Great Drinks Gift Ideas for Christmas

Words by Ana Patterson

Merry Christmas all! Get ready to panic shop in 3, 2, 1…

…or perhaps not? Trying to decide what to get for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family members is a tough chore and not something you want to be dealing with this late in the game. Put down that pen and paper, stop scratching your head and start reading our 2021 Christmas Gift Guide!

Coravin Pivot

Throw away your old, simple bottle stoppers this minute – Coravin Pivot is on the scene! If you know a friend or family member who likes to drink nice wine, the Coravin Pivot is going to be a lifesaver for them. It allows one to stopper a wine bottle without letting it oxidise, meaning you can preserve a bottle of wine for up to 4 weeks – ensuring the last glass is as amazing as the first.

Find here: £99 (on offer from £119) 

Dottie’s Luxury Espresso Martini Christmas Gift Set

Dottie’s is all about premium coffee when it comes to their ready-to-drink Espresso Martinis, meaning they’re full of flavour and super delicious! Pour straight into a glass and wait a minute for the crema to settle and pop a coffee bean on the top. This is the first real, premium espresso martini in a can you can buy! The gift set comes with two cans of their famous Espresso Martini and two beautifully crafted Italian crystal coupe glasses. Decadence at its very best!

Find it here: £39

Majestic’s Ultimate Christmas Wine Club

Majestic have scored a blinder with gifting AND sorting Christmas dinner this year. Welcome to the Majestic Wine Club: a 12-bottle case of hand picked wine for Christmas which can be bought as a one off purchase or as part of a subscription. The case includes Champagne, Crémant, a selection of big, comforting reds and an epic tawny port. Each bottle is new and exclusive to Majestic and the case comes with education materials, an attractive guide and links to video tasting guides. The ‘Wine Club’ case is available on a strictly limited run.

Order here for £159 by 23/12/21 for pre-Christmas delivery

Banks Brothers Wine Discovery Set

Chef Tommy Banks and his brother James launched these premium wines in a can earlier this year to rapturous applause from wine professionals. They are genuinely fantastic. If you have an indecisive wine lover in your life, then this wine discovery set is exactly what they need this Christmas. It comes with 7 different wines inside beautifully designed cans. You’ll receive a Syrah Mourvèdre, a Chardonnay, a Riesling, a Grenache Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend and a Pinot Noir. If you’ve ever wanted to try spotting the difference between different types of wine, this is a great place to start! 

Find it here: £40 for 6, £78 for 12 

STIR-UP Cocktail Subscription Club

STIR-UP is all about going on journey of discovery through the world of classic cocktails with the freshest ingredients, the finest spirits and expert tricks and tips to finesse your creations. Beautifully packaged, with a monthly delivery of individual ingredients for 4 cocktails, each box costs from £34.95 and is delivered directly through your door. No waste, super fun and the perfect reason to get together with friends. We love the Blackberry Old Fashioned and the Mai Tai. Yum!

Find it here from £34.95

M&S Marksologist Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

Ready-to-drink cocktails are the perfect gift as the lucky receiver can open up the bottle and have a taste right then and there! The M&S Christmas Elves have been hard at work this year and have provided us with 6 different cocktails! There’s a Clover Club, Old Fashioned, Passionstar Martini, Espresso Martini, Negroni and a Verdita Margarita. You can either buy the cocktails separately or in a case of 6.

Find it here: £18 for 500ml, £108 for all 6 

OTO CBD Cocktail Bitters

Without a doubt, this is the most sophisticated bottle of bitters you will ever own with that matte black bottle sporting a shock of orange. It’s the world’s first CBD bitters, combining organically grown hemp plants with a bespoke range of botanicals with antioxidant properties. It’s savoury, herbaceous and complex – delicious in a wide range of cocktails (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) or even splashed into water for a more relaxing night. We are obsessed with ours. 

Find it here: £58.65 (on offer from £69) 

Azu Spirits Tasting Sets

This gift isn’t just a bottle, it’s an experience that can be shared amongst friends this holiday season. Azu is offering spirits tasting kits in both British Gin and Scotch Whisky. The kits come with numbered bottles and guides to each spirit so you can taste them and discover what makes them unique. If you go for the gin selection you’ll also be provided with perfectly portioned bottles of tonic! If you want a fun gift, why not try out the ‘Who Am I? Guess The Malts’! It’s education, entertainment and a great gift, all rolled into one.

