The alcoholly and the ivy
Toast your countdown to Christmas with SAM WYLIE-HARRIS’ top picks for boozy baubles, crackers and Advent calendars
1 PERFECT MEASURE DRINKS CHRISTMAS CRACKERS, £49.95 for box of six, The Whisky Exchange (thewhiskyexchange.com)
BRIGHT and cheerful, red is always a winner at the festive table, especially in the form of these jazzy crackers. Containing miniature spirits, such as Whitley Neill Gin, Copper Dog Blended Malt and Mahiki Coconut Rum Liqueur, there’ll be no ‘bad jokes’ when these beauties are pulled.
2 DRINKS BY THE DRAM THAT BOUTIQUE-Y GIN COMPANY’S ADVENT CALENDAR, £99.95, Amazon
CELEBRATE happy hour every day with this five-star cocktail lover’s calendar. Behind each of the 24 windows is a 30ml bottle of gin you can shake, muddle or stir into your favourite serve. Lovely packaging, too.
3 PICKERING’S GIN CHRISTMAS BAUBLES SIX PACK, £29.95, 31dover.com
PUTTING the ‘Cheers!’ into Christmas decorating, these candycoloured baubles will spruce up your fir tree a treat. Each one is filled with 50ml of Pickering’s Gin. Let the festivities be-gin!
4 CHASE DISTILLERY ADVENT CALENDAR, £140, Chase Distillery (williamschase.co.uk)
AS IF you needed 24 reasons to enjoy their liquid assets, this box of goodies contains 14 of Chase’s most prized products. With something for everyone, friends and family can count down to Christmas Day with Chase Vodka, Marmalade Vodka and even Rhubarb Vodka, while Williams Elegant Gin and Pink Grapefruit Gin could also help those merry bells ring out...
5 THE PIP STOP SUPERSTAR SPARKLING ADVENT CALENDAR, £125, thepipstop.co.uk
FRESH and elegant with plenty of finesse, this is the ultimate choice for anyone who loves a glass of bubbly, be it prosecco, cava or champagne. Absolutely fabulous and lots of fun, why not give the gift of effervescence?
6 MOET & CHANDON BRUT IMPERIAL CHAMPAGNE CHRISTMAS CRACKER, £19.99, Selfridges
WHY not go for gold and crown the day with the best-loved bubbles in the world? The champagne in the baby 20cl bottle is bursting with pristine fruit and citrusy aromas.
7 CHRISTMAS SPIRITS CRACKERS, £70 for box of six, Fortnum & Mason
THE 24 wines in this grown-up advent calendar might be under wraps (or behind windows, rather), but rest assured, the folks at Laithwaite’s will have made sure each miniature bottle of white or red is delicious to the last drop.
8 WINE ADVENT CALENDAR, £69.99, Laithwaites.co.uk
THE carefree caricatures adoring these gold and silver crackers certainly look in good spirits, so why not join the party? With an entertaining line-up of Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Glenfiddich 15-year-old and Monkey Shoulder among the headliners, they’re bound to please.
9 THE PERFECT MEASURE BAUBLES MIXED PACK OF THREE, £27.95, The Whisky Exchange (thewhiskyexchange.com)
AN UNHOLY trio of gin, single malts, world whiskies or rums (the fastest trending spirit), each glass bauble in this minimalist pack is filled with just the right measure of your favourite tipple, perfectly packaged and ready to pour. Also available as one individually boxed bauble (£9.95) if you need a stockingfiller for a vodka lover.