The Best Whisky to Gift for Christmas

We all know whisky can take a while to get into, and once you’re in, there are so many delicious styles to try, so buying the right bottle for someone this Christmas is a challenge.

From sweeter, ex-bourbon casks to smoky peat expressions, we’ve sniffed out the best whiskies in each category to gift for Christmas. They’re all bottles that we love, with rave reviews, and crucially, they more than justify their price tags. Let’s start with a wee dram…

The Best Scotch Whisky to Gift for Christmas

Arran Barrel Reserve Whisky

This is a bourbon-matured single malt from, of course, the Isle of Arran, a picturesque place rich with whisky heritage. It’s light and soft, with surprising citrus and crisp green apples, as well as a touch of fiery smoke. The smoothness and distinct profile will be a winner for those wanting to try something a little different.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £34.24

Mac-Talla Terra Whisky

Over to Islay now, for a single malt bringing that signature woody smoke and sea salt. ‘Mac-Talla’ means echo in Gaelic, and ‘Terra’ is Earth, so the name hints at the savoury peat, oaky cinders and peppery earthiness that stretches deep into the finish. Vanilla lifts things up a little too, and makes this one of the more approachable smoky drams.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £47.49

The Best Irish Whiskey to Gift for Christmas

Proclamation Blended Irish Whiskey

Celebrating Ireland’s independence, Proclamation is a glass of history, even down to the ABV which is a nod to the 1916 document’s 7 signatures. The blended liquid itself is really delicious, full of character with créme brulée and fruity caramel infused from bourbon maturation and the sherry finish. Smooth, complex, and fantastically rounded, it’s well worth the hype and top notch value too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41.7%
Find here: £27.49

Kinahan’s The Kasc Project Whiskey

This is a brave exploration of hybrid casks, making use of 5 different woods (Portuguese, American, French, Hungarian oak, and chestnut), all in 1 barrel. Tasting this is such an adventure, with so much depth behind the dark amber hue, and smoothness on every sip. Expect charred tropical fruits, winter spices, nutty undertones, caramel chocolates, and overall, an Irish whisky that draws comparisons to bourbon and cognac.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £33.95

The Best American Whiskey to Gift for Christmas

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey

This is one of the best value whiskies in America, delivering a seductively creamy profile laced with fruity sweetness. The expression is rounded out by being half wheat, 20% malt, 20% corn and a little rye too, so you get great vanilla and rich toasty notes too. Fabulously balanced.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45.2%
Find here: £39.94

WhistlePig PiggyBack 6 Year Old Whiskey

WhistlePig have blazed a trail in the world of rye, bringing it back to the premium positioning it deserves. This was made with cocktails in mind, so for any Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, it’s perfect. It delivers great spice and sharpness, but it’s a smooth ride the whole way, with citrus, ripe fruits and toasted winter spices.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48.3%
Find here: £49.90

The Best Japanese Whisky to Gift for Christmas

Toki Blended Japanese Whisky

This is a blend of The House of Suntory’s 3 distilleries, primarily made of Hakashu single malt and Chita grain whisky, and what an introduction to Japanese whisky it is. It’s light in colour and feel, but full of flavour with lofty vanilla and caramel notes, as well as fruity citrus. It’s approachable and rounded, and therefore very quaffable.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £31.89

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

Nikka Whisky has great oomph with that boosted strength packing lots of precise flavour, hence the awards. Bourbon, sherry, and hogsheads are all used to age it, and the palate punches with winter spice, caramel, and toffee, plus plenty of rich fruit. It doesn’t lack smoothness either, delivering that classic Japanese elegance.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 51.4%
Find here: £40.25

The Best World Whisky to Gift for Christmas

Starward Left-Field Whisky

Whisky from Melbourne is sure to make for an interesting Christmas gift, right? All the ingredients are sourced nearby to the distillery, and that includes the red wine barrels used for ageing. The wine-woodiness quality here is noticeable, rich with dried fruits, maple syrup and baking spice. It isn’t the most complex whisky out there, but it’s super smooth and full of characterful fruity deliciousness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £32.95

Paul John Bold Whisky

This is a fully peated single malt from Paul Distilleries, using quality Islay peat which is brought to Goa to dry their Indian barley. All that work pays off because it’s deliciously intense, playing off peat, fruits and honey harmoniously. The tobacco, coffee and smoke come through at the end for an in-your face Indian whisky that demands your attention.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £39.94 (usually more!)