Find it here: from £45

Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point 05 Beer

There’s something so special about receiving a limited-edition gift at Christmas, which is why we’ve included this delicious limited edition beer in our gift guide. Innis & Gunn are known for the limited runs of their rare beers, handcrafted in Perth and matured in Scotch whisky casks. Their current star is ‘Vanishing Point 05’, an 11% Imperial stout matured in 15-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky Casks for a year. It’s deep, dark, chocolatey and even comes with its own goblet! Make a beer and whisky lover very happy this Christmas with Innis & Gunn.

Find it here: £15.00

Pink Diesel Rosé

Pink Diesel Rosé is not just a great rosé to consider for your wine loving friends, but it’s also a great foodie rosé. Hailing from Bandol AOC in the heart of Provence, an extra splash of the Mourvèdre grape brings red fruit, weight and texture, making it a great, more refreshing choice for Christmas lunch than heavy reds. A creamy, fruity rosé, it combines ancient methods with modern winemaking techniques to produce a beautiful wine with notes of honey, peach, red berry and citrus. It’s eco-friendly too with all grapes handpicked in low yields from a small, single vineyard in Bandol, Provence, so really there’s nothing not to love!

Find it here:  £15.95

Copper Rivet Distillery Gin Duo, Jigger and Cocktail Stirrer Gift Box

Gin lovers far and wide will be flocking to this beautiful gift set by Copper Rivet Distillery that includes two bottles of their gin (one Dockyard, one Damson), a copper jigger and a copper bar spoon. You’ll be ready to mix up your favourite gin cocktail in no time while sporting some classy barware that’ll be the envy of all your friends.

Find it here: £25

Cucielo Negroni Gift Set

The Negroni is the most stylish cocktail on the block right now, and what’s even more stylish is being able to knock one up yourself! As all seasoned mixologists will know, the Negroni is a delightful combination of gin, vermouth and Campari. Cucielo’s gift set includes their delicious Rosso Vermouth di Torino and two of their Il Tempo Vola crystal Negroni glasses. The perfect gift for a Negroni lover!

Find it here: £38

Signature Brew Pub in a Box

Can’t go to the pub? Bring the pub to you this Christmas! Signature Brew’s Pub In A Box features a selection of craft beers, glassware, pub snacks, a music quiz and some exclusive playlists tailored to each beer which makes for a fantastic all around experience. We all know someone who’s dying to own their own pub, or perhaps someone who’s already set up shop in their back garden – so here’s to them!

Find it here: £30

Looking for more? We also have Christmas gin, rum, white wine, red wine and luxury whisky guides available!

The Best Gins To Gift This Christmas

Words by Leigh Andrews

With the big day fast approaching and with such an amazing choice of gins and gin gifts on the market, choosing can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming - especially if you’re not clued up on the latest trends and releases. Fear not! We have put together a list of little beauties for you. There are all sorts of gins and gin related gifts in here for gin liqueur lovers to the super geeky gin collectors. Each will make sure that you stay on Santa’s good list for next year!  

TARQUIN’S FIGGY PUDDING GIN

This needs no explanation as a great gin gift for Christmas. it’s called Figgy Pudding after all! The flavours in this little Cornish beauty invoke thoughts of nights sat next to the fire, toasted marshmallows and just one more mince pie (once they’re gone they never existed, right?). Christmas spices, citrus zest, dried figs and even blow-torched, brandy-soaked cherry wood chips are all infused with Tarquin’s original London Dry Gin so yep, that makes this a full strength gin woohoo! Try it with ginger ale, lots of ice and a wedge of orange. Oh, and just one more mince pie!

ABV: 42%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: UK £35.95

ANGEL FEATHERS APPLE GIN

Angelic Angel Feathers is perfect if you’re looking for an eco-friendly gin gift for that special someone, with the flavour to back it up. Produced in Wales using only seasonal fruits and botanicals from their own micro fruitery, the bottles even have compostable seals and are returnable/reusable. You can even contact Katharine, the owner at www.angelfeathers.co.uk, she is full of suggestions for your empties that go way past the usual fairy lights! Also available in a stocking filler size of 200ml, meaning you could try some of her other flavours too. This gin is gorgeous with mulling spices in hot apple juice or over ice as a sipper. 

