Give a gift
Here are 10 of my favourite alcoholic gifts this year. Of course, if you want to buy them as presents for yourself, don’t let anyone stop you
11 Isle of Harris Gin (£37, harrisdistillery.com) Distilled in the blustery Outer Hebrides, this gin has a mild marine tang that comes from sugar kelp, one of its botanicals. It’s not easy to find, so will be highly appreciated by any gin fiend.
12 De Bortoli Pudding Wine NV Australia (£8.99 for 37.5cl, in Aldi stores from 14 November)
A lusciously sweet wine, as dark as treacle, that tastes of dates, bonfire toffee and dried grapes. It’s made from raisined muscat grapes that are fortified and aged in old casks. Lovely with vanilla ice cream.
13 Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir 2017 Australia (£15.99, Waitrose & Partners; £14.95, Tanners) Pale pink, sparkling, and made in the Adelaide Hills from pinot noir, this stylish bottle is for your fizz-loving friend.
14 Sancerre Blanc 2017 France (£17.50, Fortnum & Mason)
The F&M wine department is one of London’s best kept secrets – there are some great wines under their own labels. Classics like this often make the best presents.
15 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Tradición 2016/17 Argentina (£13.49, Waitrose & Partners) Malbec remains hugely popular, and the wine in this bottle is as good as the label – deep and dark with wafts of violet and pepper, but also an unusual elegance.
16 Thymiopoulos Malagouzia 2017 Greece (£10, M&S) Beautiful white wine made from two Greek grapes – malagouzia and assyrtiko. It’s refreshing with a subtle taste of pear and apricots. A great present for white wine drinkers longing to broaden their horizons. 17 Lyme Bay Winery Salted Caramel Cream Liqueur (£14.99, lymebaywinery. co.uk) Liam Idzikowski, head winemaker at Lyme Bay in Devon, makes this using cream, French brandy, caramel and sea salt – it’s lovely over ice. 18 Château Lamothe Bergeron 2012 Haut-médoc, Bordeaux, France (£14, Co-op)
The classic cigar box and cassis flavours of a maturing Médoc claret aren’t easily found at this price, let alone in the supermarket
– a great buy. 19 Bodegas y Viñedos de Cal Grau La Petite Agnès Priorat 2015 Spain (£14.99, in 78 Waitrose branches from 12 Nov) Priorat is one of Spain’s most fêted wine regions, famed for its slightly smoky, velvety reds. This one is new into Waitrose, and is made from half garnacha and half cariñena. 20 Suntory Whisky Toki blended Japanese Whisky (£35, Sainsbury’s) Japanese whisky is similar to Scotch, but with a lighter pace. Blended from Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita whiskies, this works well served in a highball with soda.