Who doesn’t love a bit of a drink during the holidays? Well, I can tell you that for the most part the Travel Wanderlust loves having a cheeky afternoon beer or a wine evening all the time, so we thought why not put together something that suits that kind of personality.
Lo and behold, our list of the 12 best Christmas drinks gifts for your friends. This isn’t Christmas cocktails or badly made eggnog, these are suggestions for awesome drinks that we think you and your friends will love this holiday season.
READ MORE: Look no further than our list of 25 awesome Christmas gift ideas to make shopping even easier
Because we know everyone is different, we’ve put together a list that we think will suit most of our readers’ tastes and get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
Best Christmas Drinks gifts for gin lovers
Probably one of the most trending drinks in the world right now, gin has seen a revival over the last few years. At Travel Wanderlust, we’ve also had the pleasure of taste-testing some of the new and old gins in the market, so we’ve put together a list of some gins we think you would love.
Roku gin
From our friends at Beam Suntory, Roku is one of Japan’s most popular gins and a very welcome present for most gin-lovers. This smooth gin is an amazing complement to some Christmas cocktails as well as an easy gin and tonic.
Roku actually means ‘six’ in Japanese, because it contains six specific Japanese botanicals; sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, sencha tea, gyokuro tea and sansho pepper. These complement the traditional botanicals used in gin, namely juniper berry, coriander seeds, angelica root, angelica seed, cardamom seed, cinnamon, bitter orange peel and lemon peel.
Read our full review here.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Hendrick’s Lunar Gin
For something a bit different, maybe try out the Hendrick’s Lunar Gin. This small batch gin is is an intriguing combination of the refreshing, the warm and the floral.
Ms Lesley Gracie, the Master Distiller and botanical extraordinaire from Hendrick’s, describes it as a feeling: that feeling when it’s a real calm night, there’s a clear sky and the stars are out. With Hendrick’s Lunar Gin there’s the rich aroma of night-scented flowers and in the background a refreshing burst of citrus.
Read our full review here.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Malfy Con Limone gin
This citrus gin is something quite different from what you’re used to and a unique gift for your friends. This Italian gin will make a great Christmas Drinks gift if your friend loves gin.
The gin incorporates the following botanicals; Juniper, lemon peel, grapefruit peel, orange peel, coriander, cassia bark & liquorice. This is very apparent right from the get-go, as it is absolutely bursting with lemon flavour. This is supposed to happen, especially with the incorporation of Amalfi lemon peel into the gin. It gives it a distinct flavour that reminds me of limoncello and oddly enough, aniseed as well.
Read our full review here.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Best Christmas Drinks gifts for whiskey lovers
Fancy a glass of songle malt or a bourbon on a cold Christmas evening? Well, look no further than our selections for easy drinks that everyone would love.
READ MORE: Check out our list of the best whiskeys in the world.
Auchentoshan Three Wood
The popular Auchentoshan 3 Wood is matured initially in bourbon casks before being finished in Oloroso then Pedro Ximénez casks for an extra layer of rich, sweet fruitiness.
It has hints of blackcurrant, brown sugar, orange, plum and raisin notes when drinking and be ready for a flavour profile of fruit and syrup. This includes hazelnut with hints of cinnamon and lemon, as well as a butterscotch sweetness that adds to the overall complexity. It is finished off with long-lasting oaky sweetness.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Lagavulin 16 Year old scotch
Lagavulin is a true classic and a great starting point in our search for the best single malt whiskey. This particular 16-year-old drink has been popularised in recent times by actor Nick Offerman from Parks and Recreation fame.
The distillery sits on the south coast of Islay, where it produces one of the smokiest whiskies of Scotland. Its richness and dryness are what make this whisky exceptionally interesting.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Makers Mark bourbon
Maker’s Mark is the lowest-proof bourbon you can get. The fruity, mixed peels flavour melds with the oak barrelling creating a full and rich whiskey that is versatile to drink, making it possibly the best bourbon whiskey to start your journey on.