ABV: 39%
Size: 200ml, 500ml
Find here: £23 - £43.50

ATLAS SHICHIMI GIN

Atlas Gins are inspired by exotic flavours from all around the world and we love them for their complex, unique flavours. Their Shichimi gin (try saying that after having a couple) is inspired by 17th Century, Japanese spice blend, which combines seven spices and is used in traditional cooking. Botanicals in here include Sichuan peppercorn, gyokuro green tea, ginger and nori seaweed, giving it a warm kick with moreish umami notes all freshened up with the juniper and citrus. This is a proper gin to savour!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £48

CABBY’S GIN

This small batch gin was distilled in London by almost by mistake! Cabby’s are well known for their rum and they were debating whether or not to put in some juniper, when they discovered an ideal botanical blend for gin. It’s incredibly refreshing and delicately aromatic with notes of lemon balm, dried herbs and lavender, balanced by more exotic spice notes and all underpinned by just the right amount of Juniper. Buying this will also support a black-owned business. Try the rum too!

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £28.49

TEMPLAR SPIRIT GIN (Daniel Hooper Joker Edition)

If you’re fortunate enough to know a gin collector (they always want to let you taste their latest find!) but are stumped on what to get them for Christmas, then you can’t go wrong with a rare bottle. This striking bottle not only contains a fantastic, classic, smooth London dry gin but how about an actual work of art on the bottle?! Templar Spirits commissioned British artist Daniel Hooper to design and then hand finish each label on this very limited run of 50 bottles of Templar Spirits Gin. If you miss out on this one, fear not, Dan will be working on future limited editions with Templar Spirits.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find Here: £100

GLASWEGIN CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Now, this is the kind of Christmas cracker every gin lover wants to find on the tree! Feel free to add several, dear husband (I hope he’s reading this!). We’ll even let you off that there’s no bad joke or quality plastic jewellery inside! With 8 botanicals including Scottish milk thistle, coriander, orange flower, Italian juniper, angelica, chamomile, bay leaf and pink peppercorns, this smooth and distinct gin is definitely an absolute cracker!

ABV: 41.1%
Size: 50ml
Find here: £7.95

MARKS AND SPENCER SNOW GLOBE GIN

If you’re looking for a gift for that person who loves Christmas, lots of sparkle and a wee liqueur after dinner (gin purists look away!) then they’ll love to receive one of this year’s Marks and Spencer’s collection of Snow Globe Gin Liqueurs. Since they first introduced their sell-out bottles last year, they have expanded their range to include new flavours and even a monster 1.5L bottle that not only lights up to show off the shimmering 24ct edible gold leaf but also plays a festive Christmas tune! From cracker sets to mixed cases, there’s something for everyone on your Christmas list!

ABV: 20%
Size: 50ml to 1.5L
Find here: £32 - £120

CRAFT GIN CLUB SUBSCRIPTION

The gift that keeps on giving! It will give your gin lover surprises all through the year and you MAJOR brownie points! You can purchase a no-contract subscription to the Craft Gin Club that will send that lucky person a gin box from every quarter to every month. This box is great not only for the fabulous gins which are always full size, and often exclusive distillery releases for club members, but the amazing range of extra snacks, cocktail ingredients, tonics, garnishes and the gin magazine that comes with it.

ABV: Variable
Size: 700ml
Find here: £40 per box

ROCK ROSE REFILL REWARDS CLUB

Following on from the subscription idea, Scottish distillers Dunnet Bay have gone one step further and have set up a refill club. All you need is an empty Rock Rose Gin bottle (buy them a full bottle to go with their refill subscription if they don’t already have one) and at intervals of your choosing from 3, 6 and 12 month memberships, they will send a refill pouch along with some other goodies for less than the cost of a bottle. The recipient can change the gins they receive (their Navy strength gin ROCKS) and once they’ve refilled just put the empty pouch directly back in the post to be fully recycled at source….make sure you have drained that pouch!

ABV: 41.5% - 57%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £30-£34 per refill

SECRET GARDEN CHRISTMAS GIN

Working hand in hand with nature being their ethos and with 600 herb varieties in their distillery garden at the foot of the Pentland hills, the folks at The Secret Garden distillery have created this absolute beaut of a Christmas gin that anyone would love to unwrap on the big day. It’s got all of those gorgeous warming Christmas spices, 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar which obviously means extra chocs can be consumed with no guilt, right?! A really simple serve is all that’s needed as this gin speaks for itself so add lots of ice, light tonic and a slice of orange for that perfect festive tipple!

ABV: 39%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £36.95

See our other Christmas guides on red wines, rum, white wine and more!

Great Value Red Wines for Christmas

It’s fair to say that we really are spoiled for choice with wine in the supermarkets these days. Some have really stepped up their game in recent years too, offering great quality, entry-level wines that won’t break the bank as well as some finer classics that even if you’re trading up, would easily cost more elsewhere. Here are some bold and beautiful red wines hand-picked by us for your festive feasting pleasure. 

