Raise a Glass to Christmas! 16 spectacular tipples for cosy drinking

Our pick of the best spirits, beers, gins and non-alcoholic drinks for your seasonal haul - perfecting for gifting or stocking up the drinks cabinet

Chapel Down Flint Dry (£65 for 6 bottles) & English Rose 2019 (£78 for 6 bottles) chapeldown.com

Two stunning options from one of the UK’s most acclaimed wine makers. Fragrant Flint Dry is a great alternative to aromatic white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, while English Rose is a delicate crowd-pleaser, with redcurrants and floral notes on the palate, leading to a crisp, refreshing finish.

Ealing Gin, £44.50 ealingdistillery.co.uk masterofmalt.com

This delicate London Dry is made with floral botanicals inspired by the gardens and parks of Ealing - think pink peppercorn, chamomile, garden mint, rose and rosemary. The beautiful bottle design is also a homage to Ealing Borough’s iconic Art Deco architectural gems.

Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs, £59 gusbourne.com

Kick off the festivities with a glass of Gusbourne’s extremely special Blanc de Blancs. This crisp and complex bubbly is pure elegance in a glass and comes presented in a beautiful individual gift box, so would be an ideal present too.

Bestens Complete Selection Box​, from £31.80 bestensbrewery.co.uk

Looking for an under-the-radar British craft brewery to really impress a beer lover? We’d highly recommend ordering a selection box from Horsham-based Bestens Brewery. Bestens brew on a rotation to keep quality high, so there are usually three beers on sale at any one time. At the moment the selection boxes include Fast Hands (a zingy New England IPA), Freewheelin’ (a flavour-packed pale ale) and Dark Skies (a warming porter).

Beer Hawk Christmas Crafty Crate, £32 Beerhawk.co.uk

Back by popular demand, and featuring a mix of 12 outstanding craft beers, including some absolute crackers from BrewDog and Tiny Rebel. This limited-edition beer selection box is only available during the 2020 Christmas season and was designed for craft beer fanatics. It’s securely shipped to your doorstep in “peek-proof” packaging, and the box contains 6 IPAs, 4 lagers, 1 pale ale, 1 bitter, and a free beer glass to boot!

Voodoo Ranger Hazy IPA, from £13.25 voodooranger.co.uk/collections/beer

Cult brewery Voodoo Ranger’s supremely drinkable signature IPA is a juicy and unfiltered ale brewed with all-American hops, with a pleasantly smooth finish, tropical aromas and notes of citrus. Whether you’re after a six-pack for £13.25 or a £125 mega-pack which includes 48 beers, glasswear and merch, there are plenty of options.

Colwith Farm Distillery Sea Berry Vodka, £39 colwithfarmdistillery.co.uk

Sweet on the nose with intense tropical undertones, this super smooth vodka is made with berries from Cornwall’s first sea buck plantation. On the palate this flavoured vodka is honied and exotic up front, with hints of citrus and mango. Finishing long and dry owing to the decadently viscous potato vodka paired beautifully with tart berry juice.

Sloemotion Distillery Hedgerow Gin, £36 sloemotiondistillery.com

Using the rich Autumn pickings of blackberries and apples, Sloemotion have created a gentle and fruity dry gin; no sugar is added, so whilst the taste is led by the fruit, the flavour isn’t overly sweet. The delicate fruitiness can be enhanced by the choice of mixer.

Wilfred’s Aperitif, £18 wilfredsdrinks.com

Wilfred’s is an unusual non-alcoholic British aperitif made with an aromatic blend of distilled natural rosemary, bitter orange and rhubarb. Delicious mixed in a booze-free late summer or autumn spritz, it is best enjoyed over ice with premium tonic water for a vibrant and refreshing cocktail.

Cranes Cranberry Gin, £32 cranes-2.myshopify.com

An ideal fruit gin for this time of year, this small-batch spirit is distilled with just the right amount of fresh cranberries in the mix, providing a smooth and juicy, yet deliciously sharp taste.

Porter’s Gin Orchard, £38 portersgin.co.uk

Porter’s Gin has just launched its new expression; Orchard, which pays homage to the flavour profile of classic French wines, in particular, Blanc De Blanc champagne. To imitate the drink’s Chardonnay grape and its intense fruitiness, the Porter’s Gin team cold-distilled green apples and pears into their classic juniper base. Expect sophisticated butter and biscuit tasting notes.

Devon Rum Co. Spiced Rum, £35.95 masterofmalt.com

This warming spirit is made with a blend of rums from Jamaica and Guyana, which are then infused with spices and citrus zest to impart a soft sweetness and toasty warmth.

Brighton Gin Seaside Strength, £47 for 70cl brightongin.com

Coming in at a heady 57% ABV, this is a big and bold gin that’s surprisingly light on its feet. Rich, creamy and deliciously smooth and satisfying, it’s perfect for sipping neat or drinking with your favourite tonic and a wheel of lime for waves of refreshing flavour. In true Brighton Gin tradition, each bottle is filled, waxed and labelled by hand, topped off with a distinctive wax seal.

Cotswold Green No.1 Non-alcoholic Spirit, £25 cotswold-green.com

With zero calories and no sugar or sweeteners, Cotswold Green is an exciting alternative to other non-alcoholic options. A classic blend of botanicals is used in the distillation process, with juniper and citrus notes up front, delivering a smooth and clean taste.

LA Brewery English Sparkling Rose, £10 la-brewery.myshopify.com

A light and delicate kombucha infused with white rose petals and wild elderflower. A worthy replacement for your Christmas Day bubbly.

Tame & Wild Gift Pack, £12.25 for 4 bottles tameandwilddrinks.co.uk

This pretty pack contains Tame & Wild’s entire range of sparkling drinks, including Blueberry & Dandelion, Strawberry & Limeflower and Damson & Rosehip.