Lot 40 Rye Whisky

Now for some Canadian rye, and this is a legendary representative of it. Once discontinued, Lot 40 is now back, to the delight of whisky connoisseurs. The rye is earthy and kicks straight away before spices like cardamom and pepper florally unfold alongside vanilla. The spice lingers on the finish as you expect. This is one of the best ryes around this price, if not the best.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £37.99

Mackmyra Svensk Rök (Swedish Smoke) Whisky

The fundamentals of this whisky sort of explain themselves – it’s from Sweden, and it’s packed full of smoky peat. The nose is expected but lovely, but there is a bright juniper note in the mouth that comes out of left field, before a smoky, aniseed finish. If you know someone who’s into peaty Islay numbers, then this is a great twist to give them.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 46.1%
Find here: £48.65

We’ve been busy bees lately, working to get Christmas guides and recommendations for tonnes of drinks on the website, so you can deliver a memorable gift that hits the spot. Perhaps you’re looking for unique bottles that stand out? Or maybe you know a gin lover? Or rum? They’re all there and more on the site.

The Best Tequila to Gift This Christmas

Tequila is probably the most understood spirit in the world, and if you want to convert someone to the agave side, then these delicious bottles will just do that.

Forget shots, forget throat burn, and forget salted rims, these are stand-out tequilas in each style that will win doubters around and appeal to agave connoisseurs all the same. Vamos!

Best Blanco Tequila to Gift for Christmas

Gran Centenario Plata Tequila

This beautiful Blanco does the simple things well, using 10-year-old agave cooked in stone ovens, before distillation and oak ageing. It’s such a smooth ride, with cooked agave up front, and very subtle hints of pepper and earth. The bottle makes an instant impression too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £38.45

Calle 23 Blanco Tequila

This is a deliciously pure expression of premium Blanco, unashamedly thrusting the seductively smooth cooked agave into the spotlight. Tropical citrus, pepper and herbaceous notes do add depth, but the lack of age means it’s all about that agave, delivering a clean and characterful liquid.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £42.95 (usually more!)

Fortaleza Blanco Tequila

The family-run Fortaleza’s Blanco is a well-respected benchmark in tequila, and a go-to of many agave aficionados. 100% stone crushed agave backed up by buttery olive and cracked pepper, combined with one of the most charming bottles going, make this a stellar gift for someone who knows their tequila.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £59.95

Best Reposado Tequila to Gift for Christmas

Cazcabel Reposado Tequila

Cazcabel have a stunning portfolio, and their Reposado is some of the best there is below £30. The spicey warmth of the pepper and the silky caramel really come through from 9 months of oak ageing, pairing with the earthy crispness of the agave flavour wonderfully.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £28.49

Tiempo Tequila Reposado Cristalino

Using Blue Weber agave from Los Altos and Tequila Valley, this is a double distilled Reposado that matures in oak for 8 months. During that time, butterscotch and caramel infuse with juicy agave and unlike many Reposados, it’s filtered after ageing for velvety mouthfeel – the complexity survives though.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.45

Casamigos Reposado Tequila

With Clooney originally behind it, this was a trailblazing ‘celebrity drink’ that came through with quality, unlike some. The anonymous master distiller is working wonders, delivering a fresh and vibrant Tequila that’s not far off an añejo profile. Vanilla and sweet tropical fruits come through invitingly, as does a touch of oak-y spice and the gentlest waft of smoke. It's so smooth and complex than many drink it neat.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £62.94

Best Añejo Tequila to Gift for Christmas

El Jimador Tequila Añejo

Onto the añejo now, and El Jimador’s is aged for a year in oak to infuse with those rich, vanilla woody notes, whilst retaining the signature agave flavour. It’s quite light, citrusy, and floral for an añejo, but the spice and caramel does come through towards the finish. It straddles the styles nicely, and is best-selling for a reason.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £30£30.9595

VIVIR Tequila Añejo

VIVIR’s Añejo is absolutely saturated with five-star reviews, and we get why. 12-year-old Blue Weber are blended with local volcanic spring water, before 18 months of ex-bourbon cask ageing, and the result is stand-out richness brimming with fudgy butterscotch and buttery vanilla. Thyme and peppermint fill out the profile, but there’s also stoney minerality, peppery heat and of course, that roasted agave. There is so much going on, but everything is softly integrated and so smooth. This is a bottle that will turn even the most doubtful drinker on to tequila.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £58.99

