Christmas 2021 alcohol guide: unique gift sets, presents and bottles

A Fine Christmas Malt by The Whisky Exchange — (Image credit: The Whisky Exchange)

With Christmas just around the corner now is the time to get those last-minute gifts for adult friends and family members.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve cocktail recipes Tried and tasted: wonderful whiskies from around the world

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This limited-edition tipple is an ideal drink for winter and was created by infusing gingerbread biscuit, cardamom and cinnamon flavours with Captain Morgan’s spices. It can be enjoyed hot or cold, but for the classic serve, pour 25ml of Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced over ice and finish with 100ml of cola. Another option is to mix 25ml of Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced with apple juice - warm the juice to make it extra Christmassy.

That Boutique-y Gin Company’s Yuletide Gin is unmistakably festive. Its 24 botanicals include juniper, cassia, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and Christmas tree needles, plus distillates made from Christmas cake, chestnuts, Christmas pudding, Lebkuchen, mince pies, Panettone, an entire gingerbread house, and frankincense and myrrh. As if it wasn’t festive enough, edible gold flakes added post-distillation transform Yuletide Gin into a snow globe.

There’s no doubt that port is a Christmas favourite so why not gift a loved one a membership to the newly-launched Port.Club by Churchill’s. Members receive quarterly deliveries of three bottles (including one exclusive Club Port), as well as access to unique travel and education experiences. As a special launch offer, anyone who buys a membership can gift an additional pack for free (value £70) to someone for Christmas.

Every great home cocktail bar needs spirits and mixers, but it also requires essential items to create and serve your favourite festive tipples. British jeweller and silverware designer Theo Fennell has a range of barware products which are perfect for at-home cocktail-making. Featured items include a silver ice bucket (£6,950); silver liquer goblet (£1,250); a smoke crystal decanter and glasses cased set (£7,250); and a silver cocktail shaker and ruby crystal glasses set (£3,950, pictured).

If you need to give your winter mornings a bit of a kick then a spirit-infused coffee may just do the trick. Fire Dept. Coffee has created four signature brews which combine the flavours of bourbon, whiskey, rum, or tequila with its best coffee beans. Run by active and retired firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee’s products are roasted and shipped from its base in Rockford, Illinois, USA. Delivery is available to the UK and 10% of net proceeds are donated to help first responders that have become sick or injured while on the job.

Diageo’s 2020 Special Releases Collection of limited edition cask strength whiskies is now available as a tasting set. Inspired by the theme “Rare by Nature”, the collection contains eight 50ml bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sourced from some of Scotland’s most interesting distilleries. Whiskies include: Cardhu 11-Year-Old; Cragganmore 20-Year-Old; Dalwhinnie 30-Year-Old; Lagavulin 12-Year-Old; Mortlach 21-Year-Old; Pittyvaich 30-Year-Old; Talisker 8-Year-Old; and The Singleton of Dufftown 17-Year-Old. Only 250 limited edition tasting sets are available.

Just in time for Christmas, J&B Rare has created a limited-edition seasonal sours collection cocktail kit, in collaboration with Cocktail Porter. The kit includes all the ingredients to shake up six whisky sour cocktails, including two Burnt Pineapple Sours, two Walnut & Cinnamon Sours and two Spiced Apple Sours. Simply shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a rocks glass.

Old Pulteney, “The Maritime Malt”, has partnered with sustainable supplier Fish To Your Door to create an “at home” whisky and seafood experience for the festive season. Featuring a selection of ready to eat seafood alongside whisky, hamper one (£115) includes: Old Pulteney 12 Years Old (70cl) Single Malt Scotch Whisky; oysters; an oyster shucking knife; smoked salmon; dressed crabs; and a cooked or dressed lobster. With ready to cook fresh seafood in addition to whisky, hamper two (£225) includes: Old Pulteney 12 Years Old; oysters; smoked salmon; fresh fish fillets; hot smoked salmon fillets; cooked lobsters; scallops; white crab meat; smoked mackerel; king prawns; and dressed crabs. Both hampers are available for UK-wide delivery.