Graffigna Reserve Malbec

From the higher altitude of Argentina’s Uco Valley, this is quite simply just a darn good Malbec for the money. Rich and chocolatey with a ripe blueberry note. Lovely. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find here from Sainsbury’s: £7

Casa Roscoli Organic Primitivo

Organic and vegan friendly, this is a wonderfully juicy Primitivo. So easy to drink and packed full of plum and blackcurrant fruit with a touch of baking spice. Not too sweet and cloying either. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Zinfandel (Italy)
Find here from Tesco: £8

Specially Selected Amarone

Amarone is making a comeback this winter as we reach for its comforting notes of dark cherry, raspberry and cocoa. This is big and brooding - ideal with beef and hard, truffle cheese. Just what you need in the cold! 

ABV: 15%
Size: 750ml
Find here from Aldi: £12.99

Magnums for celebration

Ramón Bilbao Crianza Rioja Magnum

Nothing says celebration like a big bottle and this is one hell of a crowd pleaser. Think wild strawberry, spice, a touch of licorice and leathery notes starting to appear. A great, reliable producer too and fantastic value.

ABV: 14%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Tempranillo (Spain)
Find here from Tesco: £19

Viñalba Reserve Malbec Magnum

Another classic, reliable Malbec only this time, in a big bottle! Concentrated and inky, this has a lovely texture where graphite meets bramble fruit. Elegantly poised - and a must with meat. 

ABV: 14.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find Here from Tesco: £10 for 750ml (magnum coming soon)

Sparkling Red

Specially Selected Sparkling Shiraz

Yes, you saw that correctly. A sparkling red! Australia has been producing wonderful sparkling Shiraz for years and years. Its slight sweetness makes it a fun, alternative choice for grilled meat and veggies. Serve slightly chilled but not too cold, as well as with meat, It can take some salty, blue cheese too. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Shiraz Blend (South Australia)
Find here from Aldi: £6.99

Sweet Red

Malamado Fortified Malbec (perfect with chocolate truffles or a chocolate log)

Christmas isn’t Christmas without some form of fortified red at the end of the meal, but if Port is a little too much, try this! Made in a similar way to Port, this is a high quality Malbec that has been fortified to 18%. A little softer than Port ‘proper’, this is chocolatey and velvety with notes of raspberry, cherry and spice. Have it with chocolate truffles after dinner - or for dessert - and it will sing! Incredible value from one of Argentina’s best producers.

ABV: 18%
Size: 500ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find here from Tesco: £9

Click here for our other gift guides: Drinks gifts, whisky, rum and great value white wines.

Affordable white wines for Christmas

The Christmas and New Year period is when we’ll be popping more corks than normal. Well, some of us will be!  Thing is, we don't want to break the bank, but we still want the wine to be really darn good. Is this possible? Yes! We’ve done the ‘hard’ work and sipped our way through enough wine this year, so we can bring you the most delicious booze for your buck. Here are some great, special, yet affordable white wines for Christmas.

Eylo Verdejo, Rueda 2020

Vibrant, tropical and zesty, Verdejo is a luscious, Spanish grape that lovers of Sauvignon who want something a bit different will adore. A little fuller-bodied than a Sauvignon, the Eylo has a lush note of smoky guava with its citrusy, crisp goodness. Drink this with goats cheese, white fish and smoked salmon - or just sip it alone. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Verdejo (Spain)
Find here from Laithwaites: £10.99

Tempus Two Quartz Chardonnay, 2020

Modern style, easy drinking, Aussie Chardonnay at its best and by that, we mean fresh and fruity with notes of melon and white peach - not a sickly oak bomb. This is a great food wine that will work with your turkey as well as nutty hard cheeses.  A proper, reliable crowd pleaser. 

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Chardonnay (South Australia)
Find here from Sainsbury’s: £7

Tesco Finest Soave Superiore Classico, 2020 

Soave lost favour as a wine style when Pinot Grigio took over for a while, but it’s finding favour again as a go-to, quality-driven, dry white wine style. Easy with everything, alone or with food, this particular version with its touch of salted almonds will appeal to everyone and at any time. 

ABV: 13%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Garganega (Soave Classico, Italy)
Find here from Tesco: £7.50 (IWSC 2021 Gold Medal Winner) 

Campanula Pinot Grigio, 2020

It’s not every day we recommend Pinot Grigio because to be honest, we were a bit over it. However, Hungary is producing some really fabulous whites at the moment and this little PG is rather good. It has the classic white pear and mineral vibe going on with a lovely balance and texture. Italy, watch your backs! 

