The best boozy gifts for Christmas 2022
| 15th November 2022
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as the markets open, Bonfire night and Halloween are a distant memory.
So, if you’re looking for some Christmas cheer, here’s some VIVA drinks inspo for the best boozy gifts at prices to suit all pockets. Cheers!
Tulchan Gin
Tulchan Gin
Taking its name from the prestigious Tulchan Estate in Scotland, Tulchan™ Gin is a small batch gin distilled in Speyside, with flavours inspired by the terroir of the Estate located on the banks of the River Spey. Tulchan™ Gin is inspired by its natural surroundings with botanicals including sloe berries, elderflower and blackberry leaves which are found on the Tulchan Estate.
One unusual botanical within Tulchan™ Gin is asparagus, which provides the gin with a bitter edge and long finish. RRP: from £39.99 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 45%. Available from Amazon.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon
The Wiseman Bourbon
Kentucky Owl Bourbon Whiskies are for those who appreciate high quality, attention to detail, craftsmanship, and authentic whiskey-making heritage.
The latest Kentucky Owl expression, The Wiseman is an artful balance of soft wheat and spicy high-rye that provides a smooth but complex bourbon designed to drink neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail.
RRP: £60 for 70cl. ABV: 45.4% Available from Master of Malt.
Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts Rum Cask Single Malt Whisky
The Cotswolds Whisky
The limited-edition Rum Cask Single Malt Whisky is the third expression in Cotswolds Distillery’s Hearts & Crafts collection. This yearly limited-edition series celebrates the Arts & Crafts movement which flourished in the Cotswolds and stood for the importance of traditional craftsmanship – the same values upon which the rural distillery was built.
This limited release has been aged in rejuvenated French oak ex-red wine casks seasoned with fine Caribbean rum, resulting in a well-balanced single malt with notes of soft brown sugar and ripe pears.
All bottles come with a limited-edition William Morris design presentation tube. RRP: £74.95 for 70cl. ABV: 55.6%. Available from: cotswoldsdistillery.com
Sagamore Spirit, from Maryland
A rye whisky with sweet notes of caramel, honey, hazelnut, and pecan. This is a fantastic example of a Baltimore rye, slightly sweeter than other rye’s with a higher corn content from a brand that is fast becoming popular in the UK and last year this rye won a Master of Category medal in the UK in the American whisky category at The Drinks Business & Spirits Business Spring Blind Tasting.
The secret to this Double Oak Rye is 18-months of extended ageing time in toasted wave stave barrels, making this whiskey at least seven-years-old. Delightful notes of caramel, honey, hazelnut, and pecan explode on the palate. RRP: £69 available from Native Spirits.
Mijenta Reposado Tequila
Mijenta Tequila Boxed
Mijenta Tequila is the world’s first and only B Corp tequila. Mijenta Reposado Tequila is aged up to six months in a blend of American white oak, French oak and French acacia casks.
Presented in a stunning green gift box, Mijenta Reposado Tequila makes for a brilliant luxury tequila gift. RRP: From £63.99 for 70cl. ABV: 40%. Available from Selfridges.
Axia Spirit
Axia Negroni
A first of its kind, Axia is an extra-dry and refreshing mastiha spirit that is a new and unique addition to the premium white spirits category. Axia is expertly crafted and distilled from the aromatic resin of the Mastic Tree, native to the hillsides of the Greek island, Chios.
With 30% less calories per serve than Vodka, it is a versatile spirit with an authentic flavour profile with vibrant citrus and vegetal notes. Axia is delicious served neat, on the rocks or in popular cocktails, such as a margarita, negroni or with tonic. RRP: £31.95 ABV: 40%. Available to purchase from: Hedonism.co.uk
Mermaid Zest Gin
Mermaid Zest Gym
Mermaid Zest Gin is subtly enhanced with grapefruit and Cascade hops. This is gently infused with Island bergamot, lemon zest and wild-foraged coastal rosemary, to produce a light yet complex zesty tone with a subtle sweetness and herbal notes.
Mermaid Zest Gin features the ‘dew of the sea’, coastal rosemary foraged from the Island’s shores. It is also made with fruits grown in the Victorian walled garden of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Osborne House. RRP: £39.90. ABV: 42%. Available from: John Lewis and Isle of Wight Distillery
Domaine du Météore Le Cratère Sparkling Rosé
Domaine du Météore Le Cratère Sparkling Rosé
Meteoric wine producer, Domaine du Météore has expanded its range with a new organic Sparkling Rosé Wine, Le Cratère.