Scottish company Brewgooder has launched a panto-themed selection box of four beers to raise money to support actors and theatre workers who have found themselves out of work this Christmas due to the pandemic. Each limited-edition “Panto In A Box” selection pack will include beers from Brewgooder, The Wild Beer Co, Mondo Brewing and The Gipsy Hill Brewing Company, as well as theatre snack favourites from Love Popcorn and Tony’s Chocolonely. Beer lovers will also have the chance to watch an exclusive online performance of an original pantomime, Jack & The Beer Hops, written by award-winning Scottish author and playwright Johnny McKnight. Featuring the characters of Dame Mother Goose, her plucky daughter Jack, and “fatcat” Bawrus Wetherspun, the satirical performance will be hosted on the Brewgooder website from 12 December to 31 December. Proceeds from Panto In A Box will be donated to The Theatre Artists Fund.

With a limited print run of just 1,000 hand-numbered copies, The Art in Whisky makes a truly memorable, and unique, gift this Christmas. The 256-page book includes more than 350 timeless photographs by award-winning photographer Jon Purcell which capture the “art” in creating whisky. Exploring the best of both old and new world whisky, readers are taken on a visual journey through the entire crafting process - from grain to bottle to glass.

Cocktail bar Mr Fogg’s has teamed up with Remy Cointreau brands for a range of Christmas gift sets this year. Each cracker cocktail kit is filled with quirky surprises and traditional items including hats and jokes alongside the two cocktail serves. Pre-batched seasonal tipples include Cointreau Christmas Margarita, Snow Queenie Martini, Lady Marmalade, Nick’s Mulled Nip and Reindeer Fuel Espresso.

For this collectable limited-edition set, Armand de Brignac has turned its handcrafted wooden lacquered gift box “Harrods green”. It is the first time that the prestige brand has changed the outer colour of its box and the first time Harrods has collaborated on a special edition champagne. Just 300 of the Harrods Édition Spéciale Brut Gold sets have been created and each gift box is inscribed with its unique number emblazoned on a special pewter label.

Pour high-quality draft beer from the comfort of your own home. This smart machine will cool the six-litre beer kegs to a perfect 3C and will keep beer fresh for 30 days. Philips’s PerfectDraft features a premium chrome finish and a built-in LED display showing the keg temperature and volume of beer remaining - so you’ll always know how much you have left. More than 35 beers are available in real bar-grade metal kegs including the Belgian classics, American IPAs and German Weisen.

Yorkshire-based eco-distillery Cooper King has created two sharing selection boxes which contain three 100ml glass bottles of small-batch premium gin, gin liqueur, vodka or new-make malt spirit, complete with tasting notes, serving suggestions and a QR code to guided tasting videos. Choose from a box containing the distillery’s award-winning Dry Gin, Herb Gin and Berry & Basil Gin Liqueur, or the box featuring Skosh Smoked & Spiced Dry Gin, Black Cardamom Botanical Vodka and New-Make Malt Spirit.

The luxurious Glenfiddich Grand Cru is an exclusive expression of single malt whisky, aged for 23 years and finished in French cuvée wine casks. Presented in a striking bottle and lavish black box, the Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old offers notes of apple blossom, freshly baked bread and candied lemons whilst the taste gives layers of rich vanilla oak, sweet brioche, sandalwood, pear sorbet and white grape.

This limited edition Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack gift set features a sophisticated bowtie measuring jigger, making this the perfect present for those keen on mixing it up this festive season. Gentleman Jack is mellowed through Jack Daniel’s signature sugar maple charcoal - not just once, but twice. With balanced flavours of oak, vanilla and caramel, this double-mellowed spirit suits those looking to trade up from their usual Christmas tipple.

