Choosing an original gift for friends and family isn’t always easy. Too often we resort to the same old favourites. But whether your dad loves his whisky or grandma enjoys putting her feet up with a cheeky G&T, a drink is always a welcome sight at Christmas.

From special seasonal editions to curated collaborations, this year spirits brands have created a broad selection of gifts designed to appeal to lovers of gin, whisky, vodka, rum or tequila. So if you’re looking for something a bit different, one of the gifts below might fit the bill.

We’ve rounded up our favourite spirituous gifts across a range of prices, from botanical cocktail garnishes to a Martini print to hang on the wall. So whether you’re searching for a budget stocking filler or a blow-out gift for someone special, you’ll find inspiration below.

Surprise the wine connoisseur in your life this Christmas with a Decanter Premium subscription

Gifts under £20

Fever-Tree Christmas Crackers

These cute little crackers make a perfect stocking filler for spirits lovers. Each contains a 5cl spirit and 15cl mixer. Choose from a range of 12, including: The Ultimate Whisky & Ginger Ale Cracker with Benriach 10 Year Old, The Ultimate Classic Mojito Cracker with Duppy Share Spiced Rum and The Ultimate Blood Orange Gin Spritz Cracker with Papa Salt Gin.

BUY: £9 John Lewis 

Cocktail Elements Lemon Garnish Spray

I use these fruity garnish sprays from Cocktail Elements all year round, as a finishing touch for drinks I mix at home. Flavours include yuzu, lime and citrus pepper. Buy a single bottle as a stocking filler or get a set of three (lemon, lime and orange) for £32.

BUY: £12.60 Linden Leaf  

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Sticky Toffee Pudding Rum Liqueur

Presented in a stylish reusable decanter, this rum liqueur from the Sainsbury’s spirits range is a decadent treat – and great value too. Sweet and luscious, with flavours of caramel and dates, it’s sticky toffee pudding in a glass! Sip it neat, with or without ice, or pour it over ice cream for a boozy adult dessert.

BUY: £15 Sainsbury’s 

Gifts under £40

Black Lines Oatnog

Think eggnog, but better. Produced by bottled cocktail experts Black Lines, this dairy-free festive special edition is made from Two Drifters Signature Rum and Oatly Barista, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Enjoy it cold over ice or heat gently in a pan and garnish with freshly ground nutmeg. Each 750ml bottle contains five 150ml serves. In addition £1 for every bottle sold will be donated to support aid for children and families in Gaza. (Alc 6.3%)

BUY: £20 Black Lines 

MOTH Party Pack

Makers of bar-quality cocktails in cans, MOTH (Mix Of Total Happiness) has created a festive party pack featuring eight of its bestsellers: Mojito, Negroni, Spicy Margarita, Margarita, Espresso Martini, Passionfruit Martini, Cosmopolitan and Paloma. All ready to drink at any Christmas party. Look out for a golden ticket inside winning packs for the chance to win a dinner party of dreams worth £500. Available exclusively at Waitrose.

BUY: £22 Waitrose 

Limited-edition St-Rémy XO x Tomalater

Distilled in the Loire Valley, St-Rémy is world’s number one French brandy. Its XO is made from grapes grown in various regions of France including Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. This limited-edition bottle designed by Thomas Lateur features a colourful mosaic to represent the diversity of those vineyards and villages. Inside the bottle is a rich brandy with notes of woody vanilla, dates, figs, nuts and gingerbread. Enjoy it neat, in an indulgent brandy coffee or use it to set your Christmas pudding aflame! (Alc 40%)

BUY: £24.50 Sainsbury’s 

Ooshky Whisky Water Jug

The ideal gift for whisky lovers who like to add a splash of water to their dram to open out the flavours. Way more stylish than a pipette or water dropper, this elegant little ceramic water jug lets users add however much water they prefer to their whisky glass. Cover the larger hole with your thumb and control the flow by partially releasing your thumb for a splash, or keep it covered and shake for a drop. Also available in a clear glass finish.

BUY: £32, Ooshky 

Gifts under £60

Negroni al Natale

Get your Christmas party started with a festive Negroni. Allora Aperitivo al Limone has joined forces with Italian restaurant Lardo to create this seasonal special edition. It combines East London Gin with Lardo’s homemade chinotto and Allora Aperitivo al Limone, a fresh lemon aperitivo from the Italian island of Procida in the Bay of Naples – known locally as the ‘island of lemons’. This ready-to drink 70cl bottle contains nine serves. (Alc 19%)

BUY: £40 Delli Market 

The Lost Explorer Agave Cocktail Gift Set

Ideal for fans of agave spirits, this gift set from award-winning mezcal and tequila brand The Lost Explorer contains a trio of premium ready-to-drink cocktails created in partnership with Lockdown Liquor & Co. Choose from a tropical Passionfruit Margarita, a zippy Mezcal Picante and a smoky Mezcal Negroni, each served in a 200ml glass bottle, easy to serve and enjoy.