ArteNOM Selección de 1146 Tequila Añejo

This tequila stands out on the shelf, as does the first sip. It’s produced by Tequileña Distillery in Jalisco, and aged partially in Cabernet Franc barrels, before ex rye whiskey casks finish the job. The serious complexity is poised precisely, revealing layers of plentiful vanilla, dark chocolate, fudge, allspice, and fresh zest. Earthy coffee and nuts are there too. It’s very oaky, reminiscent of a whisky in some ways, and would therefore be a great tequila to try for a whisky lover.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £79.95

Best Extra Blended Tequila to Gift for Christmas

Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila

11 generations of tequila mastery power this tequila, which might be the world’s first crystal clear multi-aged tequila. The colouring of the extra añejo, añejo and reposado is filtered out, but what’s left is the creamy mouthfeel and complexity all that ageing brings. The layers just keep showing themselves, with honey, maple and nuts decorating the great agave flavour. A special blend indeed.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £53.76 (usually more!)

If you’re in need of more memorable bottles for Christmas gifts, then we’ve got tonnes of guides up on the website right now. Looking for unique bottles that stand out? Or perhaps gin to gift? Or rum? Find them and more!

The Best Sherry to Sip on this Christmas

Far, far too many drinkers are disregarding Sherry as an overly sweet, fortified wine that only your Nan drinks and missing out on a really varied and delicious world.

With Christmas coming up, there is no better time to give it another go, because between the tangy crispness of the paler expressions, and the richer complexity of the darker liquids, you’re bound to find one you fall in love with.

We’ll touch on the styles as we go, but for a more detailed breakdown, check out our handy ABC Guide to Sherry Styles.

Fino

Tio Pepe Fino

When it comes to Sherry, Fino is the epitome of bone-dry crispness. Palomino fino grapes (hence the name) are what’s used, and this Tio Pepe Fino is so dry, with no sweetness. Instead, it cuts through with salted almonds and umami touches, and makes an incredible dance partner with salty snacks. It won’t be for everyone, but those that love it really love it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £13 Sainsbury’s (£10 Nectar price)

Manzanilla

M. Antonio de la Riva Manzanilla Fina Miraflores Baja N.V.

Manzanilla styles like this take on the salts in the soil and the air from being made in the port of Sanlúcar, as well as humidity meaning more yeast (flor), and therefore more protection against oxygen… meaning supreme lightness and freshness. This is a particularly complex Manzanilla, with nutty, olive-y lightness and salinity right through to the finish.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £24.50

Amontillado

Gonzalez Byass Vina AB Amontillado

Amontillado Sherry takes up a similar position to Fino, but with more exposure to oxygen in the oak barrels (butts) and longer ageing, there’s a noticeably darker colouring and complexity, with richer, nutty flavours. This Gonzales Byass is a fantastic representative of the style, bringing super smooth, intense, almonds and raisins. The nose is sweeter than the palate, which is wonderfully dry, with a savoury umami profile.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 16.5%
Find here: £16.50

Palo Cortado

Very Rare Palo Cortado

This style falls somewhere between Amontillado and Oloroso, delivering freshness from the former, and complex body from the latter. It’s the trendiest style of Sherry if you want to look like you know what you’re talking about, and this bottle is delivers dry intensity with citrus tang, as well as plummy almond notes.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 19%
Find here: £8.50

Pedro Ximenez

San Emilio Pedro Ximenez Solera Reserva Emilio Lustau - HALF BOTTLE

PX is where you go for your sweetness, named after the grape, that makes it, and therefore standing out from the other styles. Semi-dried grapes give all that natural sweetness, the texture is far treaclier, and the colour is an extremely dark red. The prestigious Lustau are behind this indulgent Sherry, filled out with lush chocolatey raisins, dried figs and toffee.

Size: 375ml
ABV: 17%
Find here: £13.65

Oloroso

Sandeman Armada Superior Cream Oloroso Sherry

One of the most famous styles, Olorosos like this develop because of a lack of yeast (flor), so you get a deliciously dark, rich, and complex expression like this mahogany gem, with notes like cocoa and fig popping up and a velvety lingering aftertaste.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 17.5%
Find here: £11

If you’re after more recommendations for drinkers to stock up on this Christmas, or perfect gifts,  then we’ve got tonnes of guides up on the site now, like Rum, Gin and Champagne.

