Christmas Gifts for Foodies

Ad | Contains affiliate links Our second Christmas gift guide (the first one is the  toys & games gift guide ) is specially for foodie...

Ad | Contains affiliate links

Our second Christmas gift guide (the first one is the toys & games gift guide) is specially for foodies and features some fantastic new finds alongside brands we know and love. Take a look!

Whitebox Canned Cocktails

Who doesn't love a good cocktail? But buying a gift for a cocktail lover can be difficult task as there is so much to choose from. From home bar supplies to subscriptions to cocktail clubs and from personalised cocktail shakers to canned cocktails, the choice is great. 

Featured in this guide is Whitebox, a brand new canned cocktail company. They recently launched with the release of 8 new and exciting canned cocktails. The company's motto is "better canned cocktails" and their cocktail collection includes classic cocktails such as negronis, martinis, old fashioneds, whisky highballs, as well as innovative collaborations with some of the best cocktail bars from around the world.

The collection includes:

• Pocket Negroni: This is Whitebox's take on a classic negroni and is made with Porter’s Gin, alongside a house-blended bitter aperitif and sweet vermouth. 100ml, 21.8% ABV
• Disco Baby: A fruity and aromatic cocktail, this is a collaboration with London cocktail bar Three Sheets and is made with vodka, watermelon, lemon thyme and soda. 250 ml, 4.8% ABV
• Chipper’s Cherrywood Old Fashioned: A simple, elegant and complex Old Fashioned-style serve, this one is made with Virgin Oak Whisky, cherrywood bitters and gum sugar. 100ml, 32.2% ABV
• Golden Throat Charmer: A bold and bright creation made with Porter’s gin, fino sherry and turbo lemonade. This one is in  collaboration with Melbourne’s top cocktail bar Fancy Free. 250ml, 6.8% ABV
• Whisky Soda: A light, long simple serve, the Whisky Soda is made with Glasshouse Whisky and soda water. Collaboration with photographer Liam Wong. 250ml, 5.9% ABV
• Tropical G&T: A crisp and fruit-forward G&T, this tropical drink is built around Porter’s Tropical Old Tom Gin, which is lightly sweetened and infused with botanicals including passionfruit, guava and white tea plus tonic water. 250ml, 5.6% ABV
• Happy Fizz: Porter's Gin, Tropical Shrub, Patchouli and Hop Soda, made by our Whitebox's Jack Wareing. 250ml, 5.7% ABV
• Freezer Martini: Made with Porter's Gin, Dry Vermouth and Lemon Zest, keep this in the freezer for 4-24 hours before serving. A great modern take on a classic cocktail. 100ml, 34.4% ABV

The cocktails can be purchased individually or you can make your own pack of 6 cans (Pick'N'Mix). Visit whiteboxdrinks.com to place your order now.

St Maur Elderflower Liqueur 

Next in the guide, we had to include this deliciously versatile elderflower liqueur from St Maur. The liqueur is handcrafted in the heart of England from responsibly sourced ingredients, with flavours gathered in ancient family owned woodlands owned by William and Kelsey Seymour, Earl and Countess of Yarmouth.

Floral with citrus and notes of red fruit, balanced on the palette, with a long, pleasing finish, the elderflower liqueur is superb sipping by itself and it is equally good for mixing and cocktails. Of all the cocktail recipes listed on the St Maur website, my favourite is the Pink Moon which is St Maur, freshly squeezed red pomelo juice, shaken with ice and topped up with champagne. A fab champagne cocktail!

For more interesting recipes and to purchase the St Maur Elderflower Liqueur, visit drinkstmaur.com

Guylian's Chocolates 

For chocolate lovers of all ages, Guylian's magical Christmas gifts and goodies make the perfect gift.

Readily available at all major supermarkets, high street retailers and convenience stores and at prices to suit all pockets, Guylian's chocolates are great gifts to give and receive. Some of their popular products are Praline Sea Shells (250g, £5), Belgian Deluxe Assortment (369g, £11.00), Guylian Temptations (323g, £4.00) and Praline Sea Shells gold wrapped ballotin (250g, £7.00).

