What is CBD and How Can it Help?

What is CBD

CBD has taken the world by storm over the past 2 years and continues to evolve. People have sworn by it for decades, but it’s now at a point where it has become more readily available to purchase than ever before. 

The science backs it up too, with countless studies showcasing that it genuinely does reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress when integrated as a part of one’s lifestyle. 

CBD versus THC

Despite all the hype, CBD is still a relatively new idea to many people, so it’s not surprising there’s quite a bit of confusion around it. The two things people have heard of are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol ) and CBD (cannabidiol). Both are molecules within the Cannabis plant, but do different things. 

They are both referred to as phytocannabinoids, but THC gives you psychoactive effects where as CBD does not. Many people assume because they both derive from the same plant they have the same affects, but this isn’t true. As they interact with different parts of the brain, they have vastly differing affects. 

THC gives you a sense of high by binding to cannabinoid receptors within our endocannabinoid system (a crucial part of our nervous system). While CBD doesn’t bind directly bind to cannabinoid receptors, it is said to boost levels of naturally occurring endocannabinoids – which is why it has such a wide range of uses. It’s also proven to interact with our serotonin and opiod receptors, which is why it is so effective. 

AS CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system, it has an affect on a variety of functions:

  •  Digestion

  •  Metabolism

  • Mood

  • Memory

  • Sleep

  • Motor control

  • Pain perception

  • Immune function

Reduces Stress

On average, 18% of the population report feeling some form of anxiety. Remember that’s just the people who actually report it. You then take into account the global happenings over the latest year and begin to realize that a huge population of the world will likely be suffering some form of stress. Countless studies continue to showcase the positive effects CBD has on reducing the symptoms of anxiety, which is why in my mind it is more important to discover this now than ever before. 

 

Reduce Pain

Many of us have been sitting at the same desk, in the same chair for almost 12 months now. Shoddy posture leads to back pain which really isn’t a pleasant thing to have to go through on top of everything else. CBD has a track record of working with our brain to reduce the pain we experience. 

 

Aiding Sleep

CBD has been proven across a multitude of studies to inhibit calmness, which is perfect for people who are struggling to drift off. There’s so many different products on the market right now from pillow sprays to sleep drops and beyond. 

 

Skin Care

Many people suffer from skin conditions such as dermatitis and acne and as we find ourselves in stressful situations, these can flare up. CBD has showcased a strong correlation in helping to reduce these symptoms. With acne for example, it greatly reduces the amount of sebum created alongside calming inflammation (two massive triggers of acne). 

 

Increase Your Sex Life

Next up I’m going to talk about sex. And you know what, I’m not afraid to. Having great sex on a regular basis is proven to reduce stress and keep you happier. For those singletons amongst us, our sex lives haven’t been the most eventful over the past year. Even partners have struggled to find the time between home schooling, entertaining kids, working and finding that ‘special time together’ being stripped away given the stress or being together every waking minute. 

So if you have been finding your mojo has deflated or that you’re not as easily able to hit that big O (yes, I am referring to an orgasm), then CBD may be the answer. 

Using CBD infused lubricants increases the blood flow, making our nerve endings more sensitive, the result of which came be a much more sensual orgasm. 

  

How can you buy CBD?

There are so many ways you can purchase from capsules, oil and tongue sprays to sleep drops, wrist rolls, seltzers, bitters and more. We really are at the infancy of CBD discovery. Stay tuned as we put together a variety of ‘best product’ lists on this topic soon. 

In the meantime, check out some of these sites for CBD inspiration:

www.OTOcbd.com

www.hollandandbarrett.com

www.canabidol.com

How to motivate yourself to move more!

Mind, Sense & Soul: Move

Here’s something that might make you feel better: for millions of years, our ancestors had to work really hard to get enough food to have energy. It is therefore a normal instinct, hard-wired into us to avoid unnecessary exertion and exercise, so don’t ever feel bad about lacking motivation. It’s completely natural. Having said that, our ancestors got in plenty of natural exercise hunting and gathering, but the major difference was that it was a natural part of the everyday, not something they dedicated extra time to. So there’s the rub; we do need to move every day, but it would be much easier if it were a natural part of our life.