Le Cratère is an organic ‘methode champenoise’ sparkling rosé wine made in limited quantities (970 bottles) from Syrah grapes, which are all grown inside the 200-metre-wide meteorite crater from which Domaine du Météore takes its name.
Over ten thousand years ago a meteorite struck a hillside in Southern France and helped form, Le Cratère, a cosmic wine from another dimension. RRP: £28 per bottle. £33 per bottle with wooden bird box. £168 for case of 6. ABV:13%. UK delivery: £5.00. Available from: Domaine du Météore
Duppy Share XO Rum
DuppyShare Rum
A blend of 5, 8 and 12 year finely aged 100% column still rums from Barbados. Rich, indulgent flavour notes are balanced out with lighter, more chocolatey-sour ones as the younger and older rums react to each other.
Designed to be super premium, this liquid truly re-defines the XO category. RRP: £40.50 for 70cl. Available from: Duppy Share.
The Cocktail Society Party Pouches
The Cocktail Society Drinks
The Cocktail Society are the UK’s leading cocktail delivery and cocktail subscription box service and have just launched 1 litre cocktails of their delicious cocktails, perfect for parties.
Each party pouch contains 10-12 servings, meaning the cost of one drink starts at only £2.75. The range includes a negroni, coconut & kaffir lime leaf daiquiri, hibiscus & elderflower martini, passion fruit martini, salted caramel espresso martini, smoked old fashioned and tommy’s margarita. RRP: £33 – £37 for 1 litre pouch. Available from: The Cocktail Society
Nouaison Reserve from Cognac in France
This dark gin made from grapes rather than grain is barrel aged in oak barrels containing cognac creating an ideal spirit to add a new dimension to classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, where gin rather than whisky can be used to create an excellent and unexpected gin cocktail for your Christmas guests. RRP: £37.45, available from The Whisky Exchange.
Gwalarn (meaning North West Wind)
For something a bit different we recommend this Celtic whisky from Brittany in France. The nose is rich and opulent with the first powerful notes of grain and slight peat give way to an aromatic palette combining the sweetness of vanilla, the complexity of leather and smoky tobacco and some honey.
In the mouth the honey extends supported by slight peat and saline notes with aromas of gingerbread combined with flavours of candied fruit. RRP: £35.99 availability: Also available from The Whisky Exchange.
Adriatico Bianco Amaretto
Adriatico Bianco Amaretto
An alternative to traditional amaretto made from crushed white almonds, which are chopped and soaked, resulting in a silky liqueur with notes of vanilla.
ADRIATICO Bianco Amaretto is best enjoyed in an ADRIATICO Almond Margarita, ADRIATICO Bianco Sour or neat over ice with a slice of lemon. RRP £28.99 for 70 cl. ABV 16%. Available from: Harvey Nichols.
Stambecco Tiramisu Liqueur
Stambecco
Stambecco Tiramisu Liqueur was created at the Vergnano family distillery, Torino Distillati in Piemonte, North-Eastern Italy in honour of Tiramisu, the traditional Italian dessert, known and loved around the world. Stambecco Tiramisu is made with 100% natural ingredients including Espresso coffee extracts from local suppliers in the Torino area, which is known as the capital of Italian coffee.
Stambecco has a delicious flavour of mascarpone, amaretti biscuits, cocoa and coffee. Stambecco Tiramisu is delicious served chilled as a shot, over ice, in a Tiramisu Espresso Martini or as an Irish Coffee with an Italian Twist. RRP: £25 for 70cl. ABV: 35%. Available from The Whisky Shop.
Perthyn Low Alcohol Spirit
Perthyn low alcohol spirit
Perthyn (pronounced Pear-thin) is a Low Alcohol Spirit with its roots firmly planted in Wales. The name Perthyn means ‘Belonging’ in Welsh and encapsulates the friendship of four Welsh rugby icons, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips and Shane Williams, who came together in 2021 to create a low alcohol spirit, full of flavour and perfect for mixing with tonic or in cocktails.
The resulting liquid is a zesty 10% ABV low alcohol spirit with notes of citrus, cardamon and thyme. RRP: £21.95 for 70cl. ABV:10%. Available from Cardiff Distillery
Vin Du Can
World-class wines in a can make the best stocking-fillers, ranging from Pale Rosé to New Zealand Sauvignon, Argentinian Malbec and a crisp and refreshing fizz, covering all the options across red, white rosé and sparkling wine. RRP: £3 each for 187ml. Available from: Vin Du Can