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Pinot Grigio (Hungary)
Find here from Laithwaites: £9.99

Chapel Down Chardonnay, 2020

There’s something about Chardonnay grapes in Kent and the sunny 2020 vintage really made them sing! This is a glorious, mid-world style of Chardonnay that has a crispness that Chablis lovers will enjoy with an extra dollop of fruit to keep everyone happy. Peach, melon, a touch of vanilla pod and a cool slick of citrus. Lovely. 

ABV: 11.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Chardonnay (England)
Find here from Majestic £11.99

L’émigre Blanc, Graves, White Bordeaux, 2020

Ok, so £14.99 is not your cheapest wine but for a high class, White Bordeaux it’s actually pretty good value. White Bordeaux will usually be a blend of zesty, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc with the more waxy, weighty Sémillon. The result is rich and intense yet elegant, with a touch of spice. This white Bordeaux is organic with great intensity offering well defined flavours of elderflower, lime and blackcurrant leaf. Its label appeal is big too!

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Sauvignon Blend (Graves - Bordeaux, France)
Find here from Virgin Wines: £14.99

See our other guides on red wines, rum, gin and more!

The Best Rum to Gift This Christmas

Rum has been climbing the popularity rankings again this year with more and more people purchasing it to experiment with in cocktail making at home. From sipping rums to those designed for mixing, we’ve been so impressed with the quality of the rums we’ve tried over the last 12 months, so, without further ado, here are our recommendations for some of the best rums to gift your loved ones this year!

Tidal Rum

A stunning rum that mixes the flavours of the Caribbean with a little bit of the UK. Tidal rum is a blend of rums from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic that has been infused with oak smoked Pepper Dulse seaweed from Jersey of all things! It is sweet and aromatic, with a salty and earthy note to it. Try mixing it up in an Old Fashioned or drinking it with soda and lime. Yum!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £34.95

Worthy Park Reserve 2010 Madeira Cask Finish Rum

One of the first of two double-matured releases to come from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica, this particular rum was distilled in 2010 and then matured for 8 years in ex-bourbon and then 2 years in ex-madeira casks before being bottled in 2020. Was it worth it we hear you ask and our answer is a big YES! It’s sweet and fruity, with hints of caramel, vanilla, pineapple and a slightly spicy edge on the finish. A beautiful sipping rum.

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £58.75

Abuelo XV Cognac Cask ‘Napoleon’ Rum

It’s very hard to go wrong when picking up a bottle of Ron Abuelo and we might actually go as far as to say this is our favourite bottling of theirs yet! Aged for 15 years in barrels which used to hold Napoleon Cognac, this Panamanian Rum is really smooth with extremely deep, rich flavours of fruit and coffee. Try it on the rocks – you won’t be disappointed! 

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £60.89 

Blackwell Rum + Blackwell Rum Truffles

Now, here’s a Christmas combo for the rum lover in your life! Rock and Roll legend (who founded Island Records), hotelier and rum producer Chris Blackwell has collaborated with Charbonnel et Walker to produce some epic rum truffles. Inspired by Jamaica where both Blackwell (who owns GoldenEye) and Charbonnel et Walker Chairman, Galvin Weston, have strong roots and a family heritage, these are dark and rich with a real rum flavour - stunning with a tot of the rum itself. Combining music, rum and chocolate, tucked under the truffle box lid is an exclusive playlist, accessible via a QR code, curated by Blackwell.

Blackwell Rum Truffles: £16 here and at most Charbonnel et Walker concessions.

007 Blackwell Jamaican Rum: $35 / £35 here

World of Zing Festive Cocktails

Designed and crafted by Channel 4 Sunday Brunch cocktail expert Pritesh Mody, World of Zing has launched its boozy Christmas range, which includes Cocktail Christmas Cards, Bottled Christmas Cocktails and Christmas Cocktail Baubles! From Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis to Mince Pie Manhattans, the collection has the perfect tipple for everyone! Oh my goodness. Mince Pie Manhattans…

Bottled Cocktails (500ml) £22-£25 / Cocktail Baubles: From £18.50 per set
Find here: worldofzing.com

Eminente Reserva 7 Year Old Rum

Not only does this rum have a snazzy scaly bottle, it is also an extremely appealing Cuban rum. Made with 100% Cuban sugar cane, it has the freshness of a traditional Cuban white, light rum and the complexity of a more aged one with its notes of rich tobacco, smoke and coffee blending seamlessly with its floral and cherry notes. It works beautifully neat, but just as well in a very posh Dark ‘n’ Stormy if you fancy!
ABV: 41.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £43.95

Havana Club Cuban Spiced Rum

Havana Club does rum and it does rum well. Period. Its Cuban spiced rum is its first spiced expression and it is no exception this rule. Made from a combination of double aged rum complemented by a variety of spices, guava, toasted coconut, vanilla and pineapple, we love mixing this up into a Cuba Libre but to be quite honest it is delicious however you want to try it so get sipping!

