The best alcohol gifts for Christmas: gin, whisky, martinis and more

In 2020, with so many craft breweries, indie gin distilleries and family-run vineyards creating quirky and delicious tipples, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to alcohol gifts this Christmas. 

What’s more, many of the jewel-like bottles on our list will look fabulous displayed on a Gatsby-esque drinks trolley. Whether shaken, stirred or simply sipped in front of the fire, these pressies with a percentage are guaranteed festive hits. 

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Greatest Hits of Whisky Vol. 1, £99.99

This punky take on the whisky gift set is sure to impress adventurous, music-loving drinkers. Each ‘vinyl’ includes ten 5cl drams of indie whiskies from around the world, all named after a song.

Think “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of Peat)” and “I Want To Hold Your Dram” from the likes of Speyside, Teaninich and Islay, all with unique, beautifully illustrated labels. They’ll be asking for Vol. 2 next Christmas! Buy now £99.99, Firebox

(Editor's note: we are currently supping our way through the 'That Boutique-y Whisky Company's Advent Calendar' and it is as delectable, well curated, and curious collection of whiskys as we've ever had the privilege to drink. This company really knows what its doing)

Kew Botanical Gin, £29.95

Hip distillery East London Liquor Company has power coupled up with Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, to create a gin from the latter’s lush botanicals. The festive, piney flavour of Douglas fir blends with aromatic lavender and sweet orange peel, all of which come directly from the Gardens. Fantastic with tonic or bitter lemon, its bright, contemporary packaging will add flair to any home bar. Buy now £29.50 for 70cl, Masters of Malt

Discarded Banana Peel Rum, £25

What a lovely gift. Eco-conscious drinkers will appreciate the thought behind this sustainable Caribbean rum, matured in whisky casks infused with the toffee notes of discarded banana peel.

The skins are sourced from a flavour house that uses the fruit but throws away the peel. Enjoy it neat over ice, mixed long with ginger ale or shaken with sugar syrup and lime juice as a daiquiri. It’s the next best thing to buying them a plane ticket to Jamaica. Buy now £25, Ocado

Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Cream Liqueur, £22

Spirits and chocolate always make an enticing combination, but these velvetised chocolate cream liqueurs are the definition of indulgent.

The finest chocolate is melted into vodka and cream for a rich, smooth finish that’s like a warm hug on a chilly winter’s day. There are three new flavours to try this year - espresso martini, salted caramel, and salted caramel and clementine. Best poured over ice, they’re similar to Bailey’s, only even more luxurious! Buy now £22 for 50cl, Hotel Chocolat

Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, £35.99

This gin with a twist is infused with the fruity flavours of Shiraz grapes. That’s right, it’s a wine-y gin, presumably sent from heaven.

Spicy and citrussy, it can be enjoyed neat over ice or with a mixer - try sparkling wine and ruby grapefruit juice for a splendid spritz. It looks particularly glam served in a champagne flute, dahling. Buy now £35.99 for 70cl, The Bottle Club

The Sweet Potato Spirit Company Pink Marshmallow Liqueur £18.70

For something a little different, how about gin, rum or moonshine made from fermented sweet potatoes? Far tastier than it sounds, The Sweet Potato Spirit Company offers 12 flavours to try, all of which look dazzling in a bar cart.

Our top pick is the pretty pink marshmallow gin liqueur, redolent of  fluffy vanilla caramel marshmallows. Bliss. (Though the Chocolate & Chilli liqueur is quite the heady experience, too - ideal for a lover) Buy now £20 for 50cl, Harvey Nichols. 

Copper Dog Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, £28.95

Whisky can be an intimidating spirit to get into, but the easy-drinking approach-ability of this bottle makes it a great choice for both new and experienced whisky imbibers.

Eight single malts inspired by the misty Scottish Highlands have been blended to create a fruity, flavoursome spirit with hints of vanilla, chocolate digestives and aromatic spices. It’s certainly got our tails wagging! Buy now, £27, The Whisky Exchange

Quinta da Pedra Alta 10-Year-Old Tawny Port

Don't make the mistake of believing port is stuffy and boring. This bottle is modern in design and taste. Light, fresh and fruity, it perfectly balances acidity and sweetness, making it dangerously drinkable!

It's made in traditional granite troughs and aged in old oak casks, so expect a warming tinge of toffee and toasted nuts. Serve it with strong cheese for a princely after-dinner treat. Buy now £22.99 for 50cl, Direct Wine Shipments

Beer 52 Subscription, £24 a month

Everybody has missed the pub this year, but nobody more so than the beer lover in your life! Bring their local boozer to them with a subscription to Beer 52, the craft beer discovery club. Each month your recipient will receive a brilliant box of eight beers from a different world destination, a magazine, and a snack. It's fabulous fun - with reliably delicious beer, be they fond of large, ales, bitter or stout. Buy now, £24, Beer 52

Savage Wine Subscription, £29.95 per month

Discovering new wines is a fun hobby - here it's made even more fun. 

Whether a confirmed oenophile or just fond of the occasional tipple, this wine subscription box will be a joy for the recipient. We adored ours. The boxes are tailorable in terms of number of wines, frequency of delivery, and wine selections. They arrive complete with tasting notes, a map of where they hail from, and a link to a podcast describing them.

All the more excellent: all the wines come from independent vineyards. We found them to be varied and delicious. A real winner. Buy now from £29.95 per month, from Savage Vines.

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, £27.25 

This sophisticated kit comes with everything an aspiring bartender needs to make a top drawer espresso martini, including a 70cl bottle of cold brew coffee liqueur, coffee concentrate and two ‘jartini’ shaking jars. They’ll get 11 cocktails out of the ingredients - more than enough to wow everybody after a hearty Christmas lunch. If you’ve got more cash to splash, the festive set also contains a cocktail shaker, jigger and three flavoured syrups. Buy now £39.99, Mr Black

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