You absolutely can’t beat unwrapping a spectacular hamper or delicious bottle of fizz on Christmas morning, which is why we’ve rounded up some of the tasty treats we wouldn’t mind find under our tree come the big day. Santa, take note.
Add a festive edge to your Christmas cocktails this year with the Reverend Hubert Winter Gin Liqueur. Handcrafted at the edge of the Cotswolds and bursting with aromatic notes of dried fruit and winter spices, it’s perfect for getting in to the Christmas spirit. Literally. It adds a delicious warmth to a classic Martini and as an added bonus, the bottle is pretty glam to keep as a vase afterwards as well. £36 from www.reverendhubert.com
Panettone is a must for Christmas nibbles, and they don't come much better than the collectable editions from Dolce & Gabbana, available at www.souschef.co.uk. With flavour combinations including Citrus & Saffron, Mandorle Di Sicilia (Sicilian almond) and Marron Glace (black cherry) & Gianduja, good luck choosing just one. £42.99 each.
London wine bar Humble Grape has launched its own mulled wine kit, meaning you no longer need to fiddle around with finding all the right spices to become a connoisseur of this Christmas tipple. The set includes a bottle of Domaine de la Martinette 2015 Bordeaux, two Humble Grape branded Govino glasses, all the spices you need and a recipe curated by Chef Dane. £45 from www.humblegrape.co.uk
Chilli aficionados will revel in Eaten Alive’s Hot Sauce Selection Box. This award-winning fermented food brand, created by two former Michelin starred chefs, is based in Battersea and the box includes all seven of its best-selling and deliciously addictive fermented hot sauces, all bursting with flavour and the good bacteria that helped create them. Each of the seven has varied heat and all with unique flavours, carefully crafted and fermented with a match for every occasion: Smoked Sriracha, Cacao and Lime, Scotch Bonnet, Preserved Lemon, Lime & Jalapeno, Extra Hot Scotch Bonnet and the Kimchi hot sauce. £29.99 from www.eatenalive.co.uk.
Christmas morning fizz should be sorted thanks to family-owned Hampshire winery Hattingley Valley and their award-winning Classic Reserve NV (£30 from www.hattingleyvalley.com). The beautifully complex bouquet combines aromas of green apples with creamy nougat, freshly baked brioche and delicate toasted notes from ageing in bottle, while on the palate, the complexity continues with notes of soft lemon sherbet, biscuit and a subtle oak character. Refreshing and perfectly balanced, with a delightfully long finish, embrace English this Christmas with an alternative to champagne. www.hattingleyvalley.com.
We’re a little bit in love with the super cute kids baking kits from Craft & Crumb. On a mission to make baking accessible and fun, no matter the age, Craft & Crumb create easy-to-follow cake, cooking and brownie mixes, delivered to doorsteps across the UK. Their cute Christmas range includes a tasty Reindeer Buns kit, Christmas wreath bake and craft kit, Jazzy ginger bake and craft kit and their award-winning Xmas Jumper bake kit and more. From £7.95 at www.craftandcrumb.com.
Coffee lovers will rejoice at Hundred House Coffee’s gift subscriptions. The indie roasters will deliver delicious single-origin coffees or award-winning seasonal blends through the door each month (with various options on quantity dependent on the level of caffeine addiction…), either in bean or ground form. We’ve recently been enjoying the Bon Bon seasonal blend with hints of soft macaroon, hard boiled sweets and chocolate. Subscriptions from £7.75 per month at www.hundredhousecoffe.com
London’s original Jewish deli Panzer’s never disappoints on the festive hamper front and this year is no exception. We’re angling for one of their Splendid Christmas hampers under our tree, packed with everything needed to make Christmas go with a bang includingPanzer’s smoked salmon, Baron Bigod cheese. Sturia Oscietra Caviar, fruit cake, panettone, champagne, Panzer’s luxury Christmas pudding and so much more. Best get the stretchy trousers out. £275 from www.panzers.co.uk.
We love truffle. We personally think you’re insane if you don’t, but nevertheless this is a gift potentially avoided for those who aren’t a fan. Truffle Guys do what they say on the tin. They do truffle. So much truffle. From truffle salt and truffle dust to truffle chocolate spread and a a kilo tub of truffle mayo (don’t tempt us…) they know good truffle. Our money is on the Truffle Guys Signature Selection Box (£89.95) including their White Truffle Oil, Ultimate Truffle Mayo, Royal Truffle Ketchup, Seriously Addictive White Truffle Hot Sauce, Gourmet Black Truffle Honey and Signature Truffle Dust. Is that enough travel for you? www.truffleguysuk.com
Finally, any wine lover will appreciate the gift of knowledge, right? The WSET (Wine & Spirit Educational Trust) is the internationally recognised qualification for both enthusiasts and professionals, and with the Level 1 course between £140 and £190 it’s a great gift idea for any wine fan (or the person who has everything…). The Level 1 course covers topics including common groups and their characteristics, how to make food and wine pairings and how to store and serve wine properly and can take place either online or in person, as a day course or series of evenings at the WSET London school in Bermondsey. Sign us up! www.wsetglobal.com
