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £97.45 // US: $135.54

Frapin Vintage 1990 Cognac

With cognac, the quality of the grapes matters, even though they are being distilled and in a fantastic year, the base for some exceptional cognacs are produced, such as this one from 1990. Made with grapes from one single vineyard, this is a concentrated and powerful, yet elegant cognac with a perfume of jasmine and apricot blossom along with some darker notes of nuts and star anise. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 41.3%
Find here: £140

Courvoisier XO Initiale

This bottling is relatively new for Courvoisier and yet is another timeless, beautifully blended spirit where its complexity comes from very old eaux-di-vie from all over the Cognac region. Think of dried peach, red fruits, cocoa powder and a touch of worn leather. Delicious. A great one for dark chocolate too. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £86.95 // US $99.99

And in case you were feeling flush…

Rome de Belleguard Cognac XO Limited Edition

Rome de Belleguard is home to the most expensive Cognac in the world and no this isn’t it. Made with grapes grown exclusively in the Grand Champagne appellations in Cognac, the spirit is stored in new casks for 3-5 years before being matured in oak barrels for up to 30 years. Ethereal and perfumed, this is a very elegant spirit with vanilla cream, citrus peel and woody spice. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: £3000

Have you checked out our wine, no-low and cocktail gift guides yet?

5 Brilliant Bottled Cocktails to Try this Christmas

Bottled cocktails are tipped to be the big winners this rather strange festive season and we have seen a plethora of RTD cocktail companies spring up, some good and some… not so good. The perfect pre-made cocktail should be able to be served quickly and easily by anyone, yet still have the quality and consistency that you would expect from a professional mixologist. Here are five companies that should be on your radar, each offering quite a different experience. They make great ideas for gifts as well as spicing up your own festive times. Cheers!

NIO Cocktails: Cocktails Through your Letterbox

NIO cocktail’s founders Luca and Alessandro brought in professional mixologist Patrick Pistolesi to help create a menu of sixteen delicious cocktails ranging from the classics to signature house fusions. They even have two alcohol free cocktails! The beauty of these is that they come in sleek envelopes within a box that fits through your letterbox. Each cocktail is packaged in its own uniquely-designed sleeve, so you can line them up on your shelf with your record collection! Their cocktail boxes are designed to hold 3, 6, or 9 cocktails, so you can pick your own choices from the menu to add to the box too. Simply shake the sleeve, pinch and tear off the corner, and pour over Ice.

Try the delicious Milano Torino, Winter Sidecar or the Gimlet particularly but there are many others to choose from.

Gift idea: Nio Cocktails x GQ box
Find here: Prices starting from £22.50 for 3

Tom Savano: Travel-inspired cocktails

Tom Savano bottled cocktails are making a name for themselves very quickly thanks to their founder, James Kerslake’s passion for flavour and authentic ingredients. Only using small-batch, artisanal spirits from around the world, James’ ethos is to deliberately avoid the big distilleries and instead, choose smaller, regional distilleries that can tell a good story. As he puts it, “When I sip a margarita, I want to feel like I'm on a Rancho at the end of a long day of agave harvesting, the smell of earth, smoke and Mezcal in the air. That’s what Tom Savano is about.”

Beautifully packaged in two-serving and five-serving bottles, these cocktails look as good as they taste. Try the Single Estate Reposado Margarita or the Kentucky Winter Old Fashioned for the festive season particularly, but all of them rock, to be honest. Get 15% off your first order on their website. 

Find here: Prices start from £12

LAIBA: Cocktail Tasting Set

Welcome to Asia's first artisanal bottled cocktail brand! Created by Michael Chen, former bar manager of The Roosevelt and bartender at Eau-De-Vie Sydney (ranked as the 13th best bar in the world), Chen is now bar director of three of the top bars in Shanghai. His goal for LAIBA was to bring the professional experience and flair of these top Asian bars to the bottle. They use award-winning craft spirit and cold pressed juices with natural remedies that allow them to keep for 18-36 months in some cases, despite being all-natural. Everything is sustainably sourced and each cocktail is 100% carbon neutral, to boot. 

To celebrate their UK launch, they have created an exclusive collection of 8 or 16 bottles in a stunning package at a fantastic introductory price of £49 (for 8). Cocktails include the likes of a Twisted Negroni, In Love With Rosemary, Earl’s Old Fashioned and the LAIBA Sour. A brilliant gift and a swanky stash to have on hand for Christmas. Their shops also ships them around the world! A very smart offering indeed. 

Find here: £49 for 8

Bottle: Bar & Bottled Cocktails

This little bar and bottle shop located in Catford East, London is run by a couple passionate about creating small batch, tasty drinks with all-natural ingredients using well-loved spirits brands. Each cocktail is infused, mixed, prepared and bottled by hand at their shop; there are no additives or flavours anywhere to be seen. The bottles are super cute too! Try their Espresso Martini or their Passion fruit Daiquiri for a delicious treat. They’re also doing a cocktail called ‘Christmas in a Bottle’ right now which sounds incredible, with vodka, spices and bitters. Yum!

Find here: Prices starting from £12

Empirical

Empirical is a Danish company created by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of flavour and playing on the role flavour plays in the creation of our memories. To this end, the team builds drinks with their own quirky personalities, using unusual ingredients to create intriguing flavours. There are some excellent names for their concoctions too, from ‘F*ck Trump and His Stupid F*cking Wall’, to ‘Fallen Pony Blend’, to ‘Helena’ (YES!) Try: 'The Plum, I Suppose', where sweet plum and strawberry is balanced by an unusual note of salted caramel and a subtle, floral nose. Unique and utterly moreish. 

Find here: UK £51.99 // US $85

Looking for a particular spirit? Then check out our vodka, gin or tequila gift inspiration!