BUY: £45 Lockdown Liquor & Co 

Isobel Lynam Martini Prints

Illustrator Isobel Lynam creates original food and drink prints in her St Leonards studio on the Sussex coast. Latest additions to the range include these graphic designs of a Martini and Espresso Martini – two of her favourite drinks. Prices start at £22 for an unframed A4 print, going up to £80 for a framed A1 print.

BUY: £50 Isobel Lynam 

Gifts under £100

Mermaid Winter Gin Gift Set

Produced on the Isle of Wight, Mermaid Winter Gin is a rich and warming seasonal expression, distilled with botanicals including figs, grapes, cassia, orange peel and Isle of Wight honey. This stylish gift set is comes with two gold-patterned tumblers – perfect for serving a Gin & Tonic garnished with a slice of orange. (Alc 38%)

BUY: £68 John Lewis

A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Whisky 2025 Edition

The Whisky Exchange’s annual festive whisky release is guaranteed to keep Scotch-lovers happy. The 2025 edition is a 16 Year Old Highland single malt, matured in first-fill oloroso Sherry casks. As you’d expect it’s big on festive flavour: think Christmas pudding, brandy butter, orange, chocolate and candied almonds. Perfect with a mince pie or two. (Alc 55%)

BUY: £79.95 The Whisky Exchange

DRAM5

The DRAM5 discovery box challenges whisky lovers with a blind tasting of five premium, rare, single-cask Scotch whiskies, carefully selected from celebrated distilleries across Scotland and bottled in 25cl serves – but not labelled. It also includes a digital programme that lets recipients record tasting notes and connect with other whisky lovers. With only 6,000 boxes available, it’s an exclusive statement gift.

BUY: £95 Hedonism

Gifts over £100

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Membership

For a gift that keeps giving beyond Christmas Day, choose a year’s membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Members can purchase exclusive bottles from the Society’s extensive range and enjoy access to private members’ bars and events across the UK, as well as online tastings and a monthly online magazine. Membership cards are presented in a handsome gift box with a full-size bottle of a limited-edition whisky that’s worth around £75. There’s even a downloadable PDF gift certificate for last-minute shoppers too.

BUY: £100 The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Aureus Vita Gin

The three wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the manger, but Aureus Vita – meaning ‘golden way of life’ – may be the next best thing. This luxe new gin has been created according to the principles of the Fibonacci sequence, a series of increasing numbers that can be divided to produce the Golden Ratio of approximately 1.618. This harmonious ratio is found throughout the natural world and has been applied to everything from music to architecture. Chemist-turned-Master Distiller John Hall has used the Golden Ratio at every stage of production for his new gin: from botanical proportions to still design to dilution. The result is a smooth, elegant and harmonious gin that’s perfect in your Christmas Day Martini.

BUY: £169 Fortnum & Mason 

Laphroaig 18-Year-Old & Dry Bag Gift Set

For adventurous spirits who are partial to a dram, this gift set pairs a bottle of Laphroaig 18-Year-Old Islay single malt with a sturdy branded dry bag to keep valuable items safe and dry on outdoor excursions, whether it’s a coastal hike, camping under winter skies, or simply braving a Boxing Day walk. Just remember to take a nip of Laphroaig’s bold, peaty and earthy 18-Year-Old in your hip-flask.

BUY: £189.95 Hard to Find Whisky

Related articles

Wines with turkey: A food pairing guide

Thanksgiving wine pairings and 15 American wines to try

Wine with beef: Expert pairing advice and styles to try

There weren’t an awful lot of new additions in the line-up of 111 wines at Asda’s latest tasting. A sign of retrenchment after a few years of steady improvement under the thoughtful stewardship of the wine department’s senior manager for sourcing, Clive Donaldson, perhaps?

Maybe, but Asda still offers plenty of interest for wine buyers on a budget, with several wines offering outstanding value for their category and pricepoint.

Many of the best buys can be found at those distinctively specific Asda pricepoints of £6.97 and £6.98 – that’s where you’ll find, among others, such clever buys as the Wine Atlas Garda Sparkling Brut, Asda Extra Special Douro, Asda Extra Special Carmenère, and the flat-out bargain buy that is the Exceptional by Asda Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon.

A little more expensive, but no less impressive on a pound-for-pound basis, are the Exceptional by Asda Great Western Shiraz from Victoria (£8.77) and the tangy De Botrytis Semillon dessert wine from New South Wales (£7.97). Both these Australians would be welcome standby bottles for, respectively, roast-and-all-the-trimmings and the cheese board over the Christmas period,.

