It’s almost Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, and with it, a perfect excuse to treat yourself and your loved ones to some magical and delicious gifts, so without further ado, here is Glass of Bubbly’s Luxury Christmas Gift Guide, filled with luxurious sparkling wines, spirits, cheeses and more…

24 Days of Fizz Advent Calendar

One of the best Sparkling Wine Advent Calendars on the market this Christmas, the 24 Days of Fizz Advent Calendar is Glass of Bubbly’s Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar of the year, including the many wonderful labels from Freixenet, Mionetto and I Heart Prosecco, you’ll be delighting in the flavours of Prosecco and Cava.

With 24 days of bubbly goodness, each day will deliver a little added sparkle as you count down the days to Christmas, includes the following contents:

• Freixenet Italian Sparkling Rosé | Extra Dry Sparkling Wine | Product of Italy | 5 x 20cl | 11% ABV
• Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C. | Extra Dry Sparkling Wine | Product of Italy | 4 x 20cl | 11% ABV
• Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava | Brut Sparkling Wine | Product of Spain | 2 x 20cl | 11.5% ABV
• Freixenet Cordon Rosé Cava | Dry Sparkling Wine | Product of Spain | 3 x 20cl | 11.5% ABV
• Iheart Prosecco D.O.C. | Extra Dry Sparkling Wine | Product of Italy 4 x 20cl | 10.5% ABV
• Mionetto Prosecco D.O.C. Prestige Collection Orange Label | Brut Sparkling Wine | Product of Italy | 2 x 20cl | 11% ABV
• Mionetto Prosecco Rosé D.O.C. | Extra Dry Sparkling Wine | Product of Italy | 2 x 20cl | 11% ABV
• Mionetto Prosecco D.O.C.G. Prestige Collection Black Label | Extra Dry Sparkling Wine | 2 x 20cl | 11% ABV

All Products Contain Sulphites and are Suitable for vegetarians.

Discover the brands you’ll be enjoying on the countdown to Christmas:

• Best known for their stunning cut-glass Prosecco bottle, celebrate your big and small moments with a range of Freixenet Sparkling favourites.

• Discover I heart wines, the wine with a big heart and perfect for your everyday occasions.

• Mionetto is the hallmark of superior quality and premium tasting Prosecco since 1887.

Aphrodise – Greek Sparkling Wine

The incredible Aphrodise Sparkling Rose from Greece won a Gold Medal in the First Date Category at the Glass of Bubbly Awards 2024.

A perfect sparkling wine to enjoy on a First Date, with a delicate sweetness, joyful candy and red fruits, easy to enjoy and pair with light meals. And with a magnum up your sleeve, you’ll be sure to make a fantastic impression.

This Christmas pop open a bottle of Aphrodise Magnum and delight in twice the amount of bubbles.

When It Comes To Pairing Sparkling Wine With Food, Do You Have Any Favourite Combinations That You Would Personally Recommend?

“Light foods go best with all sparkling wine. Aphrodise is special in that it can be lavishly enjoyed in the sun and humidity, and very easily paired with foods consumed in that setting.”– Frank Schilling – Founder Of Aphrodise

Discover more from Aphrodise on Glass of Bubbly, with an Interview With The Founder Of Aphrodise – Frank Schilling

Colonsay Spirits

We’re always thrilled to discover and highlight the new and wonderful flavours and spirits from Colonsay Distillery, and this year hasn’t disappointed, introducing a Raspberry Vodka, Honey Spiced Rum and Shochu, a Japanese Style Rum.

In August 2016, husband and wife team, Finlay and Eileen Geekie packed up all their worldly possessions, leaving behind their home of Oxfordshire, where they’d lived for over 30 years and moved to the island of Colonsay where they now live and work building Wild Thyme Spirits, which is now owned by The Island Shop.

