RAISE A GLASS

I’m diving straight into my festive drinks’ countdown with the news that the much-loved Snow Globe Gin Liqueurs

(£10, Marks & Spencer) are finally in store and online.

If you want to shake it all about, adding sparkle to your festive fun, then you have a couple of flavour choices in Clementine or Spiced Sugar Plum. The liqueurs contain edible 23-carat gold or silver leaf.

I love Jaffa Cakes, and I love gin. Put them together and you have Jaffa Cake Gin (£19.99, down from £25 at Morrisons until January 3).

Oh my word! Who knew there could be such a thing? The gin picked up the gong for the World’s Best Flavoured Gin at the World Gin Awards 2022.

It smells ever-so orangey and a sip brings cocoa and chocolate notes with a seam of orange. You can make a mimosa by adding 30ml Jaffa Cake Gin, 30ml orange juice and top up with prosecco.

Talking of which… a prosecco aiming to make a difference to the world is sold by eco-wine brand Sea Change.

The Sea Change Christmas day Pack (£35.47, at seachangewine.com) includes a bottle of Sea Change Prosecco, Malbec and French Sauvignon Blanc. For every bottle bought, the brand donates to a marine conservation charity.

The prosecco – also available at several independent wine merchants – is pert with pear and apple notes.

I love this time of year when a sweet treat of a sip is amazing with mince pies, Christmas cake and above all else, cheese.

Ah, be still my beating heart. Not just because I’ve watched a very tense and hugely entertaining World Cup match, but because I have this fortified wine from Portugal in my glass: Casa ermelinda Freitas Moscatel de Setúbal (£9.95, The Wine Society). It is the colour of burnt orange and has aromas of caramelised orange, citrus and honey. Those notes are echoed on my tastebuds. It’s a perfect festive treat, and I’m enjoying it with blue cheese.

Talking of blue cheese, there is such a thing as a vodka made directly from the process of Stilton production. hartington Stilton Whey Vodka (RRP £39, cuckoostone.co.uk) could warm up your festive toes. It’s a project by artisan producers Cuckoostone Craft Distillery and Hartington Creamery. They also make hartington Peakland dry Stilton Whey Gin (RRP £39).

As I wrote earlier, who’d have thought!

Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.