The Extra Special Marqués Reserva and Gran Reserva, meanwhile, are as ever among the most satisfyingly soft, savoury and mature examples of Rioja around for their respective £8.07 and £12.19 pricepoints.

When it comes to new wines, a pair from the Stellenbosch stalwart Stellenrust stood out for their brightness: both the Mason’s Kloof Sauvignon Blanc and, especially, the Mason’s Kloof Chenin Blanc are more than worth their £9.97 price tag, while the discreetly stylish dry Italian white from the Lugana DOC near Lake Garda, a long term favourite in the Asda range, is as ever a lovely wine that offers far more fragrance and subtle concentration than its £11.42 pricetag would generally provide.

The best Asda wines to buy this season:

Related articles

• Waitrose – Best buys this autumn
• Marks & Spencer wines: Top picks for autumn and winter
• Best Sainsbury’s wines to try

Tipsy advent calendars have become as popular as their beauty counterparts, some flying off the shelves even before hitting them. But there’s still time to get one’s hands on some of this year’s best selection from the UK’s leading retailers.

In lieu of chocolates or Christmas figures, embark on an exploration of different wines and spirits before the big festive day(s). It will lift your mood and give you the chance to explore styles, regions and producers that might be outside your comfort zone.

This year, alongside long-standing favourites, there are also more niche and explorative options, some of which are also worth considering as thoughtful and edgy gifts.

 Decanter Premium: The perfect gift for a special wine lover

Wine Advent Calendars:

Laithwaites Mixed Wine Advent Calendar

With the white- and red-only selections already sold out, you should act quickly for a chance to grab the mixed version of Laithwaites extremely popular advent calendar. As always, the countdown ends with a full bottle of Prosecco on December 24th. If willing to splurge, you might like to check out the beautiful Fine Wine selection (£150), presented in sustainable tasting packs, each with its own tasting note, serving suggestion and QR code to access all wine details.

£99.99 from Laithwaites

John Lewis Fizz Advent Calendar

John Lewis’ wine and spirits advent calendars are always among the most anticipated festive releases and this year is no exception. The still mixed selection is available for £95, but it’s the Fizz counterpart that truly evokes a festive feel with its selection of 24 Proseccos, Cavas and Champagnes. Worth considering the Cocktails alternative as well to add some more colourful sparkle to December days.

£140 from John Lewis

Decanter Premium: The perfect gift for a special wine lover

Brixton Wine Club Advent Calendar

The first batch of Brixton Wine Club’s advent calendar sold out fast but batch #2 is now being shipped. Fun and sustainable, it includes 24 cans of sparkling, white, orange, rosé and red wine, and a sheet with descriptions and tasting notes. A great way to test the format and discover new wines. For added suspense the full-line will be kept a secret while sales last.

£130 from Brixton Wine Club

Quevedo Port Wine Advent Calendar

Treat yourself to a daily sip of Port – bound to help with the colds and coughs – with this neatly packaged selection from family-owned Port House Quevedo. The box includes all styles of Port, from Dry White to Colheita, by way of (young and aged) Tawny, Ruby, LBV and even Rosé. A great exploration of Portugal’s flagship fortified wine. The historical Real Companhia Velha also has its own, equally comprehensive, Port advent calendar available for £97.50 from Rusty Nail Spirits.

From Amazon UK

Spirits Advent Calendars:

The Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar

The Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar from Drinks by the Dram is always worth the wait, both for its contents and its idiosyncratic packaging. This year one can actually choose from two different, equally beautiful, designs: classic and kintsugi, a tribute to the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery and celebrating imperfection. Whichever your choice, you’ll be enjoying a selection of exquisite nipponic whiskies until Santa arrives.

£249.95 from Master of Malt

Fortnum & Mason Spirits & Liqueurs Advent Calendar

Iconic and always highly anticipated, Fortnum & Mason’s many advent calendars invariably sell out quickly. The premium spirits and liqueurs selection is truly one of a kind. Beautifully packaged and thoughtfully curated, it includes Gins, Vodka, Whisky, Rum and Liqueurs from F&M’s own range and many collaborations with renowned distilleries. A real festive treat.

£225 from Fortnum & Mason

Fever Tree Gin & Tonic Advent Calendar

Among the most affordable options for a tipsy advent calendar, Fever Tree’s Gin & Tonic countdown selection is beautifully presented and offers a fun proposition: a different mix every two days, to make the winter blues go away. 12 Fever Tree tonics are paired with 12 gins from both established and lesser-known brands; a great way to refine your botanical and mixology skills.

£65 from John Lewis

24 Days of Rum Advent Calendar

Brought to you by The Whisky Exchange, this advent calendar offers a comprehensive journey through the world of rum: 24 rums from around the world, tasting notes and two glasses to enjoy each daily treat in good company. There’s also a warming Spiced Rum version for lovers of more playful styles.