Raspberry Vodka – “Crafted by taking crisp Vodka and infusing it with juicy raspberries that have been freshly picked from the countryside. This produces a very light, fresh and fruity drink which is best served in the garden on a summer’s day!” – Colonsay

Honey Spiced Rum – “An exquisite blend of aged Caribbean rums, from sugar cane molasses, enriched with orange, cinnamon and fiery ginger and balanced with a mellow sweetness of vanilla and honey. Finished with earthy notes from delicate rooibos tea and carob bean.” – Colonsay

Shochu – “Shochu is the second in a series of enigmatic releases that is rooted in the endless search for new experiences from around the globe combining, not only, beautiful tastes and flavours, but also capturing the very essence of their geographical locations. Shochu consists of a rare Japanese mountain tea with plum and cedar notes.” – Colonsay 

We have a wide range of incredible Cocktails using the wonderful flavours from Colonsay which you could try this season: Colonsay Cocktails on Glass of Bubbly.

Jaya Prosecco

Quality in taste, style and design, Jaya Prosecco offers an experience with every glass, from magical unforgettable moments to relaxed lazy afternoons, with family, friends and friends to be.

Jaya took home a Trophy for the second year in a row at the Glass of Bubbly Awards for their Rosé Spumante. It was awarded the ‘First Date’ Category Trophy, judged to be the best Sparkling Wine in the world to enjoy on a First Date.

JAYA Rosé – Tasting Notes – “A delicate sweetness, kind in temptation with succulent ripe strawberries, a gorgeous display of pink blossom and floral notes, with pink / white rose petals, and so much more.”

“Our JAYA Rosé is an elegant and refined sparkling wine, revealing subtle aromas of red fruits, cherries and roses, we worked hard to find the perfect balance between freshness and roundness, thanks to the blend of Glera, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc.” – Tancredi Pascale, the Founder, Owner & CEO of Jaya

Broken Clock Vodka

A luxury English Vodka brand, Broken Clock is derived from the abundant English country garden at Shandy Hall in North Yorkshire a place which was once the home to 18th Century’s most eccentric author, Laurence Sterne – and where time seems to stand still…

Luxury isn’t just presented in its branding, it’s delivered in its flavour, clean and smooth, relaxing and comforting, perfect to sip and to mix. Stoop time with each sip and rewind the clock with a bottle of Broken Clock Vodka this Christmas.

Last year we helped highlight a cocktail by Angelo Lo Greco, entitled the ‘Broken Bones’ Cocktail.

Delicario’s Christmas Hamper

A wonderful treat for anyone with a passion for food and wine this Christmas, Delicario brings you the Continental Journey Hamper a perfect example of Mediterranean luxury, with this hamper highlighting some of the wonderful flavours from the Mediterranean including the following within this quality crafted hamper. Delicario Continental Journey Hamper:

• Chianti Classico DOCG 2021, Tenuta Orsumella
• Jamon de Cebo de Campo Iberico, Pais de Quercus
• Delicario Mature Artisan Manchego Cheese
• Delicario Cake in a Jar with Chocolate and Pear
• Delicario Pesto alla Trapanese
• Delicario Tomato Sauce with Aubergine
• Balsamic Vinegar Pearls, Acetificio Andrea Milano
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reserve 25 Year, Pellegrino
• Sea Salt with Saffron and Garlic, Glosa Marina
• Paccheri With Wheatgerm, Pastificio Morelli

Each item will be carefully wrapped and packed inside the hamper with a greeting card and personal message also included.

Winter Warmer Red Sparkling Wine

Trophy Winner for Winter Warmer: d’Arenberg – The Peppermint Paddock – from Australia is a fantastic choice for the festive season with a wondrous display of warm winter spices and red berries, it can easily be enjoyed in front of an open fire or TV screen fire, during the relaxing evening on Christmas day.

