Are we even having Christmas this year though?
Aberfeldy 18 French Wine Cask Finish
There’s nothing like a special Scotch to get your guests in the spirit, and this limited-edition expression from Aberfeldy certainly fits the bill. The distillery’s 18yo single malt has spent time in red wine casks from Pauillac, lending it notes of ripe berries, savoury nuttiness and a slight, pleasantly tannic quality.
43% abv, £95/700ml, Dewars, shop.dewars.com
Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake
What’s more festive than a warming dram? A dram inspired by – and designed to pair with – cake. Glenmorangie director of whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, crafted this rich, honeyed single malt by finishing the liquid in Tokaji dessert wine casks. A great pairing for a festive pudding.
46% abv, RRP £75/700ml, Moët Hennessy UK, lvmh.com
Porter's Orchard Gin
Get your guests to switch up their G&T with this crisp new gin from the maverick team at Porter’s. The spirit aims to recreate the flavour profile of Champagne using cold distilled apples and pears and a soybean distillate; red apple extract gives it a celebratory golden hue.
40% abv, RRP £38/700ml, Porter’s Gin, portersgin.co.uk
Belvedere Heritage 176
Polish vodka maker Belvedere is bringing its Heritage 176 expression to the UK just in time for the holidays. Composed of 2% malted rye spirit – made using traditional malting techniques – and 98% rye vodka, this characterful spirit is brimming with candied citrus peel and peppery spice, plus a hint of nuttiness on the finish. An excellent upsell for Vodka Martini drinkers.
40% abv, RRP £42/700ml, Moët Hennessy UK, lvmh.com
Black Cow Christmas Spirit
To make this limited-edition spirit, West Dorset-based producer Black Cow macerates citrus, cloves, cinnamon, figs, currants, raisins and vanilla in its flagship whey vodka. The result is pure Christmas pudding in a glass, ideal for a holiday twist on a Champagne Cocktail.
37.5% abv, RRP £25/500ml, Mangrove UK, mangroveuk.com
Ready our full feature on what bars are expecting for 2020 Christmas.
