The TSNC Christmas Drinks Gift Guide
10 December, 2020
I’m definitely fully stocked for Christmas drinks this year! I’ve got a brilliant selection here to show you today, and I’m in love with my super dinky new bar cart – it was only £30 from B&M which is a total bargain! I’ve been wanting a drinks trolley for a while but they’re usually pretty expensive. This one from B&M is not only affordable but also quite small, which is perfect if you’re tight on space like me. Read on to hear about these gorgeous drinks that are perfect for the Christmas season!
First up I have the wonderful Pinkster Gin (£35 for 70cl) – I’m a big fan of pink gins so I knew this would be right up my street. Pinkster is made with five botanicals and delicious raspberries, which give it both its pink hue and subtle fruitiness. I thought I’d like this, but I have to say it was actually much better than I expected, it really is a fantastic gin and would make a brilliant gift for lovers of pink gin!
Next I have J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky (£22.50 for 70cl) – J&B Rare have blended together 42 individual single malt and grain whiskies to create a subtle, smooth and complex flavour, and they’ve really hit the mark with this whisky! As smooth as a moonlight serenade, with fruity and aromatic notes, it would be the perfect gift for any whisky lover that likes to sink into a comfy chair and let the days concerns evaporate away. Wondrously silky on the palate, and delicate yet prominent on the nose. This is the perfect choice for an evening tipple.
Next on the list is the lovely Stambecco Maraschino Amaro (£25 for 70cl) – Stambecco is in fact the Italian word for the long horned Mountain goats which roam the Italian Alps near the Stambecco Distillery in Italy. Stambecco Maraschino Amaro is a wonderfully smooth and fruity drink, infused with luxury Italian maraschino cherries and sweet & bitter oranges to make a delicious and distinctive bittersweet craft distilled amaro. This is a great versatile drink too – you can drink this neat over ice, or with a mixer, whatever takes your fancy.
You can’t see them too well in my pictures, but I also have some STARLINO Maraschino Cherries (£10 for 400g) which are perfect for adding to this drink – as well as many other cocktails, or Christmas desserts!
Sticking with the Italian theme, next is the lovely Hotel STALINO Gift Set (£12 for 3x10cl) This affordable set includes three delicious Aperitivos made with a blend of natural fruits, herbs and spices, including Italian Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit. The 3x10cl bottles include enough juice to create six different cocktails – including the Rosé Spritz, The Arancione & tonic, the Negroni and the Manhattan. I’ve tried a couple of these with tonic and ice and they really are tasty. They’re also a great alternative to gin, and lower in alcohol too. The set also comes in a lovely decorative box, perfect for gifting this Christmas.
On to gin again now, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin (£34.95 for 70cl) is a beautiful craft gin, produced by the distilling experts at Rampur distillery in India. Jaisalmer looks back at the luxurious days of the Maharajas and Maharanis, when the city of Jaisalmer was at its height. It’s a classically styled gin, with a strong juniper note complemented by citrus, liquorice, angelica and coriander, as well as cubeb and grains of paradise for a spicy take on Indian flavours. You can probably guess, but this this would be great for lovers of spicy, aromatic gins!
I also have a bottle of beautiful Mermaid Gin (£35.95 for 70cl) – this is possibly the prettiest gin bottle I’ve ever seen! Mermaid Gin hails from the Isle of Wight, and is made with botanicals including juniper, rock samphire, hops, coriander, lemon zest, grains of paradise, angelica, liquorice, orris and elderflower. This is a beautifully well-rounded gin, that goes perfectly with a premium tonic and a samphire garnish. I think any gin lovers would be thrilled to receive this as a Christmas gift.
For something different and very festive, how about CUCIELO Rosso Vermouth (£22.70 for 75cl) – This is a wonderfully complex Italian vermouth that makes for the perfect warming winter sipper. It’s wonderfully smooth with aromatic caramelised orange, rhubarb and warming spices on the nose, with bursts of fresh ripe red fruit and a warm, dry finish. You can serve neat over ice or use as a key ingredient in a classic Negroni or Manhattan. Also, all materials used are renewable and are 100% recyclable, down to the natural cotton paper label.
Another gin for someone that likes something a little different – Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin (£34.90 for 70cl) Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin is a Dutch gin made from a recipe inspired by the creator’s grandfather, Bobby Alfons. It uses both local and exotic ingredients – including juniper, clove, lemongrass, cubeb peppers and rosehips. Highlighting the meeting of Dutch and Indonesian flavours in the spirit, Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin comes in a bottle which harks back to the style of vessel used to hold jenever, with a lovely pattern inspired by Indonesian designs.
Another festive treat is the Sky Wave Spiced Apple Gin Liqueur (£20.00 for 200ml) This wonderful Apple Gin Liqueur is another perfect winter sipper. Created with locally grown apples and specially selected spices including cloves and cinnamon, this beautifully warming liqueur is great for sipping on a cold winter’s day – or just add tonic for a wonderfully festive long drink. More lovely artisan products can be found at Melted Inside.
And lastly, you can’t go wrong with this fabulous Gin Advent Calendar (£50.00 for 12x35ml tins) This lovely set includes 12 mini tins of different flavoured gins to try throughout December. I’ve just delivered one to a friend which she’s going to be enjoying soon! My husband and I have tried a couple of the others and I can tell you they truly are lovely gins. This is definitely one to add to your Christmas list if you’re a gin fan like I am!