£79.95 from The Whisky Exchange

Premium Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar – A Whisky Tour Of Scotland

Gravity Drinks’ Premium Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar can easily be repurposed as a super classy gift for a whisky lover. The handmade wooden cabinet contains 24 whiskies from all five Scottish whisky regions as well as two spirits nosing glasses.

From Amazon UK

Related articles

• Wine with Christmas turkey – Food pairing
• Best Christmas market cities for wine lovers
• Festive Champagne cocktails to make at home

Terroir is often a term used in reference to wine. When a certain grape is grown close to the sea or in mineral-rich soils for example, imbibers are able to taste a hint of salinity or flint in the resulting wine.

In the same way terroir can also be used to describe certain gins. Distillers can source native, wild-grown botanicals to capture the essence of a certain part of the world in their spirits.

Although this has previously been more popular in the UK, now US producers are catching on. using niche ingredients from coast to coast, north to south, to craft gins that are completely distinct to their environment.

In Rhode Island, Rhodium Forager’s Gin uses red clover, sumac, autumn berries and aronia. In California, St George Spirits Terroir Gin relies on Douglas fir, coastal sage, wild fennel and California bay laurel. More broadly reflective of the US is the just-launched Four Corners Gin, made by sourcing indigenous ingredients from across the country. Think wild juniper from Oregon, yerba santa from the Mojave desert, cranberry from Maine and wild cherry bark from Florida.

Going local

‘These locally picked botanicals give terroir gins a unique and distinctive flavour profile, setting them apart from mass produced, traditional gins,’ says Donal O’Gallachoir, co-founder of Four Corners Gin.

O’Gallachoir adds that until recently, most gins in America were made from overseas botanicals, either in part or entirely, but now consumer tastes are more discerning. ‘Gin enthusiasts increasingly love a compelling story that connects the gin to where it’s from. They really appreciate and enjoy the narrative behind the gin, being transported to a place with every sip.’

In general, contemporary consumers are increasingly curious about provenance – tracing a product back to its origins as a confirmation of its authenticity and quality. When it comes to terroir gin, this is especially relevant as the ingredients used in the spirit are often growing together.

Botanical tapestry

‘All of the botanicals work together,’ says Chris Garden, head of operations at Hepple Gin. The Hepple distillery is based within the eastern edge of England’s Northumberland National Park. Garden points out how the stream that feeds the estate’s green juniper plants also feeds the bog myrtle and Douglas fir used in the gin.

‘The influence of climate and geography have an integral role in the flavour of these ingredients,’ adds Adam Hannett, head distiller for The Botanist. Launched in 2011, this Scottish gin brand was a pioneer in terroir gin. ‘We wanted to capture the essence of what it feels like to be on Islay,’ says Hannett. The 22 hand-foraged botanicals include three different types of mint, flowers such as purple heather and earthy botanicals like wild thyme. All are sourced from the hills, meadows and moors of Islay, the southernmost Hebrides island, located off Scotland’s west coast.

Terroir gins tend to feature a handful of key ingredients, some of which you can taste more than others. Geraldine Kavanagh is a forager at Glendalough Distillery in Ireland, which produces Wild Botanical Gin. She notes that even botanicals used in lesser quantities are just as significant to the final liquid.

‘They affect the way the gin tastes and feels in your mouth, in the same way as herbs, salt and pepper are small but hugely important additions to a recipe when you are cooking at home,’ she explains. The 30 fresh, foraged botanicals used to make Wild Botanical Gin, include yarrow and sweet woodruff. Both are used in small quantities, but Kavanagh says the gin wouldn’t be as balanced without them.

Seasonal style

In addition to relaying a specific sense of place, gins produced from wild-grown botanicals reflect profound seasonality and freshness. Lantic Gin’s founder Alex Palmer-Samborne (below) picks botanicals and distils them within 24 hours. ‘Similar to cooking,’ he says, ‘you get a lot more of the true flavour from fresh produce.’

Lantic’s gin portfolio aims to capture the different seasons. Lantic Summer Foraged Gin and Morva are inspired by summer meadows, sourcing from wide-open spaces in bloom, using the likes of elderflower, wild strawberries, red clover, and honeysuckle. Lantic Winter Foraged Gin is designed for the colder and darker months, tapping into autumnal fruits and berries that are distilled and aged in an oak cask for warming notes.

‘Using plants that grow locally and distilling them daily allows us to capture the changing flavours of an entire year,’ agrees Glendalough’s Kavanagh. ‘I like that you have to wait and that there is a sense of excitement with the coming of each botanical. We have lost this in the modern world where everything is available all year round, but things don’t necessarily taste as good.’