The Best Vodka to Gift for Christmas 2023

Born in Russia and Eastern Europe, Vodka is now produced almost everywhere, and the quality has never been higher. Despite that, there are still a lot of misconceptions about this pure spirit, so if you want to win someone over who disregards it as throat burner, or if you just want to buy a vodka lover something special, we’ve got the best bottles for you here…

The Best Vodka to Gift Under £30

Zubrówka Bison Grass Vodka

Zubrówka is a stunningly smooth vodka at this price, which is infused with Hierochloe Odorata grass, and in case you forget there’s even a blade of it in the bottle. If you want to inform your vodka lover of the backstory, then it’s a grown in the Bialowieza Forest– home to the beast on the bottle, Polish Bison. It’s not just a gimmick though, because the rye spirit is strained through it, hence the green hue. As you might guess, there’s plenty of herby, aromatic notes coming and going, like cut grass, lavender, subtle citrus, and peppercorns. It’s completely unique and the colouring/grass is eye catching for a gift, but more importantly the actual liquid is as smooth and delicious as vodkas twice the price.

Size: UK 700ml / US 1L
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £22.24 / US £26.99

Reyka Vodka

We can’t get enough of Reyka, because they’ve managed to be one of the world’s most environmentally friendly vodkas, with glacial spring water and geothermal heat), but they’ve also excelled in the vodka itself, and all for under £30 too. It feels full, clean and creamy with gentle vanilla notes and peppery spice, and the icy purity is exceptional.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £26.99 / US $19.99

Baller Vodka

From the producers of Renegade Gin comes Doghouse distillery’s Baller, a 100% wheat vodka distilled in London. It’s unfiltered, so carries a lot more flavour than most vodkas, hitting hard with creamy vanilla, whilst retaining smoothness and purity. Follow in the footsteps of the dog on the bottle and take a gamble on it – you (or your giftee) won’t be disappointed.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £28.45

The Best Vodka to Gift Under £40

Cîroc Pineapple Vodka

Anyone into Vodka knows Cîroc, and their pineapple expression adds some sunshine to the original. It’s distilled five times over from frozen French grapes, before the bright pineapple flavour is introduced through crushed fruits, not flavouring. It’s delicious on its own, but can also completely switch up cocktails or simple serves like vodka and lemonade.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: UK £31.95 / US $32.99

Tom of Finland Organic Vodka

The leather-clad moustached man front and centre of this distinct bottle is a nod to Touko Laakosen, a gay icon who made huge artistic contributions to gay culture in the 20th century, focusing on masculinity and homoeroticism and breaking down barriers. The liquid inside is a small batch production of old Finish family-run producer Lignell & Piispanen, distilled fiver times for zero throat burn. A little rye spice tops up of a vodka built around it’s silkiness, and proceeds from each purchase go to the Tom of Finland Foundation too.

Size: UK 500ml / US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £35 / US $35.99

G.H.Q. Vodka

There is only so much we can tell you about G.H.Q Vodka because it’s handcrafted at an unknown location in the Scottish Highlands. The distiller is unknown, as are the recipes, but we know Cairngorm water is used, and we also know that the result is splendid. Creaminess, subtle minerality and herbal hints, and even hazelnut and honey come through. Refreshing and so beautifully rounded off.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £37.95

Broken Clock English Vodka

They say a Broken Clock is right once twice a day, but this tastes right every time. Produced by one of England’s oldest distilleries, Hidgate’s Broken Clock takes inspiration from this heritage. Russet apples and garden botanicals are used, in accordance with old Georgian recipes, delivering a vodka oozing in character and bittersweet, herbaceous flickers.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.95

The Best Vodka to Gift Under £50

Chase Aged Marmalade Vodka

What we have here is a 100% potato vodka, made in England, infused with zesty Seville marmalade, so its origins are a bit all over the place, but the end produced is a flavoured vodka that really comes together. It’s sweet, refreshing, with a bitter tang and all the while, retaining ultimate refreshment.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £41.45

X Muse Vodka

This Scottish vodka blends two heritage barley varieties, taking fruity notes in both cooked and fresh directions. The silky texture is always there, and the mouthfeel feels instantly impressive with its intoxicating viscosity. This is one of those vodkas that wins doubters of the spirit around.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £57.24

Crystal Head Aurora Vodka

Aurora launched in 2016, after the success off Crystal Head’s original release. It uses super high quality English wheat, which blends with Newfoundland water for an additive-free vodka. The tasteful purity is achieved through five distillations and seven filtrations, three of which involve Herkimer diamonds. It has a touch more spice than the original, and the bottle has more colour, to celebrate the Aurora Borealis (aka the Northern Lights). The perfect luxury vodka gift inside and out.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £66.99 / US $55.99

If you’re after more gifts, then we’ve got tonnes of guides up on the site now, for example Rum and Gin.