I should say at this point this is clearly not a video for those incredibly motivated people who already crave a daily run or enjoy triathlons in their spare time. It’s for those of you like me who feel they don’t have enough hours in the day and genuinely find it hard to be motivated to move, especially now there’s nowhere to go in lockdown and it’s bloody freezing and dark in the mornings.

Why move?

We all know that we need to move our bodies every day, but let’s just have a quick reminder about why:

  • Exercise reduces the level of stress hormones in your body like cortisol and adrenaline. In short, it’s an anxiety buster. It has also been shown to be an effective treatment for depression.

  • Studies have shown that those who exercise regularly are at a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia. As over time it keeps your brain growing rather than shrinking with age.

  • Incidentally exercising your brain helps it grow new neurons too. Daily meditation does this.

  • Exercise is one of the best things we can do for our hearts, which includes benefits for blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 

  • Exercise of course helps moderate weight of course, which has infinite advantages including preventing type 2 diabetes and in short

  • It generally helps you age better. 

How much exercise do we need?

Advice for how much we need changes over time, but if you’re looking to start from scratch, received wisdom seems to be that 150 mins a week, which is just over 20 mins a day, is decent going. In fact solid scientific studies have shown that getting that 20 mins a day can lower your risk of dying by a certain age by 50%, so that’s jolly. It really does have to be regular rather than once in a blue moon though, apparently. But if the thought of getting up and at it is still unappealing, here are a few ways to boost motivation to do it. I’m telling you this because I need to keep telling it to myself. When I get up it’s cold, it’s dark,  We’re locked down. There’s nowhere to go so all these things help me.

How to boost motivation

Low, smashable targets 

Give yourself a super low target because when you smash that, you’ll get a dopamine hit, feel better about yourself and you’re more likely to naturally do more. Make it easy. We’re talking 2 or 5 minutes at a time at first, maybe just three times a week if needs be and you can gradually increase that. Success breeds motivation, so set yourself up to smash those small targets. 

Show up

The important thing is that we all learn to show up, because just getting to the place to start something is often the hardest part. Make it easy for yourself to show up by making sure the yoga mat is out and your clothes are there, or your shoes are by the door and the dog hasn’t stolen one of them. I think it was Woody Allen that said “80 percent of success is showing up”. This is probably true. “You make progress in inches, not yards”.

Break it up

Break your movement time up into  three, four or five minute little chunks. These will add up during the day and quickly have positive, knock on effects. Dr Rangan Chatterjee calls these ‘health snacks’, which I love. With five minutes too, you don’t even have to get changed, which is also a bonus. He also suggests checking your health snacks off somewhere as soon as you’ve done your five minutes or even keeping a jar and putting a small token into it every time you do it. Maybe it’s 20p or 50p a go and your reward is to spend all the money in the jar when it's full, or maybe it’s milk bottle tops. Whatever it is, seeing a full jar at the end of the week feels like success and success is the greatest motivator. 

Attach it to something else you’re already doing 

One thing I’ve found helpful is attaching these five minute chunks onto something I’m already doing, like squats waiting for the kettle or rounds of star jumps after you go to the loo. When it comes to my girls who are seven and nine, they will not do PE indoors, so I’m starting to introduce a ten minute kitchen rock out disco as I’m preparing dinner, where we put on some Metallica (their choice believe it or not) and we all jump around the kitchen. It’s good on so many levels and we’re all out of breath and sweaty by the end of it. Job done. 

Here are few interesting things to read and listen to on the subject of movement.

Articles

The surprising truth about exercise - Daniel Lieberman with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

Videos

The 5 minute kitchen workout - Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Books

Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health  - Daniel Lieberman

Review of this book by The Guardian - Exercise myths exploded.

Feel Better in 5 - Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Articles

7 Ways to master the art of showing up - Saeed Mirfattah

6 Ways the body benefits from exercise - Forbes.

A short history of wellbeing through exercise - Wellcome Trust

Check out the other videos and articles in our Mind, Sense & Soul series here!

How Sound Techniques Can Improve Your Mental Health & Wellbeing

Here we have a sense we don’t often think about beyond just music yet it has so many benefits for our mental health and wellbeing, especially in promoting calmness.