This meticulously curated Japanese whisky hamper features either a bottle of Hibiki whisky, available in the classic “Harmony” blend or exclusive 17-year aged edition, or the Nikka Pure malt blend. It also includes six horn whisky tots and eight granite drinks rocks. Sealed in a beautifully crafted plywood crate, recipients will need to use the 18ct gold mini crow bar to prise open the box and reveal the wonders inside.

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Compass Box has announced the release of a limited edition Peat Monster Arcana blended malt Scotch whisky. The result of a long-running experiment into the secrets and mysteries of oak and smoke, the cask strength version of The Peat Monster was further matured in three French oak custom casks for more than two years; it was then blended with malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff and Ardbeg Distilleries. Only 8,328 bottles will be available globally.

Presented in two sizes - petite (eight cocktails) and full (16 cocktails) - this gift set by Cocktail Porter is a festive treat for G&T lovers. Included in the cocktail set is Tanqueray London Dry Gin; Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger Tonic Water; Double Dutch Pomegranate & Basil Tonic Water; Double Dutch Rhubarb & Pine Needle Tonic Water; and a festive garnish sack (candid ginger, dehydrated cherry, orange, lemon and lime).

Pinkster Gin’s home tasting set for two includes five different 5cl varieties - Pinkster Gin, Pinkster Royale, Pinkster Gimlet (pre-mixed cocktail), Hedgepig Wild Bullace and Quince, and Triple Distilled Gin - as well as tonic and ginger ale by Fever-Tree, sachets of Pinkster Gin Jam Cocktail Mix and a mini jar of Pinkster Gin Jam. A video with Pinkster founder Stephen Marsh will also guide you through the botanicals of the individual drinks.

Gin enthusiasts can create two personalised bottles of bespoke, hand-crafted gin based on their own unique recipe. A simple selection process invites you to define your flavour profile utilising up to six beautiful botanicals, choose whether you want a pink or clear liquid, name your gin and personalise your bottle. Your recipe is then handed over to 58 Gin’s Master Distiller to be brought to life using a classic base London Dry recipe where juniper, orris and angelica root delicately balance your chosen flavours. A gift box of two 70cl bottles of your customised gin will then be delivered directly to any UK address.

Based at Alva, near Stirling in Scotland, Harviestoun is an award-winning independent brewer of ten high-quality craft beer and lagers. For Christmas the brewery has a range of craft beer gift options including the Harvie’s Ultimate Festive Choice. This mixed case of 22 beers comes with a Harviestoun half pint glass and features Schiehallion craft lager, Bitter & Twisted golden ale, The Ridge pale ale, Forth craft lager, Whippet pale ale, Wheesht alcohol free dark ale, Old Engine Oil craft stout, Ola Dubh 12 barrel aged stout and a limited edition Ola Dubh 18 barrel aged stout.

Award-winning Kyrö Distillery Company from Finland has launched a new product in time for Christmas: Kyrö Dairy Cream Liqueur. To be enjoyed straight out of the bottle with ice or with coffee, this 16% liqueur does not contain any lactose, gluten, artificial colours or flavours and all milk used in the production comes from small farms close to the distillery. It has a base of Finnish wholegrain rye spirit and single malt rye whisky, and tasting notes of liquorice, chocolate, toffee, fresh dairy milk and a hint of salt.

This one of a kind spirit created by Constantinos Raptis was inspired by a phenomenon that occurs in the cellars of the House of Metaxa. As fine spirits age in oak barrels the liquid that evaporates is known as the “Angels’ share”, leaving behind a spirit that is more concentrated and more intense in aromas. The spirit is then matured in a single cask stored in the cellars for several years to create Angels’ Treasure.

Bloody Drinks was launched in 2018 when founders Will Best and Harry Farnham made it their mission to find the perfect Bloody Mary. They started making their own for friends and family and the Bloody Drinks brand was born from there. Their Bloody Classic is created using high quality ingredients including premium vodka and Amontillado sherry for body, the finest tomatoes from Italy and Spain for natural sweetness, fresh lemons for acidity, Worcestershire and soy sauce for a rich, umami-packed base, and the legendary Tabasco sauce for that much needed kick.