The Best Champagne to Drink this Christmas

If Christmas is about indulgence (which we think it is, amongst other things of course), then it’s the perfect time of year to open some beautiful bottles, and it doesn’t get more luxurious than Champagne. Sparkling wine is a mainstay of Christmas drinking, and for that special touch of elegance, Champagne is festive fizz royalty.

However, as everyone knows, it doesn’t come cheap, so you want to be sure that you’re spending your money on quality liquid. We’ve scouted out the best Champagne to drink this Christmas, starting with tremendous value and finishing with unforgettable masterpieces. Let’s the pop the cork and get started.

Telmont Reserve Brut

A three-way blend of the classic Champagne grapes, this elegant Telmont was awarded the Gold Medal at the Champagne Masters in 2022, praised for its weighty palate flickering with desserts like créme brulee, baked apple and almond tart. It’s big and round with lively bubbles, but balanced by a cool, saline core.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £46.99

Veuve Clicquot Brut (Carte Jaune) Champagne

A respected and reliable name in Champagne, this NV Veuve Clicquot brings heaps of rich biscuity flavour, but also a lot of white fruits and a finish that lingers for an age. It’s a famously delicious Champagne, and it completely delivers with well put together balance and smooth cleanliness. Cracking price too, and you can pick it up in most supermarkets.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £48.50

Laurent-Perrier Brut Cuvee Champagne Rose

This is distinctly bottled fruit-dominated Champagne Rose uses only Pinot Noir from grand cru vineyards, delivering a lively but precise expression. Cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and currants are unavoidable, filling the body out nicely, but the bubbles are busy throughout and there’s the perfect touch of racy acidity too. Pink heaven.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £58

Billecart Salmon Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Grand Cru

100% Chardonnay here, and it’s all from five different grand cru villages, intertwining seductively for a complex, flavourful but elegant expression. The inviting nose carries a bouquet of white flowers and stone fruits, and the first sip reveals a palate that’s intense and creamy, with buttery brioche, lively acidity and citrus hints, before chalky minerality on the finish. Staggering depth and perfect poise.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £72

Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne Grand Cru Brut

Duval-Leroy was one of the first Champagne houses to be HVE3 certified (great sustainability basically), and the attention to that goes into every stage of the production process is astonishing. This cuvée was bottle aged for 17 years, and possibly more if you decide to leave it that way. Opening it up though, expect a sumptuous complexity – biscuity bread, florality and apricot, fading into hazelnut and orange peel before a long-tailed finish. The finesse throughout is otherworldly.  

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £96

Bollinger B13 Champagne 2013

Without question, one of the great Champagne houses, this is Bollinger’s Blanc de Noirs from 2013. The nose reveals quince and stone fruits, and even a subtle waft of smoke as the toast comes through. It’s big, bold flavourful Champagne with pear, almonds, candied lemon but an earthy almost truffle hint too. Rich, razor sharp, in your face and a mineral finish – delightful.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £99.95

Lanson Noble Champagne Brut Vintage 2004

This is an expressive vintage showcasing the alluring delicacy of the Chardonnay grape merging with the cushiony, deep Pinot Noir, the scents of lemon, pear, and plum pull you in, before the biscuity, hazelnut, apricot palate blows you away. The stunning freshness is why so many wax lyrical about this Champagne, and why it holds such a prestigious position.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £142

Lanson Noble Champagne Blancs de Blancs 2004

Light, seductive, and utterly memorable, Lanson Blanc de Blancs 2004 would make for a very special Christmas celebration indeed. It’s everything the Côte des Blancs terroir does best – charm, finesse, purity, and freshness. Vanilla toffee carries on the nose. The palate is light and creamy, delicately hinting at almond biscuits and candied lemon, before a zesty, saline finish stretching off into the distance. A Chardonnay masterclass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £155

If you’re looking for something closer to home this Christmas, then there has never been a better time to dip your toe into the flourishing English Fizz market, so try these incredible English Sparkling Wines leading the way.