Kavanagh explains that during August in the Wicklow Mountains, she’s smelling herbal and honey notes in the air from heather in bloom. In April, it’s pine and tropical coconut notes from the new shoots of the pine trees and gorse in bloom. ‘In order to capture that terroir in a bottle, the botanicals have to be of excellent quality. The flowers have to be picked on a dry day when they have pollen; the leaves need to be fresh and green and at their prime in terms of flavour; fruit has to be perfectly ripe.’

Freshness is also a result of limited production and using small batch stills. ‘It is the attention to detail in the production process that makes these gins so good,’ shares O’Gallachoir. ‘Each [ingredient] needs to be treated differently and macerated slowly to tease out their unique flavours,’ he says. At Four Corners, the team uses a 1,500-litre pot still with a shallow swan’s neck to deliver low reflux, which results in capture of more congeners and oils for a rich and textural profile.

Environmental benefits

It’s also interesting to consider the environmental role of foraged botanicals. In some instances their use is helping to scale down issues they might previously have contributed to their natural habitats. In Providence, Cathy Plourde, co-owner of Rhode Island Spirits, who distils Rhodium Forager’s Gin, sources botanicals in great quantities that are considered invasive species such as autumn berry, weeds like clover or sumac, or even a nuisance, like black walnuts.

Lance Winters, Master Distiller for St George’s Terroir Gin gathers Douglas fir from a ranch near Ukiah in California, which is home to a forest of old-growth redwoods. According to Winters, clearing out the Douglas fir helps to reduce fuel load for forest fires.

As the popularity of terroir products continues to trend, it’s opening a new world of how gin can and should taste. ‘The myth that all gin tastes like a Christmas tree is eroding, as people realise that craft gin strives to bring unique flavours that use specific, local ingredients,’ says Plourde.

Designed to be tasted neat so that you can appreciate the nuances in terroir, the following eight terroir-drive gins add a unique layer of complexity to classic cocktails.

Eight terroir gins to try

Four Corners American Gin

Crafted exclusively with all American botanicals, the nose is balanced with hints of floral and slight juniper. The palate is clean and smooth with notable wood spices, tropical citrus and a hint of vanilla bean. A Gin & Tonic garnished with grapefruit accentuates the floral and citrus notes. Alcohol 41%

Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin

Juniper and pine blend with elderflower and wet earth for a silky and harmonious palate. Glendalough works with a local forager who cuts every ingredient according to freshness, informed by smell and taste. A delightful addition to a White Negroni. Alc 41%

Hepple Gin

Hepple Spirits recommends serving its bold gin with a splash of tonic and wedge of lemon – it’s obvious why. Their garnish of choice coerces the bright citrus in harmony with the green juniper, savoury bog myrtle and elegant peppered finish. Alc 45%

Lantic Summer Gin

Savour the fleeting season along the Cornish coastline year round with this fresh and floral gin that infuses 21 botanicals, including elderflower, honeysuckle and Malwina strawberry. Mint and honey aromas tantalise, opening to citrus and clover upon first sip. Marry the season’s bright flavours in a crisp Tom Collins. Alc 41.5%

Procera Blue Dot Gin

Seventy kilometres from Procera’s Nairobi distillery grows the eponymous African juniper that Procera was the first to use in a gin. This combined with indigenous ingredients from throughout Africa – Moroccan orris root, Swahili lime – presents a bright palate meshed with savoury qualities of dried earth and an expertly smooth finish. There’s no better way to enjoy it than an ice cold Martini. Alc 44%

Rhodium Forager’s Gin

Cathy Plourde and her partner Kara Larson combined their love of foraging and passion for home brewing, respectively, to create a gin unique to Rhode Island. The nose offers dried mint and wormwood that’s furthered on the palate with wet earth, slight anise and a minty finish. Try it neat as a digestif. Alc 42%

St George Spirits Terroir Gin

Meant to evoke ‘a walk in the forest’, fresh pine consumes the aromas but isn’t overwhelming on the palate. The finish is herbal with lingering sage notes. Enjoy in a classic Martini swapping a lemon twist for two drops of orange bitters. Alc 45% 

The Botanist Gin

As an early adopter of terroir-driven gin, The Botanist still sets the bar high with 22 of 31 botanicals sourced from the distillery’s native Islay. The aromas are more classic, yet clean, with juniper, citrus and eucalyptus notes punctuated by black pepper spice. The palate is smooth and juniper-forward, making for an excellent Dry Martini. Alc 46%

Related articles

• Best craft gins: eight to try
• Best gins for a Martini
• Gins from around the world

Any discussion of the relative merits of Cognac and Armagnac can all too easily descend into trite generalisations. Cognac is invariably described as ‘refined’ and ‘elegant’, Armagnac as ‘rustic’ and ‘earthy’. Luckily for us, the truth is altogether less reductive, and more interesting to explore.

