Our Winter Drinks Guide 2016
Winter is almost here and Christmas is just around the corner. Therefore you may be considering which drinks are perfect for gifting, toasting at parties or to have with family and friends. If so, fear not, as our guide presents the best affordable drinks options to you. Enjoy!
Scavi & Ray Ice Prestige (£15.25)
Make no mistake, Prosecco is fast becoming the must-drink fizz for any special occasion. In fact, according to Scavi & Ray, 54% of prefer Prosecco to Champagne (46%)! With the scales now swung seemingly in the favour of Prosecco, we implore you to consider this sophisticated and elegant offering from Scavi & Ray this Christmas.
Scavi & Ray Ice Prestige Spumant is an exquisite pleasure enjoyed by the international jet set. ice prestige is distinguished by its delicate fruity flavour and exceptionally fine bubbles. There is a real elegance to the craft of this particular Prosecco and it tastes wonderful over ice. Medium dry with aromas of exotic fruits, there is a real sense of luxury in every glass. So much so, we would consider giving it serious consideration over Champagne this festive season.
Root 7 Whiskey Wedge (£18)
Take the edge off with Whiskey Wedge, the artful way to perfectly chill, but not water down your favourite spirits. Designed to melt much slower than smaller traditional ice cubes, Whiskey Wedge helps retain your drink’s full flavour.
The Whiskey Wedge by Root 7 creates a perfect fixed wedge of ice in your glass. Low surface area to volume ration means the ice melts slowly and doesn’t dilute your drink. It’s a genius addition to any whiskey lovers repertoire! Available from John Lewis.
Le Petit Ballon Wine Subscription (from £24.90)
Wine is always a winner and a great gift for the festive season. One of our favourites, Le Petit Ballon, are an exclusive online wine boutique which offers wonderful wines from across the continent. Their wine subscriptions offer wonderful explorations of global wines in either three, six or twelve month packages. Each month, you will receive the Gazette wine magazine, tasting notes and two bottles of wine.
These hand-picked wines are selected by Le Petit Ballon’s master sommelier and founding partner Jean-Michel Deluc (ex-Head Sommelier, The Ritz Paris). We have been lucky enough to sample wines from this service before and they are often some of the finest wines we have been offered from a subscription service. Plus, this gift really does take the hard work out of finding a new, exciting and different wine. Absolutely perfect for Christmas 2016. Find out more http://www.lepetitballon.co.uk/here.
BULLDOG Gin (£22)
There is a very high chance that gin is on your must-purchase list for Christmas 2016. If so, you must give this up and coming gin a try. According to the brand, BULLDOG Gin is the fourth largest and fastest growing premium gin in the world. It comes in a distinctive bottle with a unique bold, black bottle and distinct flavour, The bottle is a striking gift or simply a great addition to anyone’s alcohol collection.
A particularly mixable gin, BULLDOG tends to compliment the flavour of mixers, fruit and spices added, rather than overpower. This makes it the ideal gin for cocktail blending. With this in mind, you have got to try this…
Ingredients:
- 1 part BULLDOG Gin
- 1 part Lillet Blanc
- 1 part Cointreau
- 1 part Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 dash Absinthe
Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and double strain into a Martini glass & garnish with a lemon twist. Garnish with a lemon twist. Available from Ocado.com
Harveys Bristol Cream
This year the UK’s favourite sherry celebrates its 220 year anniversary and it is the perfect gift for Christmas. This unique blend of Sherry combines the character and body of aged olorosos with the aroma and finesse of finos and amontillados, sweetened with the addition of high-quality Pedro Ximenez wine. It has a deep golden colour with a full, fragrant aroma and rich, mellow and long-lasting flavours.
To take it up a notch, why not try a Harveys cocktail, like this delicious Frosted Apple & Ginger recipe below. Harveys frosted apple & ginger
Harveys frosted apple and ginger is bursting with effervescent flavours and is great served in a punch bowl so you can share with friends
Recipe:
- Fill a highball glass with ice (crushed ice looks even better!)
- Pour over 50ml Harveys Bristol Cream and 50ml premium pressed apple juice
- Top up with a dash of ginger ale
Swirl with a cinnamon stick and leave in the glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and apple slices
MEANTIME TASTE COLLECTION GIFT PACK – £24.99
A stunning selection of Meantime’s core range. The taste collection ranges from fruity, to spicy, through more mellow, rich, and warming beers. All are the perfect accompaniment to the Christmas season.
Contents include, 1x Balloon Glass, 1 x Wheat Beer 330ml, 1 x IPA 330ml. 1 x Coffee Porter 330ml, 1 x Raspberry Wheat 330ml and 1 x Chocolate Porter.
Giesen Estate Malborough Sauvignon Blanc
The particular Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is presided over by a trio of brothers, who have lovingly produced wine in the region for over 30 years. A deliciously smooth sauvignon blanc, this would sit proudly on any table top this Christmas… that is until it has all been drunk and another bottle needs to be opened!
Find Giesen Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Majestic priced at £8. Or Giesen Dillons Point Sauvignon Blanc is available at Waitrose for £9.39.