Supermarket Wine Bargains: Morrisons December 2023

 Morrisons have got some eye-catching deals on wines we love this December, so we’ve picked out the best bargain bottles that we love. There’s crisp whites, fruity reds and refreshing rosés, and every single one comes in at under £10, so they’re absolute must tries.

Morrisons Red Wine Discounts December 2023

Mucho Mas Black Label Red

Between Madrid and Cadiz lies Félix Solís, one of the largest family-owned wineries in the world, and this is their easy-drinking red. It’s juicy with ripe plums, berries, and figs, rounded out by vanilla and pepper and is a solid mid-week red for this price.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £7 (usually £8.50)

Greasy Fingers Luscious Red

This is moreish blend of Australian Shiraz and Grenache is a mainstay of multiple UK supermarkets because of its popularity. The Grenache brings delicious sweetness, and the Shiraz fills out the expression with rich, fruity flavours. Smooth and food-friendly too.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £8 (usually £10)

19 Crimes The Banished

This famous series is inspired by the people shipped to Australia in the 18th century for a life of hard labour and the generations that came from them. It’s full-bodied and full of fruit – think plum, cherry, and blueberry, with touches of leathery smoke. Forget delicate, this is intense and inky and demands you pay it attention.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9 (usually £10)

Carnivor Zinfandel

This is exactly what you want from a California Zinfandel – robust, nicely structured, and jammy. With a myriad of dark fruity flavours and gentle spice, it screams carnivore companion.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £9 (usually £10.50)

Morrisons White Wine Discounts December 2023

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Oyster Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc is a rock steady Marlborough expression, bright and light with grapefruit citrus and acidic zip. Serve it chilled to extract all that clean, zesty refreshment and you’re laughing for a tenner.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £7.99 (usually £11)

Workshop Mastercraft Sauvignon Blanc

This is another Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc punching above its price point, carrying herbaceous grassy hints, passion fruit, and concentrated gooseberries and peaches. Zesty acidity meets fruity sweetness, with a touch of peppery spice at the end – it’s easy to love.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £8 (usually £11.50)

Te Pā Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc

Yet another Marlborough option, Te Pā is rich with ripe guava, nectarine, gooseberry and most noticeably, passion fruit. This tropical ripeness leads into chalky minerality and a crisp and pure finish that is very satisfying indeed.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £8 (usually £10)

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection

A distinct herbaceous nose invites you into this Marlborough white, which blossom into a zesty grapefruit palate that leaves a natural, pure, and crisp impression. Lychee, pear and soft acidity fill out the profile for a balanced and flavourful Sauvignon.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £10 (usually £13)

Morrisons Rosé Discounts December 2023

Mirabeau Forever Summer Rose

Maison Mirabeau are specialists in Provence Rosé, making the absolute most of their sun-drenched vineyards. Notes of nectarine and rose fill out a summery nose, and the palate is a deliciously dry and crisp red berry parade.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £9 (usually £11)

Freixenet Italian Rose

Shimmer, shimmer, these Freixenet bottles have become a familiar sight, and their Italian Rosé is well worth picking up. It’s made from Corvina and Garganega Blanc, the classic Veneto grapes, exuding a pink perfume of cherries and strawberries. Flowery, soft apricots are noted before a strong strawberry finish, and all in all, it’s very good stuff for £9.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £9 (usually £10)

Castillo D'Ibiza Rose

Inside this beautifully curvaceous bottle is a dry, pale Rosé from Pernod Ricard in Spain, blending Tempranillio and Garnacha grapes for zingier, tart refreshment than you might expect. Citrus and minerality come through with the same intensity as the strawberry, which makes this one of the better food-friendly options.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £9.50 (usually £12.50)

We have Supermarket Wine Bargains on the website for most of the UK supermarkets, and we’re always busy updating them when the latest offers arrive so keep your eyes peeled for not only Morrisons’ next bargain wines, but Aldi, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s etc. too.

The Best Rum to Gift for Christmas 2023

White Rum, Dark Rum, Flavoured Rum and Spiced Rum, we’ve got the perfect Christmas recommendations for each to please the rum drinkers in your life.