There are obvious contrasts between these two great French spirits that transcend mere geography, encompassing history, culture, terroir, grape variety, distillation and maturation. But there are commonalities too and, within each region, subtle contrasts and nuances that defy lazy preconceptions.

Let’s start with the land. Cognac’s vineyards span a vast area from La Rochelle south almost to Bordeaux, and from the Atlantic east beyond Angoulême. Meanwhile Armagnac’s vines are more scattered throughout a varied rural Gascon landscape.

In both cases, the most celebrated zones have a distinctive character. Cognac’s Grande Champagne enclave is famed for its deep, crumbly chalk soils; while Bas-Armagnac combines sables fauves (tawny sands) and boulbènes – a mix of silt and sand. Two highly contrasting terroirs, but both equally capable of producing ageworthy brandies with great structure, concentration and elegance.

Another obvious difference lies in grape varieties. Cognac is dominated by Ugni Blanc (Italy’s Trebbiano), which covers about 98% of its 78,000ha of vines. Armagnac, however, offers a diverse mix of the hybrid grape Baco with not only Ugni Blanc, but also the delicate but fragile Folle Blanche, and Colombard.

Distillation and maturation

Then there’s distillation. Cognac is made using a small-batch, double distillation process in a Charentais copper pot still, with only the heart of the distillate taken for ageing, resulting in a relatively clean eau-de-vie coming off the still at about 70-72% abv. Most Armagnacs, though, are made via a single, continuous distillation in a distinctive column still – making for a more characterful spirit typically at about 55% abv when filled into cask.

While Cognac is matured in oak barrels sourced from the Tronçais and Limousin forests, Armagnacs often use wider-grained Gascon oak, especially early in their ageing process. This means more flavour contribution – often in the form of spice – from the wood.

So far, so straightforward. The contrasts between Cognac and Armagnac could hardly be more evident. The problem is that the truth – the whole truth, anyway – is nothing like as simple.

A varied taste of terroir

Sure, a fine-boned Grande Champagne is probably the classic expression of Cognac, but Grande Champagne is only one small part of a vast and sprawling region. Petite Champagne’s chalk is subtly different, while the tiny Borderies cru showcases an enticing, aromatic fruity character (Camus and Martell are big fans).

Fins Bois offers heterogenous clay/limestone soils and supple, immediate charm – but there’s chalk here too. Move further out to the coastal Bois à Terroirs cru and you’ll find light, saline Cognacs from spots such as the Île de Ré.

Armagnac’s terroir is, if anything, even more diverse. The uncompromising power of a Bas-Armagnac Baco may be its most distinctive incarnation, but move east into the Ténarèze area and you can find Ugni Blanc growing on chalk, as well as boulbène soils with more obvious echoes of Bas-Armagnac itself.

Adding complexity

While it’s true to say that most Armagnac is distilled once, double-distillation is also used here. This was the original method of Armagnac production, and was revived in the region in the early 1970s when local producer Janneau was owned by Martell. Good examples of double-distilled Armagnacs today come from the likes of Janneau and Samalens.

Double-distillation in Cognac is universal, but here too different flavour profiles and characters are created, depending on how the stills are manipulated. Does the producer distil on the lees? This is more painstaking, but it can make a big difference to the complexity and texture of the spirit.

Ugni Blanc may be dominant in Cognac, but it doesn’t constitute a monoculture. You’ll still find pockets of Folle Blanche, Colombard and Folignan – a relatively new cross of Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche. Single varietal Colombard Cognacs, with a supple, vinous fruit character, are worth seeking out for curiosity value alone – Camus sourced an interesting example from Cognac’s southwestern fringes at St-Aulaye, near Bergerac, a few years back. Meanwhile WV Baker’s Rare Pale expression (see below) is about as idiosyncratic as Cognac gets.

The human factor

For every apparent rule in Cognac and Armagnac, there’s an exception. This helps foster diversity and makes both regions endlessly fascinating to explore. There’s also one more aspect that is central to shaping this ever-changing landscape: the human hand.

From the way the vineyards are farmed to the decisions around winemaking and distillation. From the selection of casks to the choice of cellaring conditions (warm? cool? humid? dry?) and pinpointing the precise best moment for bottling. People are the most vital element in the creation of the expressions we love.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the process of blending, the alchemical, art-meets-science process that lies behind the vast majority of Cognacs and Armagnacs on the market today. Each bottle bears not only the hallmark of the vineyard, distillery and cellar in which it was created, it also carries the signatures of the people – vigneron, distiller, chef de caves – who helped to bring it to life.