Gold Medal Winners – Winter Warmer

Paladin – Raboso Fiore IGT Veneto – Italy
Sekthaus Raumland – 2015 Chardonnay Réserve Brut – Germany
Vinska klet Metlika – Črna Belokranjka – Slovenia

Silver Medal Winner – Winter Warmer

Vina Štoka – Prima Teranova Penina – Slovenia

 

Five Farms – Irish Cream Liqueur

Exclusively sourced and produced in County Cork, Ireland, Five Farms is the world’s first farm-to-table Irish cream liqueur.

Five Farms is a true farm-to-table product, crafted from single batches of fresh cream that are combined with premium Irish whiskey within 48 hours of collection to become authentic Irish cream liqueur. The cream is sourced entirely from five family-owned farms in County Cork, run by families that have a deep connection to the land and a passion for their craft.

Made with the finest ingredients

Single Batch Cream 
Five Farms is made with the richest dairy cream, smooth and sweet and luxurious. The mild climate and abundant rainfall in County Cork result in fertile farmland for dairy cattle, who spend their days basking in the fresh sea air and grazing on vibrant green grass.

Irish Whiskey 
County Cork is also home to the centuries-old tradition of distilling authentic Irish whiskey. The pot stills traditionally used for distillation gave the spirit a consistency that has remained timeless. Premium triple-distilled Irish whiskey has a smoothness and complexity that add depth to the sweetness of the cream.

The Five Farms container is a wide-mouthed glass bottle with embossed details and a ceramic swing-top cap, in a style that dates back to the early 1900s. The bottle swings from a metal handle that is easy to carry and gives another nod to milk containers of the past. The black glass creates an elegant presentation and allows the bottle to be either repurposed or recycled.

Haroosh – Lost Loch

Lost Loch Spirits was founded and is owned and operated by Pete Dignan & Rich Pierce, with three aspects being crucial to their mission – the place, the process, and the spirits.

The Place – The Lost Loch Spirits distillery is in the heart of Royal Deeside, 30 miles west of Aberdeen. The distillery is built on the banks of the now-drained Loch Auchlossan or the ‘Lost Loch’. The landscape and the history surrounding them seep into the storytelling, flavours, and branding.

The Process – To maintain the highest standards, Lost Loch Spirits produces in a small batch mentality in an honest and transparent way. Using only natural ingredients and respecting the environment.

The Spirits – Each spirit draws inspiration from local provenance and the histories of the land around them. The final products are quirky, invigorating, inventive and imaginative, distinctly separate but part of the Lost Loch Spirits family.

Lost Loch Spirits – Haroosh – Tasting Notes – “Sweet, delicious, succulent honey notes consume the aroma, just like diving into a pool of honey. The palate is much the same, sweet, silky and smooth, with honey, golden honey, rich honey, warm melted honey, honey on toast, Whisky notes gifting it that unique enjoyable character and even more honey!”

The Haroosh is a special product for Lost Loch Spirits, it originates from the North East of Scotland, using brambleberries foraged from the Royal Deeside area and honey from local bees which collect nectar from different areas in and around the Dee Valley, the Haroosh has been made the exact same way for the past 100 years, their family and friends have enjoyed this creation for generations, and since 2016, so can you.

Each bottle is hand-crafted, limited and sealed with beeswax, containing at least 50 brambleberries and their bees have to travel around 4500 miles to collect enough honey for every bottle.

If you’d like to craft a cocktail with the Haroosh for the festive season, check out the Flying Above The Dream Cocktail

Ealing Gin

For four generations the Duncan Family, has lived in the West borough of London in Ealing, nicknamed the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’, but it is thanks to Simon and Amanda Duncan to bringing Ealing Gin to life, the couple has a background in communications and brand development, but some years ago they developed a passion for gin and decided to create their own label and building a small distillery right next to their family home in the heart of Ealing.

Over 100 years ago, Ealing became a magnate for actors, artists and musicians throughout the 20th century as the famous Ealing Film Studios, Jazz/Blues Club and theatre were established. The borough still has its wonderful collection of Art Deco buildings – The Hoover Building being the most iconic – which was the inspiration for the bottle design.