Transporting you to an authentic Italian aperitivo hour, Primo Aperitivo Negroni is one of the most luxury ready-to-serve Italian cocktails on the market. It has been exclusively handcrafted in Italy using the finest ingredients including a bespoke blend of dry gin, vermouth and bitter aperitif. To serve, simply pour the readily crafted drink over ice into a rock glass and garnish with an orange wedge. The striking bottle comes delivered in a beautifully branded gift box.

Stambecco is a bitter-sweet Italian Amaro infused with luxury maraschino cherries, bitter citrus peel and local Italian mountain herbs. It’s produced at the Vergnano family distillery, Torino Distillati in Piedmont, north-eastern Italy, where the tradition of making Amaro began. The liqueur is carefully crafted in a large, bespoke copper pot still which has been specially installed at the distillery for the exclusive, small-batch production of Stambecco.

Storywood’s premium sipping tequilas are the only tequilas in the world that are fully matured in Speyside whisky or Olorosso sherry casks. There are five products available in Storywood’s online store: Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado (£39.99); Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo (£47.99); Storywood Speyside 7 Reposado Cask Strength (£44.99); Storywood Sherry 7 Reposado Cask Strength (£46.99); and Storywood Double Oak Añejo Cask Strength (£48.99).

The Lost Explorer Mezcal is a new brand that has launched with three unique artisanal mezcal varieties - Espadín, Tobalá and Salmiana. Harvested after eight years growth in the arid valleys of San Pablo, Espadín (£62.50) is a well-balanced mezcal with hints of apple, ripe fruits and a mild smoky layer to finish. Tobalá (£109.99) is harvested after ten years growth and has hints of tobacco, cocoa, vanilla and leather. Harvested after 12 years, Salmiana (£140) is the most herbaceous expression, offering a sweet and spicy profile with hints of green chilli, grapefruit and fresh agave after rainfall.

Vermouth is experiencing a resurgence in the UK and the launch of Vermò gives a modern take on the classic vermouth di Torino Rosso. Handcrafted in Piedmont, Italy, the home of Italian vermouth, Vermò is made with a blend of trebianno and chardonnay grapes alongside 31 high quality botanicals, resulting in a light, crisp and fruity taste, perfect for sipping on the rocks or as a versatile base for many cocktails.

Every year, billions of tonnes of the coffee berry Cascara are wasted in coffee production after the bean is extracted. Discarded takes what would be wasted and re-purposes it to bring a new flavour dimension to create a Vermouth like no other. Discover the versatility of Discarded Sweet Cascara Vermouth, a perfect addition to any drinks collection and a welcome gift for any occasion. The taste is full and sweet, with indulgent fruity notes that merge perfectly with the characteristic bitter notes of Vermouth.

An undiscovered treasure, “finishing” rum used to prepare empty whisky casks for the final phase of maturation has now been repurposed to form the base of Discarded Banana Peel Infused Rum. Discarded sources the banana peel and it is recovered to dry out and ferment, to enable maximum concentration of flavour. When the peel is ready, it’s then steeped in alcohol for two weeks to extract optimum flavour. The rum and banana peel extract are then married together for another two days to complete the blending process. The final product creates a banoffee pie character throughout the palate.

“In the daytime, I drive a black cab. At night time, I distil.” These are the words of London cab driver Moses Odong, who has opened the capital’s first ever rum distillery, aptly named Taxi Spirit Co. The first product to be launched was the award-winning Cabby’s White Rum, which has rich, full-bodied taste notes of sweet cane, delicious black treacle, a hint of oak and refreshing coconut and citrus. Taxi Spirit Co also offers Cabby’s Spiced Rum and Cabby’s Gin.

Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.