Best new Cognacs and Armagnacs: eight to try

Camus XO Cognac

Newly packaged in an elegant reusable decanter, this shows how the Borderies cru hits its stride after a decade in cask. Rich, with assertive oak but always those quintessentially Borderies aromas. Everything a traditional XO should be. Alcohol 40%

Darroze Domaine de Péré 1992 Bas-Armagnac

Top-notch Armagnac, treading a tightrope between power and grace. A blend of 40% Baco and 60% Ugni Blanc gives plenty of funky depth and dark chocolate, alongside a basket of super-ripe, juicy fruits, with cassis to the fore. Sheer decadence. Alc 56%

Hine Bonneuil 2012 Cognac

Sourced from Hine’s vineyards in the heart of Grande Champagne to highlight the vital role of the vine. Aromatic, with scents of honeysuckle and jasmine, a pinch of white pepper and a hint of hazelnut. Fresh, expressive and highly vinous. Alc 42.5%

Laballe Bas-Armagnac 12 Year Old Rich

The famille Laudet has been growing grapes on Bas-Armagnac’s fabled sables fauves for more than 200 years. This is a wonderfully poised combination of punchy grip and perfumed elegance, with a finish of caramel and sweet fruit. A great all-rounder. Alc 44.2%

Martell l’Or Zodiac, l’Assemblage du Lapin

The second release in Martell’s Zodiac series. Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud created this astonishing blend from 700 eaux-de-vie, with an emphasis on rare old Cognacs from previous Years of the Rabbit. Jasmine and chamomile meld into dried tropical fruits and fig – all slathered in rich honey. Alc 41%

Frapin 1990 30 Year Old

A voluptuous Cognac aged in humid cellars for a rounded, broad character. Dried apricot and brighter tangerine notes are accompanied by a dusting of nutmeg and scents of unlit cigar. The elusive savoury scent of long age – rancio – permeates the long finish. Alc 41.8%

Jean-Luc Pasquet L’Organic 07

Pasquet’s vineyards have been organically farmed since 1995, and this relatively youthful Cognac offers plenty of lively citrus fruit, a creamy texture and a touch of cola cube. Tension and acidity make this perfect in a refreshing Sidecar cocktail. Alc 40%

WV Baker Rare Pale Cognac No 02-15

A real curiosity: a 100% Colombard, six-year-old, single-estate, single cask Cognac. Fragrant, floral and youthful, with orchard fruits plus an edge of spice. Mix it by all means, but try it neat first – lemon verbena notes make this most un-Cognac like. Alc 43%

Related articles

• Decanter’s complete guide to Cognac
• Louis XIII launches Rare Cask 42.1 luxury Cognac
• Innovation in Cognac

If you’re looking to replenish your wine rack or spirits cabinet ahead of Christmas, then Cyber Monday is a great time to do it. With all major drinks retailers offering discounts on bottles in their range, you’ll be able to get some great deals on wine, Champagne and spirits.

To get you started, we’ve rounded up the current drinks offers in the UK and US. We’ve also highlighted some of our favourite individual deals that offer brilliant value for money.

Cyber Monday wine and spirits offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across wine, spirits and Champagne
• Laithwaite’s – Huge savings across the range
• Majestic – Save up to 40% on wine in Majestic’s Mix Six cases
• Master of Malt – Flash sales across spirits and wines
• Morrison’s – Savings across wine, Champagne and spirits
• Sainsbury’s – Get 25% off when you order six or more bottles
• Tesco – Get 25% off when you buy six bottles of wine
• The Whisky Exchange – Regularly updated deals on top spirits
• Waitrose – Get 25% off a wide selection of wines and Champagne
• Amazon US – Wine accessory deals, including glassware and aerators
• Total Wine & More – Money-off deals on wines and spirits
• Wine.com – Great savings of over 50% on selected wines

Top Cyber Monday wine and spirit deals in the UK

Amazon UK

The Amazon wine and spirits deals will change quickly, so keep an eye on them. There are some great vodka deals at the moment and plenty of options for Christmas presents.

Grey Goose Essences Watermelon & Basil

Save a huge 41% on this Grey Goose vodka infused with natural fruit and botanical essences.

£39 Now 22.95 on Amazon UK

View Deal

Caorunn Scottish Blood Orange Gin

Enjoy 22% off this handcrafted premium Scottish dry gin with a refreshing orange twist.

£29.00 Now £22.72 on Amazon UK

View Deal

Laithwaites

You’ll find savings right across the Laithwaites range of wines. Try a World Rosés Case for £89.88 (£7.49 per bottle) or Pinot Grigio Mix for £95.88. Bigger discounts apply when you order more than one case. Some great discounts on fizz.

Champagne Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée NV

Save £12 on Laurent-Perrier’s Chardonnay-led NV fizz. Perfect for Christmas parties and New Year celebrations.

