Post contains items gifted for review purposes.

Christmas is a time to truly indulge, a time to share fine food and drink with loved ones and of course a time for festive cheers… or five! This is a guide of festive tipples, tasty treats and brilliant gift ideas you and your loved ones can enjoy!

Mermaid Salt Vodka

Sounds great right? This fantastic vodka will be one of our drinks cabinet favourites forever more. The Isle of Wight is rich in amazing ingredients, which the Isle of Wight distillery loves to make the most of. A vodka made in the heart of the Isle of Wight kissed with a small amount rock sea salt to evoke the fresh sea air and the saltiness on your lips. A delicate touch of salt creates a back note that makes Mermaid Salt Vodka an essential ingredient for any well stocked back bar. An ideal flavour enhancer for adventurous cocktails, or a classic dirty martini. Distinctive and unique, it is no surprise that Mermaid Salt Vodka is a favourite with creative mixologists, adding a hint of sea air to their creations. Presented in a stunning, eco-friendly, bottle with sculpted scales, like those of the mythical maritime creature itself, this will make for a fantastic gift this Christmas. Available at John Lewis and Master of Malt.

Pure Heavenly Chocolate

Fed up of disappointing Dairy free chocolate? Suitable for Vegans, Vegetarians and for those who are lactose intolerant, Pure Heavenly have created a delicious, dairy free and (virtually) sugar free chocolate alternative. Made with rice cream to retain a silky smooth texture, Pure Heavenly have in no way compromised to bring you the best chocolate ever! Divinely delicious, creamy and decadent it’s hard to believe these bars have LESS than 2% sugar. The perfect gift for the health conscious or those with intolerances….. even those without! I can’t believe how delicious Pure Heavenly chocolate is, this will be a household favourite from now on.

The Little Gin Company

Host your own gin tasting session from the comfort of your own home with this Little Gin Company’s Trailer Made Gin Tasting Kit. Perfect to enjoy solo or with a partner of choice….if they are lucky. This set comes with a generous 5cl bottle (double measure) of their London Dry Gin, Old Tom Gin, Elderflower Gin and Rhubarb with a Twist of Lime Gin, also with a selection of complementary mixers to enjoy with the gins. Making a fabulous stocking filler or gift for that gin lover in your life get yours here.

Seed and Bean Chocolate

Seed and Bean have been busy creating some amazingly indulgent chocolate flavours. The name Seed and Bean came from the initial chocolate concept which was covering seeds and beans in chocolate. Seed and Bean is 100% organic; Fairtrade where possible, and all of their products are ethically sourced and handmade in England. When it comes to chocolate, they really are chocolate artisans, sourcing and using 100% compostable foil which made them the first UK chocolate brand to have fully compostable packaging. From decadent hazelnut truffles to the unusual combination of orange and thyme, Seed and Bean really have thought of it all. The Orange and Thyme was my personal favourite and something I will be reaching for on the shelves moving forward.

Il Gusto Christmas Gifts

Are you looking to add a touch of luxury to your festivities or do you know someone who loves nothing more than a festive tipple? You will find a delicious range to choose from at Il Gusto. Il Gusto have created a totally different way of shopping for spirits and liqueurs. You can choose from a wide selection of bottle designs to be filled with one of their fantastic range of drinks. From festive bottles like this Christmas tree filled with Salted Caramel liqueur to timeless classics filled with your favourite Gin, Rum or Whisky to name a few, Il Gusto has something for everyone this Christmas. The gin ranges offer a great opportunity to try some truly unique flavours and the salted caramel liqueur is divine! Supplied by some of Europe’s finest producers, Il gusto have an incredible range of unique gifts and stocking fillers starting from as little as under £10.

OGGS

When it comes to festive bakes Oggs have cleverly mastered making truly indulgent favourites like cakes and mince pies that taste as good as you have always known them, but are now wonderfully vegan too. Oggs are working to ensure that every part of their supply chain is as ethical as possible, positively impacting the planet, animals and people. With their vision and drive on this they have managed to create cakes which taste amazing whilst also benefitting the environment by removing the need for eggs and butter, using 100% recycled and recyclable packaging and by using locally sourced ingredients to keep down their carbon footprint. A great alternative to the traditional Christmas cake, the vegan friendly chocolate sponge cake is filled and topped with chocolate fudge frosting and finished with chocolate curls, edible stars and festive gold shimmer- perfect for that festive WOW factor. The mince pies make for an indulgent Christmas treat and melt in the mouth. Don’t forget to add Oggs to your festive food shop this Christmas, available from Waitrose and Sainsburys.