It is a great bourbon to start a friend on their journey towards that type of whiskey and is one of the most interesting Christmas Drinks gifts you can get someone.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Best Christmas Drinks gifts for rum lovers
Rum isn’t just for sailors, it has become a delicacy and been refined to the point that it is enjoyed by people all over the world. We have shortlisted three rums that we think would make great Christmas presents for your friends below.
READ MORE: Here’s our list of the top 10 rums in the world
Plantation XO Barbados
Plantation Rum is a French-owned producer, bottling in the Caribbean and shipping some back to France for a cognac cask finish – including this one. The Plantation XO bottle alone makes me want to buy it, as it is one stunning looking decanter.
This rum is perfectly balanced with a lovely long finish giving notes of chocolate. This smoothness makes it one of the best sipping rum choices. I mean, what’s not to love?
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Flor de Cana, 18-year-old rum
A well-aged expression, this Central American beauty from Nicaragua was awarded Double Gold medals at the 2006 and 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Flor de Cana’s golden rum is smooth and mellow with flavours of nutmeg and caramel. One of the best rums for sipping on the rocks or neat to allow this fair-traded, carbon-neutral, sugar-free liquor to shine as it should.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
The Real McCoy
This bright-tasting white rum is aged for three years before being filtered through charcoal to remove the colour. Distilled in Barbados’ Foursquare Distillery, you can expect consistent quality with this rum. The Real McCoy range is named after the nickname used for spirits sold by Bill McCoy, a legendary Prohibition-era smuggler.
Being such a flavoursome rum, with notes of fruits and pepper and hints of nuts, this is one of the best rums for a tasty cocktail or simply to drink with a splash of your favourite fruit juice.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Best Christmas Drinks gifts for wine lovers
We love popping open a bottle of red or a crisp white after work, so we thought why not include some of our favourite wines to the list of Christmas Drinks gifts.
Wakefield Taylor Estate 2018 Shiraz
The chardonnay was ripe and with a fruity aroma that gave it an almost sweet flavour. It wasn’t quite as full-bodied as I prefer, but quite well balanced in terms of flavours. Pairing the citrus with other fruits was a smart choice, giving the wine a nice finish that leaves the tongue feeling refreshed.
It would make a great Christmas gift that’s affordable and easy for wine newbies to get into. Just make sure to chill to around 14°C to enjoy it at its optimal temperature.
Read our review here.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Vivanterre White MSM 2020
This natural white wine is a delicate and light choice for the discerning. The wine aroma is like lemon curd with some zest and a slight sour note reminiscent of cider on the nose and palate. Not at all unpleasant.
The palate brings out flavors of oyster brine and a balanced floral note. It makes a great Christmas drinks gift for someone who doesn’t want anything too deep.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
Giant Steps Winery Chardonnay 2020
This chardonnay is a nice aromatic white that has a faint whiff of caramelized pears and creamy butter. The first taste shows the excellent balance with frothy acidity and a comfy mouthfeel. It goes great with cheese.
Grab a bottle for your friend here.
An extra for those who get flushed
Why not gift someone, who loves to drink, but maybe gets too flushed or has bad hangovers, something to help them with that. DrinkAid uses 3D technology to create a scientifically-backed pill that is proven to reduce acetaldehyde levels (the chemical alcohol converts to).
This 100% natural formula contains herbs and antioxidants, with 9 ingredients, to provide the most complete alcohol defence in the market. From nausea, Asian flush to hangovers, it might help provide your loved ones with peace of mind after a night of drinking.
We tried it both before and after drinks, and it helped quite a bit with the next-day hangover. While it didn’t prevent a flushed reaction, it seemed to reduce it quite a bit, so it wasn’t so bad.
You can grab a Drinkaid box, which contains 12 capsules or 6 doses starting at ~USD 15.
Like our list or maybe you feel we missed something out. Let us know in the comments now.
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