Fancy a drink? Sam Wylie-Harris raises her glass to this week’s best buys.
LAST Christmas orders! Wine wisdom dictates that with so much tradition and folklore surrounding the festive season, sometimes the perfect present is best enjoyed from a glass.
Liquid gifts can be a life-saver if you’re not sure what to buy a loved one or friends, and the shelves at Christmas are a treasure chest of goodies waiting to be uncorked.
For savvy shoppers or those passing by, here’s my pick of the best boozy gift packs for wine lovers, whisky noses and mixologists.
Dinner party invitations call for good etiquette, and of course, champagne. GH Mumm’s striking red ‘dinner jacket’ is zipped over a bottle of Cordon Rouge (£26.99, Waitrose), keeping it chilled as it journeys from fridge to flute. And the host will be left with a dinky keepsake – a key-ring with the Mumm family coat of arms.
Adventurous wine lovers can enjoy a taste of Spain, Australia and New Zealand with The Explorer Hamper (£100 + £7 P&P, Fortnum & Mason).
Berry Bros & Rudd have picked up a multitude of awards this year, including Decanter’s Online Merchant Of The Year, and they’ve got it all wrapped up with their new Christmas Wish List. Visit www.bbr.com and check out their Luxury Christmas wines gift set, which starts from £98.
Cocktails taste even better when they’re shaken in tune to the music! The Smirnoff No 21 Speaker Pack (£34.99, 70cl, Selfridges nationwide) features a bottle of Smirnoff vodka wrapped in a stylish red zipped jacket with in-built speakers and MP3 connection.
