Have you bought your Christmas food and drink yet? If you’re still needing to stock up, I have some wonderful drink suggestions for you today – both alcoholic and non alcoholic, there’s a bit of everything in today’s round up – enjoy!Made in Africa, Umodzi Gin stands for unity and togetherness. This gin is based on sugarcane, as well as mangoes and citrus fruits – as soon as you open the bottle your senses are alerted to wonder that lies within! It’s also infused with Corrorima, part of the ginger family, as well as Atiko cardamom, tangy hibiscus, sweet chamomile, black pepper, Ehuru spice and more. Together these create a truly beautiful and unique gin – definitely try this if you can.Aviation American Gin should also be on your radar. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Aviation Gin is made from a blend of juniper, cardamom, lavender, Indian sarsaparilla, coriander, anise seed and dried sweet orange peel, distilled in a grain neutral spirit. Aviation gin is really quite unique, with sweet juicy orange, prominent spices and subtle floral hints. It also makes for a fantastic base for cocktails, such as the Aviation cocktail after which the brand is named; Aviation Gin, lemon juice, Maraschino liqueur and Violette liqueur – gorgeous!Alfred The Great Gin from Wessex Distillery would make a wonderful gift for gin-lovers this Christmas, and it would look just as good in your own drinks cabinet! Famously known as the ‘Truth Teller’, the first King of England Alfred the Great is the inspiration behind this London dry gin. This award winning vegan craft gin is exceptionally smooth and well-balanced with a strong initial hit of juniper, followed by coriander, and juicy citrus notes. There are also other flavours available from Wessex Distillery of you fancy a flavoured gin – Gooseberry and Elderflower sounds lovely!Whiskey lovers will no doubt love Shanky’s Whip Irish Whiskey Liqueur – housed in a retro style bottle – featuring a man being pulled along by an ostrich, of course –  Shanky’s Whip is a black whiskey liqueur made from a combination of Irish whiskey blended with cream, caramel and vanilla flavourings – this drink is super smooth and creamy even though there’s no actual cream in it. It is truly a wonderfully, luxurious drinking experience!The El Bandarra Minibar would also make a lovely gift. This limited edition set is inspired by vintage matchboxes and contains four 10cl miniatures of El Bandarra’s different flavours: Al Fresco, Rojo, Blanco and Rosé. Inspired by the hot Spanish sunshine, El Bandarra pays homage to the golden age of vermouth. The set contains:

• 1 x El Bandarra Al Fresco 100ml: a citrusy aperitif to mix with tonic water.
• 1 x El Bandarra Rojo 100ml: a bittersweet midday favourite to sip with friends.
• 1 x El Bandarra Blanco 100ml: refreshing with a touch of vanilla.
• 1 x El Bandarra Rosé 100ml: a pale pink vermouth that’s perfect for the afternoon.

Fans of vodka will absolutely love Mermaid Salt Vodka – a premium vodka from the Isle of Wight made with a small amount rock sea salt to evoke the fresh sea air and the saltiness on your lips after a day at the coast. You’ll also detect delicate notes of dried herbs, smoke and a little earthy grain, in this smooth, well-balanced beverage. It’s also great to know the Isle of Wight Distillery only selects sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable materials for their packaging – they’re providing a sublime drinking experience whilst doing their bit for the planet; I’ll drink to that!If you’re looking for something light and refreshing, how about Pinkster Spritz? This drink has both reduced alcohol and lower calories – a regular 25 ml has no more than 40 calories, with just 4.8% vol and 0.6 units once mixed with soda. It’s crafted with locally grown raspberries left over from producing the original Pinkster gin and exotic hibiscus flowers, and goes perfectly with tonic, a squeeze of fresh lime and ice.If you’re looking for something a little different, Hotel Starlino Elderflower Aperitivo could be perfect. Starlino Elderflower is a 17% light floral ABV liqueur made from an infusion of ‘Fiori di Sambuca’, elderflower grown in Italy, citrus peel, fruity notes of pear and lychee, and herbs and spices. Mix with tonic or soda water for a refreshing low ABV aperitif.

For those looking for some special alcohol free drinks, I have a few lovely ideas – Wilfred’s Alcohol Free Spritz is an alcohol-free aperitif made from a blend of natural rosemary, bittersweet oranges, rhubarb and clove, for a truly distinctive and irresistibly delicious drink, perfect for Christmas time. It only contains 21 calories per 50ml serving too, so you’re getting fantastic flavour with fewer calories! 

alcohol christmas gift guide