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An Epicurean guide to holiday drinks

The holiday season is a time for giving, and what better way to spread cheer than with the gift of exceptional spirits? From rare, single-malt whiskies to artisanal liqueurs and limited-edition bottles, a thoughtfully chosen drink makes a luxurious and memorable present. We have curated the finest selections for every connoisseur on your list, blending timeless classics with modern craft creations.


Beluga Epicure Series II, €15,000

Beluga Vodka and Lalique have united to present Beluga Epicure Series II, a continuation of their limited-edition spirit and decanter collection. The legendary French Crystal House and prestigious Vodka brand share a passion for marrying centuries-established skills with excellence, resulting in an extraordinarily unique endeavour — 888 handmade pieces for true connoisseurs and collectors.

 

The Epicure Series, inspired by the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, embodies Beluga’s dedication to a serene and blissful life — the art of savouring the fleeting beauty of each moment. It’s an ode to the crisp touch of the freshest spring water, the essential element in both crystal and vodka.

 

2024 sees Lalique and Beluga Vodka reignite their special alchemy once more, with a decanter that pursues new artisanal heights — Beluga Epicure Series II. The essence of water serves as the muse — flowing seamlessly, binding the brands together. As the source of vitality, it represents continuity — resembling the enduring partnership between Lalique and Beluga Vodka. Water’s vital role extends beyond the symbolism as a central component in the production of both crystal and vodka. True to Lalique’s creative distinction, the crystal decanter has been ambitiously crafted to resemble a water drop adorned with two Bacchantes figures.

 

The decanter, inspired by water, is crafted at the Lalique crystal atelier in Alsace using the hot glassblowing technique, undergoing 10 specialised workshops to achieve its final form. Each decanter is hand-engraved with a unique serial number, making it a remarkable collector’s item worthy of the finest Beluga vodka.


 

The House of Suntory Hibiki 40 Years Old

Hibiki 40 Years Old is an exclusive liquid with an extraordinary blend of high-quality Japanese Whiskies from Suntory’s globally acclaimed distilleries – Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita each matured for over 40 years and meticulously blended to create a full orchestra of flavours and aromas.


Handed down from one blender to the next, Hibiki 40 Years Old has been made possible thanks to decades of accumulated expertise and experience in the art of blending. It is the pinnacle of generations of learning and craftsmanship and a unique and incredibly rare embodiment of the finest standards of Japanese mastery, making a statement of the spirit of innovation at The House of Suntory.


The blenders carefully selected a variety of The House of Suntory's treasured, ultra-high-aged whiskies produced with great care by their earlier generations. The decadent and truly innovative result is a gorgeous taste with layers of unprecedented aroma and mellowness.



818 Tequila Eight Reserve, £250

Eight Reserve from 818 Tequila - the multi-award-winning, premium tequila brand, owned by cultural icon Kendall Jenner - is an award-winning blend of Añejo and Extra Añejo tequila aged up to 8 years, tasting of cooked agave, vanilla, cinnamon, dried berries, and praline.


818 Tequila has also gained critical acclaim, achieving awards at 9 International Spirits competitions due to its category-defining taste crafted from 100% Blue Weber Agave, handpicked by skilled jimadores in Mexico.





Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2022, £70

Penfolds has unveiled a stylish new gifting range for the 2024 festive season, with the release of Holiday Designed by NIGO. The collectable series is available for a limited time globally and includes unique gift boxes, designed by Penfolds Creative Partner and Artistic Director of Kenzo, NIGO.


Inspired by the graphic checkered pattern found in traditional Asian textiles, NIGO’s gift box designs feature a two-tone square pattern that repeats endlessly, symbolising eternity and prosperity. NIGO’s designs are showcased across a collection of festive gift boxes.


In a striking ‘Penfolds Red’ design, the hero of the Holiday Collection, the Bin 389 gift box includes a playful puffy ‘pillow’ texture effect to further bring the design to life.



Vapoura Rum Chapter One £40, Chapter Two, £50

Partnering with globally esteemed distiller, Dr John Walters (Founder of the English Spirit Distillery and Oxford scholar with a doctorate in Biochemistry), Vapoura’s Founders - Olly Barkely (former England national rugby player), Ed Jackson (former England national rugby player, Paralympics presenter, and motivational speaker), Charlie Barkley, and Ross Stirling - have sought to produce the most premium rum possible entirely on English soil.

 

Chapter One is an ultra-premium spiced rum with tasting notes of warm spices, blood orange and nutmeg - perfect for Christmas pairings.

 

Chapter Two is a carefully curated golden rum with flavours of vanilla, caramel and tobacco. Enjoy both iterations on the rocks or within party cocktails with your friends and family around the Christmas tree.


 


Cygnet 22, £47.50 

Celebrated as "The World's Most Luxurious Gin", Cygnet 22 is distilled with a balanced blend of 22 botanicals, including hibiscus, bee pollen, and Manuka honey, producing a multi-award-winning luxury sipping gin. 


Founded by classical opera singer, Katherine Jenkins OBE, and social-impact filmmaker, Andrew Levitas, Cygnet’s bottles’ sleek tall shapes are reminiscent of a swan’s neck - the symbol of Swansea - remaining true to its Welsh heritage.


A beautiful gift that will last the test of time - both recyclable and refillable - the bottles can be reused as a vase, water carafe, or diffuser.


 

 





Papa Salt Coastal Gin, £42.50 

With a shared passion for gin, Josey McNamara, Tom Ackerley, Margot Robbie, Regan Riskas and Charlie Maas sought to create a delicious, easy-to-drink gin that captures the feeling of an idyllic Australian beach day.


The taste highlights distinct Australian botanicals like wattle seed, wax flower, and oyster shell, creating a citrus-forward gin with a hint of spice and an incredibly smooth finish.


 








 

Chateau La Coste Rosé 2023, £28.50

Chateau La Coste’s best-selling rose, is the perfect Christmas gift this season, with its eco-friendly creation in the valleys of Provence and its sweet seasonal notes! Made on the 600-acre estate led by Raymond Gimenez (local winemaker) embodying tradition, flavour and history, whilst being one of the first organic farms since 2009.


With prominent red fruits, texture and a refreshing finish, the Chateau La Coste rosé could be the wine to reach for this Christmas! This wine would pair well as an aperitif, smoked salmon for starters or lamb.





Mikolasch Vodka, £24.50

A single farm, organic vodka from Lviv in Ukraine has arrived in the UK. Targeting a new generation of spirit lovers, Mikolasch shines a light on the unrivalled terroir of Ukraine as one of the three oldest producing vodka countries and revives this much-celebrated spirit once again, for a discerning, new international audience.

 

Distilled from top-grade corn, Mikolasch is produced in the renowned, nutritional-rich soils of the Lviv, and surrounding regions, of Western Ukraine, using spring water sourced from an on-site well that runs off the Carpathian Mountains. Originally established in 1842 by the illustrious Mikolasch family, who have been making vodka using agricultural methods in Lviv for over 180 years, Mikolasch has returned to production as the oldest vodka brand in the world. Standing out from the crowd with its transparent approach, highlighting the type of corn used, the field origin or ‘terroir’, listing the seasons’ climate and harvest, the farming enterprise and even the farmer on every bottle.


 


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