The entire range is made of the finest Belgian Chocolate with 100% pure cocoa butter. And the chocolates have a creamy taste and superior "melt-in-your-mouth" texture! 

Featured in this guide are the Original Sea Shells, which are beautifully crafted with a blend of the finest Belgian Chocolate and filled with roasted Hazelnut Praliné. The praliné filling is even today produced in a traditional manner according to an unique recipe of the company’s founding father, Guy Foubert. 

For more visit, www.guylian.com

Highclere Castle Gin

If you followed the Downton Abbey series you would know that the location for this very successful series was the Highclere Castle in Hampshire. Highclere Castle is also known for hosting fantastic weekend house parties and in 2019 they launched the Highclere Castle Gin. The botanicals used in the gin are harvested from Highclere Castle’s own ancient estate.

Key botanicals in the gin include juniper, lavender, lime flower, orange peel, cardamom and oats. All of these botanicals are influenced and sourced from the castle gardens. The recipe was meticulously developed over two years and it is this perseverance and passion that gives Highclere Castle Gin its uniquely smooth flavour and also helped them win over 27 international awards!

What instantly drew my attention to this gin was its packaging. The royal blue glass and the sleek square shape add to the premium status of the gin. And the content of the bottle is equally excellent. We tried this on the rocks and it was incredibly smooth. And it goes well in cocktails as well. On Highclere's website you will find a number of interesting cocktail recipes which is not surprising considering that mixology and the cocktail culture have been an integral part of Highclere since the early 1900s.

One recipe that I recommend is 'The English Garden', a quintessentially British cocktail filled with summer flavours. You will need 50 ml Highclere Castle Gin, 25ml Elderflower Liqueur (we used St Maur Elderflower Liqueur, also featured in this guide), 15ml Lime Juice and 75ml Apple Juice. Shake all the ingredients in a shaker and strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with apple slices and ribbons of cucumber. It was fab! 

If you know someone who enjoys sipping gins, this is a wonderful gift to give. Super smooth with a lovely balance of citrus, florals and spice, this is a well-balanced and delicious gin. 

You can purchase Highclere Castle Gin from www.highclerecastlegin.com

Wilfred’s Aperitif

Looking for the perfect non-alcoholic drink to gift to someone this Christmas? Check out, Wilfred’s Aperitif. It is a  carefully crafted blend of distilled and extracted natural rosemary, bitter orange, rhubarb and clove. Founder Chris Wilfred Hughes spent over 18 months experimenting and trying out unique recipes to come up with the aperitif. 

Wilfred’s is free from alcohol, allergens, artificial flavours, sweeteners and colours, vegan-friendly, and is a naturally lower calorie aperitif. It has only 21 calories per serving and pairs very well with tonic over ice for a truly distinctive and irresistibly delicious Spritz. 

A 500ml bottle of Wilfred’s costs £19.00 and if you are looking to make it an even more special gift, then Wilfred's are also offering a Spritz Gift Set, complete with a personalised message. The set includes one bottle of Wilfred’s (500ml) and two bottles of Fentiman’s Premium Tonic (500ml each) for £27.00.

You can place your order at www.wilfredsdrinks.com

Virginia Hayward's Chocolate Collection

For the chocolate lovers, nothing would be more perfect than the Chocolate Collection hamper from Virginia Hayward.

Beautifully presented in a tapered wooden crate, the hamper is filled with a range of irresistible chocolate delights. The contents of the hamper include:

• Cottage Delight Crunchy Hazelnut Meringue Kisses 200g
• Crème d'Or Halfpenny Chocolate Coin 58g 
• Farmhouse Biscuits Chocolate Orange Brownie Biscuits 150g
• Gold Crown Decorated Chocolate Slab Cake with Salted Caramel
• Melting Pot Dark Chocolate Orange Fudge Bar 90g
• Mighty Fine Salted Caramel Honeycomb Dips 90g 
• Stas Decorated Milk Chocolate Tree Slab Lolly 100g
• The Walnut Tree Caramel Macchiato Chocolate Spoons 54g

The selection of treats is excellent and the hamper as a whole is something that anyone would love receiving. It is the perfect gift to indulge on this Christmas!