Ross & Ross Bacon Curing

This is a gift for the serious meat lovers out there, bacon lovers at that….actually… everyone! The perfect gift for any foodie, Ross & Ross Curing Kits are not just a great alternative gift, they also offer a unique and hands-on experience to the recipient. Choose from a fantastic range of curing kits, from Salmon to a range of flavoured bacon, there is one to tickle everyone’s taste buds. Give them an experience to remember while impressing their friends and family with their newly found culinary skills. This kit gives even the most culinary challenged cook the chance to make their own artisan bacon and couldn’t be more simple. Curing is a process of food preservation and flavouring meats and fish, by the addition of combinations of, salts, nitrates, nitrites or sugar. The aim is to draw the moisture out of the meat by the process of osmosis. Although it sounds complicated, it really isn’t! The process is so simple, and only takes 7 easy steps. The whole process takes 7 days and a kit comes with an easy to read instruction booklet to follow. A great gift option for couples due to it’s interactive and hands on approach, check out more from Ross & Ross here.

Willies Cacao

With Chocolate being on the cards for most people at Christmas, look to Willies Cacao for a wide range of chocolate’s that are infused with wonderful ingredients. Willies Cacao use only the world’s greatest single estate cacaos brought direct from farmers which like fine wines all have highly individual flavours. Delicious chocolate with 100% natural ingredients with flavours to suit all. The salted caramel pearls packed the perfect salty punch, something that often lacks in some salted caramel products while the El Blanco offers a super sweet option for those moments of indulgence.

Opies

Looking to stock the cupboards in time for family arriving? or plans to make your own Christmas hamper? Opies Foods have a great festive selection of items from cocktail cherries to red berries in pink gin, something for everyone. Opies have been firm family favourites since 1880, producing quality products that will delight your family every time. Keep your family happy with these delicious accompaniments to transform everyday dishes into something special, Opies truly have come up with clever ways to ensure that this Christmas families can enjoy an indulgent, tasty, yet affordable festive season. Get yours from all good supermarkets.

Three Spirit Drinks

All I can say is, it is about time someone came up with some amazing flavoured non-alcoholic options that refuse to disappoint and leave the consumer fulfilled and not missing alcohol. Three Spirit are on a mission to show the world alcohol-free does not mean pleasure-free. After years spent in libraries, labs, bars and fields, Three Spirit have created plant-based alternatives to alcohol that celebrate what you put into a drink, rather than what you take out. Created by a mix of plant scientists, world class bartenders, hedonists, herbalists and artists, it’s probably why they feel, taste and do everything a little differently, putting the vision of “A new choice, where there was none”. From the exotic and fiery Livener, bittersweet Social Elixir and the smooth taste of nightcap, Three Spirit have covered all basis and provided genius drink options for every occasion.

Gourmet Games

Let the Gourmet Games begin! Like many, I love playing games with the family at Christmas, especially games that involve chocolate. Gourmet Games have created a range of tasting games focusing on wines & fizz, gin, whisky and chocolate which include everything you need to host an informative, fun evening. The chocolate tastes great and the game is a whole bunch of fun. Gourmet Games specialise in games you can eat or drink, which is something everyone can enjoy. Give your Gourmets a taste of the dark (and white) world of chocolate tasting. This game perfectly compliments their Whisky Game, so why not buy them both for a truly indulgent evening with added merriness this Christmas.

Pip & Nut Gingerbread Almond Butter

For the nutty one in your life. This Gingerbread Almond Butter Jar is Pip and Nut’s latest limited-edition flavour.  It is a delicious blend of smooth almond butter with zingy ginger and cinnamon spices to add warmth and some dates for a subtle caramel flavour. Almond Butter is a great way to liven up your breakfast with a boom of festive flavour. Delicious swirled into porridge, or just spooned straight from the jar as a tasty snack. 25p from every jar will be donated to Hackney food bank.

Mermaid Gin

A smooth, yet complex blend of the freshness of organic lemon zest, the peppery notes in grains of paradise and a refreshing and invigorating hint of sea air from rock samphire. Isle of Wight gin is as delicious as it is beautiful. Awarded first place in the IWSC Design Awards, Mermaid Gin has been certified as Plastic-Free by A Plastic Planet. Crafted from recyclable glass, the stunning detailed bottle features a sustainably sourced natural cork stopper and compostable tamper-proof seal. By presenting their gin in a plastic-free package and supporting marine conservation projects, Isle of Wight distillery aim to preserve the environment of mermaids. Get yours here.