ABV: 35%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £21.95

The Salford Spiced Rum

A tribute to the dock workers who brought Caribbean rum into Salford Docks during the 1800s, this small batch rum is expertly infused with vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and Caribbean fruits leading to a beautifully smooth, fruity and spicy rum. Not only is the rum itself amazing, but the bottle is something to write home about too. Designed by local artist “DaveDraws”, it features a really intricate doodle of the Salford dock area. Try it neat, in a rum and coke or if you’re feeling a bit ‘extra’ in a mango Daiquiri!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.90

Liberté Spiced Rum

Before we even get in to how delicious this spiced rum is, we feel the need to point out that it is an absolute steal at only £14.99! A beautiful blend of Trinidadian and Dominican rums aged in ex-bourbon casks, this rum has notes of coffee bean and cocoa powder, vanilla, orange peel and cinnamon. It tastes great sipped alone but works equally as well in a Dark ‘n’ Stormy!

Find in a Lidl Store Near You!

Looking for more? We also have Christmas gin, white wine, red wine, gift sets and luxury whisky guides available!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 72

Another week, another brand-spanking-new podcast awaits and this week we’ve got loads of drinker’s discoveries to share including an interactive bartender and some fun festive drinks that have NOTHING to do with mulled wine! Listen in via the player below!

What’s In Our Glass?

We’ve got a VERY special treat in our glasses this week – Deanston 12 year old Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured whisky. Distilled in 2008 and limited to only 13,227 bottles, this Oloroso cask matured whisky is 52.7% ABV and packs quite a punch. It has a beautiful Christmassy vibe - think gingerbread in a glass! Aidy reckons it would pair perfectly with Black forest gateaux with a bit of lemon in it.

ABV: 52.7%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £79.95

The Third Drinker

The wonderful Eulanda Shead-Osagiede joins us again to chat all about why we eat what we eat, an event of titanic proportions, and what she’ll be serving up this Christmas. Check her out on Instagram at @heydipyourtoesin.

Drinks News

Ever fancied having a robot serve you up a cocktail?! Well, now you can with the invention of Cecilia, a interactive bartender who can serve up 120 cocktails per hour! Find out what Aidy, Helena and Eulanda think about her by tuning in now. That’s not all though, we chat about the world’s first multi-aged blend of reposado and añejo tequila from Maestro Dobel Tequila, wine aged under the sea, the best Buck’s fizz/Mimosas to get your hands on, and what on earth Lillet Blanc is, amongst much more!

And finally…

Mailbag

‘I hate mulled wine but want to drink something festive - What other seasonal drinks can I make?!’. Listen in to hear Aidy, Helena and Eulanda’s suggestions here!

What Are Bitters?

Bitters are often said to be the ‘salt and pepper’ of the cocktail world, and it’s 100% true! Seasoning is incredibly important when it comes to cooking, so why shouldn’t it be when creating drinks? If you’ve been making the same cocktail recipes over and over but feel it’s missing just one touch on the palate - it might be missing bitters!

What are bitters?

But what are bitters? Bitters actually started life as a medicine, with Angostura being one of the first commercially available. They are a spirit that has been infused with very bitter ingredients (hence the name) such as tree bark, bitter herbs and many other flavourings. As they are so incredibly bitter, they are usually sold in small bottles with droppers, meaning you can drop them right into your cocktails!

If you want to step up your mixology game and be producing some top quality cocktails, bitters are the way to go. To help you out we’ve made a list of some bitters our resident mixologist, Aidy Smith, gives the seal of approval to:

Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Perhaps the most iconic bitters there are, the legendary Angostura Aromatic Bitters. These have been used far and wide to spruce up every cocktail you can think of. They’re particularly delicious in whisky cocktails such as a Whisky Sour or an Old Fashioned! Now time for the fun facts:

1)    Angostura was originally created as a medicine by Dr Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a surgeon in Venezuela but it has now ended up in all sorts of drinks! It was said to aid seasickness and stomach issues.