Priced at £39.99, the Chocolate Collection can purchased online from Virginia Hayward's website.

The King’s Ginger

This ginger-based liqueur was formulated, by royal spirits supplier Berry Bros. & Rudd, in the early 1900s for His Majesty King Edward VII. Initially available in a black bottle, the liqueur now has an updated bottle design and a tweaked recipe to go with the modern times.

The King’s Ginger (£23.50, 50cl) is a ginger and lemon-based liqueur with a warming quality, a distinctive robust flavour and it can be enjoyed both as a sipping liqueur and as an ingredient in many classic cocktails. One cocktail recipe from the King's Ginger website that I am looking forward to trying is the King's Penicillin. Build 30ml King’s Ginger, 30ml blended whisky, 25ml lemon juice and 10ml honey water (Equal parts honey to water) over ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with crystallised ginger.

At 29.9% ABV, the King’s Ginger is the perfect balance of sweet and spice and is a great way to warm up on a cold winter's night. It is available to purchase from Berry Bros. & Rudd, www.thekingsginger.com and Amazon.

Also, this year the King’s Ginger has announced its collaboration with Pophams, which will see the London bakery produce a beautiful and artisanal mince pie made with the historic liqueur. It will be available throughout the month of December from Pophams Hackney and Pophams Islington.

Red Letter Days | Drinks & Dining Experience

The Red Letter Days' website is the perfect place for great gift ideas for foodies. They have everything from afternoon tea day outs to fine dining experiences and from wine tasting & vineyard tours to letterbox foodie gifts. The gifts can be sent via email (as a voucher) or delivered to an address of your choice as a gift box.

Included in this guide is the 'Brunch for Two with Bottomless Prosecco at Mrs Fogg's Dockside Drinkery and Distillery' experience valid for two people. The recipient and a plus one can enjoy a meal to remember with bottomless prosecco at Mrs Fogg’s Dockside Drinkery & Distillery. Located in London’s Liverpool Street, this quirky cocktail bar has the charm of an old dockside tavern that makes it perfect for a fun and unique brunch experience. The guests can enjoy two courses of delicious food, then wash it down with 90 minutes of unlimited prosecco to really get the fun times started. A fantastic gift for a foodie!

The experience is priced at £90 and can be ordered online from Red Letter Days.

I would also like to mention the Merry Christmas Gift Box from Red Letter Days. It is packed with over 2625 experiences available in the UK, including fun days out, zip lining, spa days and foodie experiences. Plus, Red Letter Days will be donating 10% of sales from the Red Letter Days Merry Christmas Gift Box to Child Poverty Action Group from the 15th November – 25th December 2021.

Black Insomnia Coffee Company | Coffee & Mug Bundle

Founded in South Africa in 2016 by Sean Kristafor and Jim Walker, Black Insomnia Coffee make pure, unadulterated and insanely strong coffee. According to independent labs, Black Insomnia Coffee is the 'World's Strongest Coffee' with a minimum of 1105mg of Caffeine per 12fl.Oz cup.

The high caffeine content is achieved with the help of dedicated producers who grow coffee in regions renowned for high-caffeine beans (all with an exceptional flavour profile).

Each coffee bean that goes into making the Black Insomnia coffee is roasted to perfection in a time-tested drum roaster. They roast with highest precision, to get all the flavour and caffeine without bitterness or burn. With caramel, hazelnut, and macadamia aromas, on top of a luxurious dark chocolate flavour, this is a high performance coffee that tastes fab as well.

The gift set (£19.99) featured in this guide includes a 453g box of Black Insomnia coffee (whole beans/classic beans/ground/classic ground) and a Black Insomnia mug. It is the perfect gift for early-starters and coffee lovers!