If we’re at home chances are we’re surrounded by the same person or people and that can lead us to feeling quite irritable. Isolating ourselves, plugging in some earphones and just listening to SOMETHING can detach us from that reality and for a brief moment allow us to escape 

Sound as a Healing Therapy

Sound as a healing therapy dates back all the way to the Ancient Greek times, where it was used to help people with mental health issues and those in pain. Over the years with more technology and understanding we’ve been able to cultivate this more than ever and specigically when it comes to music, improve our mood and mindset. Whether listening to music, singing to music, moving/dancing or playing an instrument – billions of signals are fired through our brains, giving us a sense of euphoria and calmness. That’s why there’s such a thing around singing in the shower. 

Meditation

There are so many different types of meditation each of which offer their own benefits. For a full list click here.

  • mindfulness meditation

  • spiritual meditation

  • focused meditation

  • movement meditation

  • mantra meditation

  • transcendental meditation

  • progressive relaxation

  • loving-kindness meditation

  • visualization meditation 

There’s also something called Ambient Meditation which I discovered recently. As we’re working from our homes this could very well be a saving grace. Instead of focusing on peaceful sounds, it helps us combat and normalise the distractions of life, such as traffic, creaking radiators and the general distasteful noises we encounter throughout the day. By normalising them, we can become more productive throughout the day. 

Sound Hypnotherapy

This is a technique I have used for years in order to help me drift off to sleep. Whether anxiety of insomnia, I’ve had my fair share of difficulty attempting to get some shut eye and the various apps (such as Calm and Breethe) that offer hypnosis sessions have been a saving grace. 

ASMR Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response  

It might sound a little weird, but I’m going to just say it – I love the sound of people eating soap. Yep, a hard bar of soap. I know, weird right? But its true. And I’m not alone. ASMR highlights noises that subjectively our brains find incredibly relaxing and focus on. (Let me be clear in that they spit the soap out, they aren’t actually swallowing it – so please DON’T start doing this yourself – it’s also about the noise of others, not ourselves.)

ASMR is described as feeling like a mild electrical current running from your brain slowly all the way down your body and is initiated by auditory and visual stimuli. Things like gentle whispers, loud chewing, tapping or repetitive sounds are all classed as ASMR sounds. It took me a while to figure it out as I thought I was just getting irritated and frustrated, but when you begin to actually concentrate on it you do inf act begin to feel more relaxed and alert. Odd, but affective. 

Podcasts

There’s so many genres, everything from learning to self-guidance, wellbeing and more. It doesn’t just need to be about bettering yourself either, follow your passions and listen to something you find genuinely interesting. One particular thing we should all be on the hunt for right now is something to make us laugh – laughter is life’s medicine I always say! Every time we smile of laugh our body sends a surge of positivity through our bodies into our brains, resulting in us feeling better. The same goes for each time we learn something and feel self-growth.  

Self Healing: https://open.spotify.com/show/0oHwerYHy5f1cYzd9qldsP

Binaural Beats Sleep: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX8h3zQNo57xG

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

Click the picture to watch the video.

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.

mcguigan zero the three drinkers
mcguigan zero the three drinkers

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?

Click the image below to begin watching the video

Click the image above to begin watching the video


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 the three drinkers
mind sense soul mcguigan zero the three drinkers

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

Best wine subscription wine gift hamper sherry gifts thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best Wine Boxes Feel Good Grapes thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best Wine Hampers Hattingley Valley thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best wine fizz champagne gift hampers Bellini Case The Wine Society thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best celebrity wine hamper Kylie Minogue wine Graham Norton wine thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

barbadillo gift box the three drinkers

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

Best port gift subscription Churchill's thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best wine subscription littlewineclub thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best wine subscription Corney&Barrow thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best Champagne gift Searcys thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best Wine tasting tour Oastbrook wine thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best Christmas gift luxury gift thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Parks Candles London thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Art of Whisky Book thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts N25 Caviar thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

AIDY website images-15.jpg

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Glencairn Goblets thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Food and drink days calendar thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Coravin Pivot thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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 

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Geo Glass Gold Tumblers thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Click and Grow Indoor Smart Garden thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

Best gifts for Christmas luxury gifts Mr Black Coffee Liqueur thethreedrinkers.com the three drinkers

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

dunstans hot sauce the three drinkers

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.