Spice Sultan

Chef David Jessup fed his passion for Indian cooking working at Bristol’s unique restaurant ‘The Thali Café’. It’s here that his obsession with spices began. Devoted to delivering fresh and authentic food, David travelled the world searching for the best recipes and secrets to unlock the full potential and flavour of both familiar and largely unknown spices. Now, The Spice Sultan not only sells a range of world spice kits, but also offers subscription-based products to bring delicious Indian cuisine within reach of everyone. These kits are a fantastic and unique gift for Christmas. Shop The Spice Sultan here.

Bobby Scheidams Gin

Gin is always guaranteed to be a well received gift, but this Bobby Scheidams gin may be too good to give away. Bobby’s is a unique blend of Indonesian spice and traditional botanicals. A Dutch-Indonesian hybrid that celebrates the 150 year old shared history of the two countries. Described as ‘Dutch courage mixed with Indonesian spice. Spicy and fragrant on the nose, a fresh burst of citrus and herbs at first sip and with a slight hum of pepper. Eight botanicals all separately distilled. No additives, sugars or extractions. Simply pure taste. A fresh take on a timeless classic, perfect teamed with tonic or added to a festive cocktail. With it’s timeless smoked glass design and unique bottle shape Bobby’s will make a great addition to any festive drinks trolley this Christmas. Get yours here.

Chocolate Pizza

Two of the worlds best foods collide! Indulge in this Heavenly Honeycomb chocolate pizza, topped with a range of tasty treats for everyone to enjoy, The pizza is topped with vanilla fudge chunks, chocolate rice balls and a large serving of milk chocolate curls. It’s the perfect centrepiece for a party and makes for a great gift for any chocoholic in your life. Personalise with your loved ones name or special message for that ultimate personal touch.

Dunnet Bay Rock Rose Gin

The award winning Rock Rose Gin gets a winter makeover. It’s wonderful flavour comes from a carefully selected and put together creation of local and traditional botanicals. Each one meticulously chosen for their flavour properties to create the perfect taste. Lovingly created by husband and wife team, Martin and his wife Claire founded Dunnet Bay Distillery at the spectacular bay of Dunnet in the far North of Scotland.  The couple are passionate about handcrafting spirits that celebrate the heritage and provenance of their home county of Caithness and pride themselves on using local hand-foraged botanicals alongside exotic botanicals from around the world. This is Rock Rose’s signature bottle with any icy winter makeover makes for a stunning and delightful Christmas gift.

Perky Blenders

Coffee with that extra special seasonal taste this Christmas. Enjoy a seasonal cup of coffee on a cold winters evening whilst wrapping presents or stoking up the fire, with this seasonal blend coffee from Perky Blenders. Freshly roasted in East London, the Christmas blend is comprised of Kenyan washed Mahiga beans with pulped natural Brazilian Fazenda Samambai beans. You’ll be greeted with a veritable selection box of flavours including candied fruit, orange, caramel, redcurrant, hazelnut and milk chocolate. This really does taste as dreamy as it sounds.

Lindt

Lindt is known and adored for producing creamy and indulgent chocolate. The new salted caramel, individually wrapped balls are a true delight, they boast a heavenly, perfectly balanced salted caramel taste. Decadent, creamy and flavourful chocolate, a great gift for loved ones this Christmas. Do not let the Lindt experience wait until Christmas when you can have 25 days of chocolate in their amazing, assorted advent calendar. You can find these items available in Lindt stores across the country.

Jackpot Peanut Butter

If you know a peanut butter fan or are one yourself you NEED to try Jackpot Peanut Butter. Jackpot’s aim is to bring you the best product in a way that matters and at the same time is beneficial to the larger community, by supporting grass roots music culture, environmentally and reducing waste by reusing and recycling. Using premium American peanuts from Georgia and the Virginias, a little salt and rapeseed oil, Jackpot is an all-natural, traditional American peanut butter made in the UK. No sugar, no palm oil. Suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Jackpot’s trademark pot is also available in a cheeky version and with personalisation.

Aduna Relax Tea

A fabulous gift or stocking filler for tea lovers. Let the warming embrace of chocolatey cacao, spiced with gently crushed cinnamon and cardamom get you in the festive spirit. Sit back, revel in the delicious aroma and allow the ancient soothing power of African cacao to calm your mind and lift your spirits. Aduna offer a fantastic range of wellbeing products, see more here.