2)    The oversized label that has now become a staple of all Angostura bottles started as an accident. When the founder passed down the brand to his sons for a rebrand, there was a mix up in label and bottle design meaning the label didn’t fit! This mix up ended up making Angostura stand out from the rest, and it continues to this day!

3)    Only 5 people in the world know the recipe!

4)    Pink gin was invented by dropping Angostura into gin as a medicine for the Navy (it’s always the Navy)!

ABV: 44.7%
Size: 20cl
Find it here: £13.10

Angostura Orange Bitters

Though the original bitters were released in 1824, it took Angostura 183 years to release an orange bitters. Even though its history is short, it’s still made an impact on the mixology world and is now one of the most popular orange bitters out there! It too features the oversized label and its blend of Caribbean orange peel, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves is delicious in a rum or whisky based cocktail!

ABV: 28%
Size: 10cl
Find it here: £13.80

Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters

Looking to add a nutty flavour to your cocktails but don’t want to have to blend some nuts and then worry about accidentally finding bits in your cocktail? Instead of worrying, try Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters! They’re a great way to make your cocktails just that bit more unique and add dimension. 

ABV: 6.4%
Size: 15cl
Find it here: £14.18

Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters

Fee Brothers are another brand that really knocks it out of the park with their bitters. Their flavours go on and on, but the two we had to include were the Black Walnut and this, the Aztec Chocolate. It’s been given the name Aztec Chocolate in honour of the Aztec people, who used to drink bitter hot chocolate (or hot cacao) made with caco, spices and peppers. Try these bitters with a rye whisky cocktail!

ABV: 2.6%
Size: 15cl
Find it here: £13.92

Bob’s Vanilla Bitters

Vanilla in a cocktail? Yum! This Vanilla Bitters is great for a sweeter cocktail, as the rich vanilla notes give it a beautiful creamy edge. Try this in a piña colada, or just a simple rum and coke!

ABV: 35%
Size: 10cl
Find it here: UK £17.55

Check out these cocktail recipes for further inspiration… The Most Popular Gin Cocktails, 10 Must-Try Martini Variations and The Best Cocktails to Make with Scotch Whisky.

The 10 Best Martini Variations

The martini is a cocktail that never seems to be out of style. No matter where you look, what TV show or film you’re watching, there’s always one character drinking this classy cocktail. Though some say you can’t beat a classic, at The Three Drinkers we’re always open to some variation and innovation! So without further ado, here’s our list of the top 10 variations on a martini!

The Classic Martini

The first thing you need to know about the classic martini is that it’s made with gin. That’s right - gin. Take that bottle of Grey Goose out of your hand right this instant, you’re not going to be needing it. Before you put vodka anywhere near a martini, have a go at the original recipe. A perfect blend of gin and dry vermouth that will never go out of style, here’s how to make the classic martini.

Ingredients
70ml Bombay Sapphire
15ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
lemon twist or olives for garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a pre-cooled martini glass. Garnish with either a twist of lemon or a couple of olives. Enjoy! 

Helena’s Smoky Martini

Though a smoky martini (using Scotch whisky instead of vermouth) has been knocking around for a while, this martini variation has been a recent favourite of our very own Helena Nicklin - so we’ve renamed it Helena’s Smoky Martini! The whisky gives the martini a significantly more smoky flavour (hence the name), and the savoury notes in the Scotch work perfectly with the botanicals of London Dry gin.

Ingredients
15ml The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked Whisky
60ml London Dry gin
lemon twist for garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir well and strain into a cooled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and enjoy!

Dirty Martini

It’s time to get down and dirty with a classic dirty martini. You’ve probably heard this drink being ordered a few times, but do you know what actually makes it dirty? No, it’s not a handful of dirt, it’s pickle juice! The salty bathwater of olives is an ingredient that while not exactly expected, is as popular as ever. Our salt craving taste buds can’t get enough of the savoury Dirty Martini…

Ingredients
70ml Dima’s Vodka
25ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
15ml pickle juice
pickles for garnish

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with cracked ice, stir vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a pre-cooled martini glass. Garnish with a pickle. Enjoy! 