What flavours Are you likely To Find In A Glass Of Ealing Gin: Juniper leads with wild floral and blossom, warming spices subtly reminding me of Christmas with orange citrus and a peppery warmth as a bonus, it delivers a smooth, clean, rounded and warming mouthfeel.

“From the outset, we wanted to create a high-end gin but one grounded in good spirit and friendliness. The feeling of belonging, having friendships and social interaction is fundamental to health and happiness but so many people are lonely and socially isolated. As a family we know this is particularly true for people with disabilities, the vulnerable and the old, so on our journey, as we grow, we’ll share 20% of our profits with good causes that will hopefully help more people to make friends and belong.” – Amanda Duncan

We utilised their Ealing Gin in a wonderful Cocktail on Glass of Bubbly, The Ealing Penelope Cocktail.

Devils Bridge

High in the Cambrian mountains near Aberystwyth, the Devil was exploring Wales for the first time when he found a woman, separated from her cow by a river…

He offered a bridge, in return for the first soul to cross it.

When the woman returned, the devil’s dance of victory quickly turned to shrieks of horror as she sang brightly, tossed a loaf of Bara Brith bread over and watched her faithful dog go fetch…

The Devil, now disgruntled, disappeared and was said never to be seen again in Wales…

Devil’s Bridge is inspired by this legendary tale of Welsh spirit, with an unexpected dryness in the finish. They started their journey with producing a gold medal winning Spiced Rum, and have now released an incredible Dark Cherry Liqueur to enjoy in any of your festive Cocktails this Christmas.

Tasting Notes – “As described, it tasted exactly like Cherry Drops, with delicately sweet tart like cherries, enjoyable on its own or in a cocktail.”

To discover their rum, check out the Devil’s Bridge Cocktail on Glass of Bubbly.

Sapling Spirits – Climate Positive British Gin

It’s always a treat when distilleries offer taste sets, to discover their range in a fun and friendly manner, this year we’re recommending their Sapling Gin & Tonic Gift Set which contains 3 x Gin miniatures and 3 x flavoured tonics/sodas.

Sapling Spirits are on a mission and they need our help, they have set the goal to plant 1,000,000 trees by 2027, currently, they have helped plant over 310k trees in their projects across the UK and abroad,

For every bottle sold, a tree is planted. From fruit trees in London to hazelnut trees in Suffolk, it’s the local communities who benefit from their planting projects.

Last year, when I featured Sapling they had saved 125k+ bottles through their refills, now in 2024, they have saved 310k+. The bars and restaurants that serve Sapling’s Vodka use 5-litre eco boxes so that their bottles can be refilled and reused, this helps eliminate glass waste and their carbon footprint by around 25%. One eco box saves 7 bottles from ever being created.

You can discover their Vodka Gift Set in last year’s Glass of Bubbly Luxury Christmas Gift Guide.

Tack Room Distillery

With over 20 years of experience in the alcohol industry and a lifelong passion for spirits, Tim Bisson, the founder of Tack Room Distillery, spent a long time exploring the production methods of various beverages, from Russian vodka to Caribbean rum, gin, mescal, and whisky.

One of the principles that Tim Bisson sticks true to is that of the mixology world, stating “Welcome to Tack Room Distillery, where passion for all things alcoholic meets the art of mixology.” This enthusiasm for mixology has driven him to share his knowledge and passion with anyone willing to listen and learn.

This year we’re discovering their London Dry Gin, inspired by the historical Eastern spice trade route, infused with 14 hand selected botanicals packed with fresh citrus and rich spices.

You can discover Tack Room’s Vodka in this Halloween Movie Cocktail – Blade

Padstow Gin

Padstow Distilling was created and is run by wine merchant David McWilliam, since launching in 2018, Padstow Distilling now has an HQ and bar at 17 Duke Street in Padstow which has become a hub for those seeking a unique and authentic taste of Cornwall.

The botanical recipe combines tradition with the beauty of its location, blending juniper, citrus, and pepper with local Alexanders, an ancient coastal plant foraged from the cliffs above the same beach on the western side of the estuary.