The rum shelves are stacked at this time of year and picking out a bottle to gift can be daunting, but no more rumming and ahing, because we’ve picked out the rums that receive rave reviews from everybody.

The Best White Rum to Gift for Christmas

El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum

This is tremendous rum for the price, using the traditional method of Demerara sugar which comes through luxuriously in the expression. It is still mightily fresh and crisp though, which white rum drinkers want, and this balance explains all the awards.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £23.95

Sunset Very Strong Rum

No, that isn’t a typo, this is 84.5% ABV, and therefore makes for a striking Christmas gift indeed. It’s molasses distilled from Saint Vincent, but don’t be thinking that this is just pure alcohol and that’s it. It’s a serial award winner for a reason, but not when treated like a 40% rum. It demands respect, and when served with a lot of mixer, or into cocktails and punches, it shines. Surprisingly smooth with a gorgeous warm glow, carrying sugary spice and coca notes on the finish, it’s more than just a throat burning gimmick.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 84.5%
Find here: £47.99

The Best Dark Rum to Gift for Christmas

Ron Barceló Gran Añejo Rum

Añejo is a categorisation we’re more used to seeing on tequila bottles, but in this case it’s applied to a stunningly smooth Dominican rum brimming with delicious sweetness. Espresso, dark chocolate, and roasted hazelnuts bring a richer, darker quality to the manuka honey, to create a rum bursting with flavour. Connoisseurs love it!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £26.99 (usually more!)

Pusser's 'Gunpowder Proof' Black Label Rum

A rebrand of the original Blue Label, this brings the same silky complexity as that did. You’re looking at a traditional high proof dark rum in the British Naval mould, using authentic recipes. The warm flavour is intoxicating, and it really punches through with full-bodied dried syrupy fruits.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 54.5%
Find here: £37.40

The Best Spiced Rum to Gift for Christmas

The Duppy Share Spiced Rum

Duppy Share have excelled in delivering exceptional taste without overbearing sweetness with this spiced rum. It means, ‘Angel’s Share’ referencing the evaporation within the rum barrels. A rich blend of spices merge with kola nuts and pineapple, but there’s so much depth with vanilla, white chocolate, caramel, and ginger, as well as tangy citrus. Gorgeous Caribbean bottle too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £25.99

Golden Buck Rum

Golden Buck Rum brings a boiled sweet vibe with its cherry and vanilla infusion giving a creamy and fruity taste that stands out from other rums. Tropical pineapple and rich brown sugar come through too, and it’s just as delicious as it sounds. It has all those sweet flavours, but with maturity and authenticity and seems to go down a storm with anyone that tries it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £34.58

The Best Flavoured Rum to Gift for Christmas

Bombo 40 Rum - Caramel & Banana

The caramelised banana flavour is deliciously complimentary to the core richness of the Bombo 40 Rum, completely coating your mouth. If you know someone that loves sweet rum, then this really is perfect because there’s no going away from it, it is very sweet. After a few servings, it gets a little too sickly but a few serves just with ice is such an indulgent treat.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £27.95

Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

This a gorgeous rum that embraces the Christmas spirit with bright clementines that cut through the richness harmoniously. It has a fair whack of sweetness too, but it’s natural and tastes it. Forget any throat burn, it’s pure smooth spiced rum with the distinct clementine twist, and it would make a cracking gift for a spiced rum drinker.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £28.75 (usually more!)

We’ve got a tonne of Christmas present guides all across our website currently, like our Gin one for example, so do check out these for other present recommendations!

The Best Gin to Gift for Christmas 2023

Gin is the dominant spirit at the moment, and it makes for a fantastic Christmas present because it probably has the most beautiful bottles in the drinks industry.

We’ve searched high and low for gins of all styles, Aged, London Dry, Navy Strength, Old Tom and Flavoured, that gin lovers will adore. From delicious simplicity to tasty innovation, these are gins that will raise eyebrows in the best way possible from the minute they’re unwrapped.

