Who didn’t spend lockdown 1.0 in a drunken gin-soaked daze lamenting the fact we had to stay home, and we were over baking banana bread crafting? I myself managed to sample some brilliant alcoholic delights in my newly created Poulton Bar and Grill area in my kitchen (it is two barstools underneath the end of the kitchen counter and adorned with fairy lights and a rack to hold all my wine and gin glasses!)

There is no denying that gifting alcohol is a popular tradition across the world, but Christmas means you can look for those speciality drinks that maybe not everyone would purchase with their weekly ALDI shop! Or would they? If you are looking for some alcoholic inspiration this year to gift to your loved ones, then I have some great options for you.

Some items I have been gifted for a feature in this or other gift guides. Other items I have purchased myself. Items marked with * have been gifted.

Mermaid Gin*

A stunning gin from the Isle of Wight Distillery, this gin is made with rock samphire, and Boadicea hops alongside juniper, coriander seeds, fresh lemon zest, grains of paradise, angelica, liquorice, orris and elderflower. It really is a gorgeous drink to look at and to drink too! £36.70 on Master of Malt.

Mermaid Salt Vodka*

This is a new one for me; I haven’t really tried many different flavoured vodkas before, so I am excited to give this one a try. From the Isle of Wight distillery, this vodka comes infused with sea salt. Purchase from Master of Malt, £34.94

Bobby Schiedam Gin*

Bobby’s Sheinden Gin is classic gin without all the frills. Just made with juniper, clove, lemongrass, cubeb peppers and rosehips, this gin is classic London dry gin and will appeal to the most passionate of gin lovers out there. I do love a good dry gin as much as I love my flavoured gins—currently £35.95 on Master of Malt.

Marshmallow Gin

This gin is bright blue, and I am so excited to try it! I am loving trying all new and different flavours of gin and this one I purchased after The Handmade Gin Company followed me on Instagram. I love that it is local to me and I am hoping it tastes as good as it looks. £26.99 on Amazon – this is my personal affiliate link.

Caramel Espresso Gin

Last year, I visited the Gin to my Tonic festival and was introduced to the 4 Sisters distillery. Being one of four sisters myself, I was shocked at how well they all work together to produce the simply stunning selection of craft gins. All we do together is cause chaos! Over the summer, I purchased a bottle of their caramel espresso gin (to drink with coke), and it was simply outstanding. Highly recommended! £38.

Disco Cocktails*

What is Christmas without cocktails? No longer relegated to the holiday season or complicated to make. These ready to go cocktails need to be poured into your glass, and off you go! In place of a holiday this year, I am all for some cocktail sampling this Christmas, what about you?

The cocktails are:

• ‘Disco Cherry Sour’ (Vestal Vodka with Doctor Pepper)
• ‘Disco Pina Colada’ (Dead Man’s Fingers rum with Sprite)
• ‘Disco Pornstar Martini’ (Vestal with Fanta)
• ‘Disco G&T’ (Whitley Neil gin with Schweppes tonic)
• ‘Disco Old Fashioned’ (American Eagle 4-year-old bourbon with Coca Cola)

1x100ml single-serve, £5.00+£2.00 p&p. 5x100ml full range, £20.00+£3.00 p&p. 1 x 500ml sharing pouch (five serves),
£20.00+£3.00 p&p.

Will you be sampling or gifting alcohol this Christmas? What would you like to try from this list?