For those seeking an immersive experience, Padstow Distilling welcomes visitors to its shop and bar at 17 Duke Street in the heart of Padstow, while from here, David and his team run guided walks along the estuary to take in the sights, sounds and scents of this special place – the inspiration for this range of Padstow’s spirits.

• Padstow Gin Navy – 70cl, £60.00
• Padstow Gin Original – 70cl, £48.00
• Padstow Gin Rose – 70cl, £48,00

All their spirits are crafted from locally sourced ingredients that grow along the coastline of North Cornwall.

Rose 17 – Sparkling Wine Cocktail

Cocktails At Larry’s

Larry’s Bar, the multi award-winning speakeasy at the heart of the National Portrait Gallery, is proud to announce the launch of Cocktails at Larry’s.

The book merges mixology with history, honouring the lives and legacies of West End celebrities, artists, and cultural icons through carefully crafted drinks.

Among the many highlights is the Maccarita, a bold re-imagining of the classic Margarita, inspired by Sir Paul McCartney, whose portraits were exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery.

“These cocktails are not just drinks – they’re an invitation to explore the lives of some of the most iconic figures in British history.” – Tom Onions, co-founder of The Daisy Green Collection, which operates Larry’s Bar and wrote the book in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery.

Readers are introduced to the story behind Larry’s, a speakeasy named after Sir Laurence Olivier, one of the greatest actors to ever grace the West End’s stages. Olivier, affectionately known as ‘Larry’ to his peers, is commemorated through his signature cocktail – a drink that tells the story of his romance with Vivien Leigh and their shared love of glamorous cocktail parties, celebrated within the pages of the book.

In addition to the cocktails, Cocktails at Larry’s delves into London’s nightlife and iconic venues, from the glamorous parties at Ciro’s nightclub to the bohemian gatherings at the Colony Room.

 

Eisberg – Blanc de Blacnc Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine

Eisberg has a selection of alcohol free wines, where the alcohol is gently removed at the end of the winemaking process.

The Sparkling Blanc de Blancs alcohol free wine has a delicate aroma of yellow Mirabel plum, pear and ripe yellow apple. This wine’s rich and rounded flavour is backed by racy acidity and nuanced Chardonnay notes.

Elegant and sophisticated – The premium taste in Alcohol Free wines makes this ideal for indulging in at Christmas.

Wines & Port – by Symington and Pasqua Families

No festive table is complete without a bottle of wine or even a bottle of Port on the Christmas dinner table,

As recommended by the Symington and Pasqua families, who’ve been respectfully making port and wines since 1872 and 1925, here are the best ports and wines to share with loved ones this Christmas.

Altano Organic Douro Red 2021: £12.99 at Waitrose – With a full, opulent texture, plum flavours and peppery tannins, this vegan, vegetarian, organic wine is produced by the Symington family – the only wine producer in Portugal to be certified as a B Corporation.

​Altano Douro Rewilding: £11 at Ocado – The Rewilding Edition was produced from the beautiful mountain vineyards in the Douro to support Rewilding Portugal’s pioneering conservation work. With every bottle sold, Douro makes a financial contribution to their important nature recovery efforts in northern Portugal.

Cockburn’s Special Reserve: £14 at Tesco, £14.99 at Waitrose – Originally introduced in 1969, Cockburn’s Special Reserve was created to bridge the gap between vintage ports and their younger counterparts, creating an approachable yet complex new port category. Produced from the finest vineyards in the Upper Douro Valley, Special Reserve is matured in oak casks for 5 years before being bottled. Tasting Notes – “Rich, sweet and smooth, with concentrated and jammy red fruits/berries, with cherries, ripe plums and some peppery notes.”

Need more inspiration for Christmas, check out last year’s Glass of Bubbly’s Luxury Christmas Gift Guide

A Very Merry Christmas From Glass of Bubbly