Apple cider, peppermint hot chocolate, eggnog – there’s nothing quite like the familiar flavour of a festive tipple.
Classics are certainly classics for a reason but there are some new contenders worth exploring this Christmas.
Here are some of our top choices for a jolly beverage as you wait for Santa to slide down the chimney – including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
WHISKY MEAD LIQUEUR
If you like a Scotch with a twist, you’ll love the Mead Liqueur.
Offered by New Lyme Bay, this drink was handcrafted in the Devon countryside from honey and water, fermented with yeast, which transforms the sugar into alcohol.
NeedToKnow had a taste and we can confirm that this is a very moreish tipple, though it might be a bit too sweet and sickly for hardcore whisky lovers.
But it certainly holds it own and we give extra points for the cute 350ml bottle at £14,99, which is a great option to bring along to a dinner party or as a treat after dinner with a handful of Roses.
If Scotch isn’t your jam, might we suggest the Christmas Mead instead, made from honey wine blended with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom.
It smells divine, with a touch of lemon and orange zest giving a much-needed citrus taste that cuts through the sweetness.
Serve it at room temperature or do as we did and heat it up. It’s priced at £12.99 per bottle.
TART MULLED WINE
Mulled wine is about as Christmas as a drink comes – but this one has a twist.
On the surface, it looks like a regular mulled wine… but this one’s a bit tart. Cherry tart, that is.
Unlike most of the sugary drinks served up during Santa Claus’ season, Luscombe’s Mulled Winter Warmer has a delightfully acidic undertone.
Aside from cherry juice, it also has hibiscus, with a touch of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
You can heat it but we actually recommend drinking this tipple over ice with a slice of burnt orange.
If it’s a bit too tart, add a little bit of brown sugar too, making it a sort of mulled wine Old Fashioned.
Other plus points: it’s vegan-friendly, gluten-free and available in a solo size (270ml/£2.79) or sharing size (740ml/£3.95).
WHISKY, GIN & TEQUILA, BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Non-alcoholic spins on classic spirits are rising in popularity – and it’s easy to see why.
Inclusivity at drinks or dinner parties is important, because booze or no booze, everyone deserves to enjoy an exciting tipple.
But do these drinks really resemble the originals and – more importantly – are they any good?
NeedToKnow tried three alcohol-free spirits from CleanCo to find out.
First up was the whisky, which promised a taste of ‘bold oakwood, orange and vanilla’ with a spicy aftertaste. We’ll be honest: It didn’t taste like whisky in the slightest but rather a little bit like vanilla bubblegum.
That aside, it’s a nice drink in its own right.
The tequila – featuring agave, olive and melon – was a bit closer in flavour to the original (and very tasty when chilled).
And the gin with its earthy juniper was on point, too.
But if asked to choose among the three, we’d pick the so-called whisky. It might not have tasted like the classic but it went down a storm among guests when brought out at a dinner party recently.
CHRISTMAS PUDDING WINE
For anyone who doesn’t like mulled wine (no judgement…), this could be a good alternative.
Introducing: Christmas Pudding Wine.
It’s just as peculiar as it sounds. The flavour is a little bizarre to come to terms with at first but not in a bad way – your palate might just need a moment to adjust to the flavour.
At £12.49 a bottle, this is an affordable tipple but feels more like a novelty drink.
But then again, that’s kind of what Christmas drinks are all about, right?