Best Cask Aged Gin to Gift for Christmas

Kyrö Dark Gin

It’s not just the easy-on-the-eye packaging that makes this gin stand out, but also the golden hue we normally associate with rum or whisky. From Finnish wholegrain, it’s been cask aged in American oak for a year. The aroma makes an instant impression, with aromatic oak and sandalwood, soft vanilla, sweet zesty citrus and of course, peppery heat from the rye. Kyrö’s aim was to make a gin perfect for winter, and this is so good that it might just be the answer all year round.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 42.6%
Find here: £32.95

Campfire Cask Aged Gin

This is a Bourbon barrel finished gin, that swaps out oaky, woody ageing for those gorgeous Bourbon notes – think vanilla and silky caramel. The gentle herby fragrance and tart lemon round off the sweetness, with blossom, spice and juniper adding some gin familiarity, and roasted hazelnut giving extra flavour and mouthfeel. Award-winning creativity.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £42.49

Best London Dry Gin to Gift for Christmas

East London Liquor Co. Gin

The minimalist label and crystal-clear hue leads you to wonder what lies within, and the answer is a notably, impressively balanced and flavoursome London Dry that may well become a go-to. The botanical run down is a who’s who of gin fundamentals, from the citrusy, coriander, angelica nose, to the bright citrus, juniper, and cardamom spice on the palate, before the oily, refreshing juniper at the end. Reliable with all tonics, all cocktails and bold enough for solo sipping too – and incredible value.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £24.95 (usually more!)

KYNGS London Dry Gin

This is a delightful small-batch Welsh gin, delivering a robust, classic profile that’s masterfully made, Vibrant orange citrus plays off with subtle spice and sturdy juniper in the spotlight. It’s crisp and clean, with delicate refreshment and the perfect ambassador for why simplicity can be delicious. Oh, and there’s the small matter of the lion on top of the bear – that’s because 25% of profits are donated to conservation schemes. Bravo KYNGS.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £34.99

Best Navy Strength Gin to Gift for Christmas

HMS Victory Navy Strength Gin

This is a gin really putting the Navy in Navy Strength, made by the Isle of Wight distillery in association with The National Museum of the Royal Navy. The ship, if you know your history, was Nelson’s at the Battle of Trafalgar, and is docked in Portsmouth a few miles away... and some sales go towards its restoration. The hefty booze is softly integrated for a smooth drinking experience and hearty juniper kick. The rave reviews this gets are impressive, so it’s sure to make a top notch gift.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57%
Find here: £49.94

Bathtub Gin - Navy-Strength

Serial award winner and absolute beauty of bottle, Bathtub Gin’s Navy Strength edition hits heavy, with that 57% apparent from the off, though it is tempered by vivid, up-front citrus. The four c’s follow (cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, and clove) with intensity, and the flavour just lingers forever. A wonderful gift for someone, especially if they loved the original.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57%
Find here: £49.95

Best Old Tom Gin to Gift for Christmas

House of Botanicals Classic Old Tom Gin

Just what the Doctor ordered, because this is Dr. Adam Elmegirab’s first venture into gin after mastering bitters. Moroccan saffron, chamomile flowers and muscovado sugar are added to botanical fundamentals like angelica, orris, coriander, cassia, almond, and citrus peels. The result is serious flavour, with full-bodied juniper jostling with floral and fruity sweetness and a moreish vein of spice throughout. Magical Old Tom.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £30.94

Lytham Bee's Knees Old Tom Gin

Sandgrown Spirits add this Old Tom to the Lytham Gin range, and Bee’s Knees isn’t just a brag, it’s also a nod to the raw honey used, which really does come through with sweetness in the end product. Lavender, pink pepper and lime balance out a smooth and flavoursome gin that goes down a treat.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £42.95

Best Flavoured Gin to Gift for Christmas

Mermaid Zest Gin

This alluring Isle of Wight gin delivers a true taste of the island, embracing samphire from the nearby coast, bergamot, rosemary, and Boadicea hops. All in all, the vivid refreshment is so moreish, with herbaceous notes joining zesty citrus for a shining seaside star of a gin.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £35.49

Stonewall Pink Rhubarb Gin

£1 from every bottle sold goes to Stonewall UK to support the LGBTQ+ community, but importantly, the gin inside is absolutely stunning too. Stonewall’s London Dry intertwines with rhubarb bringing a tasty tartness to proceedings, marrying the sweet, tropical touches and spiced finish happily. It feels luxurious and supports great work – a complete win win.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £36.95

If you have other people to buy for who aren’t gin fans, then fear not because we’ve got Christmas present guides all across our website currently, as well as the best drinks to get in as host. Looking for unique bottles that stand out? Or boxed wine for the countertop? Find these guides and more on the website.