You can check out all of Black Insomnia's products here.

Wines from The Hidden Sea

For the wine-loving friend or family member, a wonderful gift would be a selection of wines from The Hidden Sea, an Australian wine brand. They not only make great tasting wines; their brand ethos is great too! They want to remove and recycle 1 billion single-use plastic bottles from the ocean. And, they want to do it by 2030. The company's founder Justin has worked to remove almost seven million so far! Amazing, isn't it? If you want to learn more about the company, their mission and what they have achieved so far, you can do so by clicking here.

The Hidden Sea range launched in Co-op and Sainsbury’s over the last few months and is now available in Boots as well. For every bottle they sell, The Hidden Sea will remove 10 plastic bottles from the ocean. 

At present, there are four wines from the range in the UK market - Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and a Red Blend is expected to be launched in early 2022. 

Featured in this guide are the Sauvignon Blanc and the Rosé and while both are great tasting wines, the Rosé is a winner for me!

Rosé

• Palate: Light yet luscious with a juicy mid palate and cleansing zesty finish.
• Aroma: Lifted strawberries and cream with hints of blueberries and ground spice.

Sauvignon Blanc

• Palate: Crisp and refreshing with tropical fruits, lime zest and white pear.
• Aroma: Lifted and lively with grapefruit, gooseberry, and fresh lychee.

Chase Original Potato Vodka

Awarded with a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021, Chase Original Potato Vodka is a smooth and creamy English vodka that is great enjoyed on its own as well as in a range of cocktails. It is made in Herefordshire by the same people who make Tyrells potato crisps. Potatoes are grown, harvested, fermented, distilled and bottled at the family farm in Hereford, making it a field to bottle process. And the end result is a super smooth and creamy vodka that is testament to the dedication and passion of the team at Chase Distillery. A perfect gift for any discerning vodka lover.

And here is a quick recipe for you to try out. You will need 50ml Chase Original Potato Vodka, fresh lemon juice and ginger beer. Simply combine all the ingredients in a highball over plenty of ice. Stir and garnish with lemon peel. And you have a flavoursome English Mule!

Priced at £35.35 for 70cl, you can purchase Chase Original Potato Vodka from www.masterofmalt.com

Project #173 Gingerbread Rum

Atom Labs launched the Project #173 collection in 2020. It is a collection of flavourful rums like Black Cherry Rum, Chocolate Rum, Butterscotch Rum, Pumpkin Spice Rum, Pineapple Rum and the Gingerbread Rum featured in this guide. If you know a rum lover, this collection makes for a great gift for them. The rums in the range are versatile and can be enjoyed on the rocks or in various cocktails.

The combination of rum and Gingerbread is interesting. With a good quality rum as a base and with the sweet & spicy notes of gingerbread, this spiced rum is really nice. Not overly sweet and not too gingery, it feels like Christmas in a glass.

Fun fact 1: The boiling point of alcohol is 173.1 degrees Fahrenheit, hence this collection was named as Project #173. 

Fun fact 2: The bottle features a flake of 23 karat gold leaf!

Priced at £19.95 for a 50cl bottle (42% ABV), you can purchase the Project #173 Gingerbread Rum from Master of Malt.

Swicily | Organic Grape Sugar from Sicily 

Swicily is a liquid sweetener made with heritage organic grapes grown by small Sicilian farmers. It is simple and unprocessed, highly digestible, rich in nutrients and low in calories. It also contains vitamins, antioxidants and has a delicate taste without any aftertaste. 

Each serving of Swicily contains a natural blend of simple sugars and vegetal water (over 30%), thus allowing it to sweeten with fewer calories. And it is very versatile; you can use it as a table-top sugar substitute or as an ingredient in your recipes. 

Priced at £8.45 for a 250ml bottle, Swicily can be used simply as a luxury substitute to traditional sweeteners, from breakfast to bakery and even in cocktail preparations, making it a great gift for foodies. You can purchase Swicily from swicily.com or from Amazon.