Bond’s Vesper Martini

We’ve been expecting you… The Vesper, named after Bond character Vesper Lynd, isn’t just a movie invention - no, this cocktail comes straight out of the Bond novels (Casino Royale, published in 1953, to be exact). We even get a fairly comprehensive recipe given to us: “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?”. Unfortunately, Kina Lillet stopped being produced in the 1970s. Since then, Bond lovers and mixologists have bound together to either a) Track down a rare bottle, or b) Find a suitable alternative. As for A, the last known full bottle to exist sits in the Museum of the American Cocktail, but for B, they’ve collectively decided that Cocchi Americano is a great alternative (phew).

Ingredients (according to Bond, James Bond)
3 measures Gordon’s Gin
1 measure vodka
½ measure Cocchi Americano
A large slice of lemon peel for garnish 

Method (according to Drinkers, The Three Drinkers)
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir well until ice-cold. We’re stirring rather than shaking, because shaking dilutes the Vesper too much in our opinion… sorry, James! Garnish with a large slice of lemon peel, got it?

Perfect Martini

In this sense, perfect does not mean ‘the best martini to exist ever’, it actually means that the cocktail has equal parts sweet and dry vermouth. The addition of the sweet vermouth makes this cocktail a little sweeter and gives it a beautiful amber colour. The Perfect martini makes a wonderful aperitif, but could also work as a tasty after dinner drink. Fun vermouth tip: keep the vermouth refrigerated after opening, as vermouth will oxidise and go bad after about a month!

Ingredients
50ml gin
15ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
15ml Antica Formula Carpano Vermouth
orange twist for garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir well and strain into a cooled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of orange and enjoy!

Gibson

The Gibson may have fallen a little out of fashion, but that doesn’t mean it can’t come back into fashion! Though it has a different name, a Gibson is really just a funky name for a martini that’s been garnished with a tiny pickled onion rather than olives or lemon peel. We have to admit, the white onion with the clear cocktail does look pretty stylish and the savoury onion gives the cocktail an umami undertone it might not get otherwise. Try this one out!

Ingredients

70ml Bombay Sapphire
15ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
mini pickled onions for the garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir well and strain into a cooled martini glass. Garnish with a mini pickled onions and enjoy! 

Breakfast Martini

The breakfast martini is an interesting take on a martini, namely because it uses a spoon of marmalade in its creation, but it is definitely worth a try. The trick to mastering this cocktail is using REALLY good marmalade (we’ve heard Paddington Bear gives out great recommendations). The result is an orangey treat you’ll be glad you took a risk on.

Ingredients
1 spoon marmalade
50ml gin
15ml Cointreau
15ml fresh lemon juice
orange peel twist for garnish
small triangle of toast for garnish 

Method
Put the marmalade and gin in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and stir until dissolved (this might take a while). Add the other ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a twist of orange. Slot the tiny toast onto the rim of the glass and enjoy!

French Martini

Oui oui mon ami, c'est le martini français! This delicious, fruity treat will transport you all the way to France with the inclusion of French raspberry liqueur Chambord. We’re not too sure how native pineapples are to France, but all geographical qualms will melt away once you taste the fresh, juiciness of this drink.

Ingredients
60ml vodka
15ml Chambord
45ml pineapple juice (not from concentrate)
slice of pineapple for garnish 

Method
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple. Tchin tchin!

Espresso Martini

You know it, you love it, it’s the in your face bang slam cocktail that the world can’t get enough of, The Espresso Martini. There’s something about that beautiful white foam that glistens on top of this cocktail that is nothing short of mesmerising, and really impressive to serve to friends. If you’ve been too afraid to venture into espresso territory before, why not start now? We assure you that with the right ingredients, the Espresso Martini is nowhere near as scary as it might seem…

Ingredients
40ml Black Cow Vodka
25ml Kahlúa coffee liqueur
25ml cooled espresso
½ tbsp simple syrup
three coffee beans, for garnish 

Method
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans. Enjoy! 

Pornstar Martini

Oh come on, you know we had to include this one. Just the smell of passion fruit liqueur can get you thinking about nights full of raucous fun and bad jokes. You may want to check the stability of your kitchen table before you start serving these, however, as dancing is guaranteed. With the prosecco shot accompaniment, we like to sip it while we drink the cocktail - but you do you.

Ingredients
1 ripe passion fruit, halved
30ml vanilla vodka
30ml Passoa
10ml lime juice
10ml sugar syrup
prosecco, to serve 

Method
Scoop the seeds from half of the passion fruit into the tin of a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, passion fruit liqueur, lime juice and sugar syrup. Add a handful of ice and shake well, strain into a coupe and float half a passionfruit on top. Serve with a shot of prosecco and worry about when to drink it...