£41.99 Now £29.99 at Laithwaites

View Deal

Casa Cantalini Prosecco NV

Enjoy this lively Prosecco, sourced from vineyards in the Euganean Hills near Padua, for just £7.99 a bottle in case of 12.

£12.99 Now £7.99 at Laithwaites

View Deal

Majestic

Majestic Wine is offering up to 40% off wines in its Mix Six cases including Champagne. You can also get 25% off the retailer’s Fine Wine Mixed Case, which includes La Rioja Alta’s Viña Ardanza Reserva 2015, Penfolds Bin 8 Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 and Château Batailley’s Lion de Batailley 2015.

Heidsieck & Co Monopole ‘Gold Top’ Champagne 2011/12

Save 37% on Heidsieck & Co’s Gold Top vintage Champagne when you mix six, bringing the single bottle price down to under £20.

£31.99 Now £19.99 when you mix six

View Deal

Bellero Barolo DOCG 2018

Save a huge 50% on this classic Barolo, with notes of truffles, chocolate, dried fruits and leather. Will keep in your cellar for up to 15 years.

£29.99 Now £14.99 when you mix six

View Deal

Master of Malt

Specialist spirits retailer Master of Malt a great range of whiskeys and can also help you find a few more unusual options and smaller batch spirits to try. The flash sales won’t last long on its site – most are just for 24 hours – so snap them up when you see them.

Bathtub Gin – Old Tom

Save £10 on this sweetened gin – perfect for cocktails and G&Ts.

£29.95 Now £19.95 at Master of Malt

View Deal

Deanston 10 Year Old Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Finish

Save £15 on this Deanston 10 year old, finished in Bordeaux casks and with notes of damson, cherry and dark chocolate.

£64.95 Now £49.95 at Master of Malt

View Deal

Tesco

Enjoy 25% a selection of wines when you order six bottles. Popular brands include Villa Maria, Hardys, Trivento, Barefoot, 19 Crimes and Kylie Minogue Rosé. There are good deals on big-label Champagnes too.

Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne

Save 25% on Veuve Clicquot’s iconic Yellow Label fizz when you order six bottles. Valid for delivery until 28 November.

£45 Now £33.75 at Tesco

View Deal

Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV

Save 25% on Moët’s popular Brut Imperial NV Champagne when you order six bottles. Valid for delivery until 28 November.

£39 Now £29.25 at Tesco

View Deal

The Whisky Exchange

The Whisky Exchange offers a large range of spirits, plus Champagnes and wines. Deals are updated regularly, so keep an eye on the site for latest offers.

Mortlach 15 Year Old – Game of Thrones Six Kingdoms

Get a huge £32.05 off the ninth release in Diageo’s Game of Thrones Collection. Six Kingdoms is a 15-year-old Mortlach single malt from Speyside.

£120 Now £87.95 at The Whisky Exchange

View Deal

Craigellachie 17 Year Old

This complex Speyside single malt is finished in first-fill sherry casks and first-fill bourbon casks. Save £15.05 per bottle.

£105 Now £89.95 at The Whisky Exchange

View Deal

Waitrose 

It’s always worth keeping an eye on the wine offers at Waitrose and currently there is up to 25% off various bottles. The retailer’s Fine Wine Offers deliver some particularly good savings. But you’ll also find discounts on Champagne & Sparkling wines, plus Spirits.

Muga Selección Especial Reserva Rioja Magnum

Perfect for Christmas lunch or any dinner party, magnums always make a big impression. Muga’s Reserva 2016 vintage is a great choice – with £10 off.

£57 Now £47 at Waitrose

View Deal

Nyetimber Rosé NV

This top-quality rosé sparkler is made by one of England’s top producers. Perfect if you want to pop a cork at New Year. Save £11 per bottle.

£42.99 Now £31.99 at Waitrose

View Deal

Top Cyber Monday wine and spirit deals in the US

Amazon US

Amazon US doesn’t go for as many wine and spirit deals but it’s a great chance to stock up on your wine accessories. Find deals on glassware, aerators and corkscrews.

Jifar Electronic Wine Aerator

This one-touch electric wine aerator and dispenser is designed to aerate wine immediately, opening up its aromas and flavours. Now with 20% off.

$45.99  Now $36.99 on Amazon US

View Deal

JBHO Crystal Bordeaux Wine Glasses

Save 10% on this set of four hand-blown crystal wine glasses by JBHO. There are also discounts on JBHO’s Burgundy glasses.

$39.95  Now $35.99 on Amazon US

View Deal

Total Wine & More

You’ll find deals across the whole range of wines and spirits at Total Wine & More, from rum and whiskey to Napa Cabs and Champagne. Mix 6 cases are a great way to save money and try some new bottles. It’s worth checking back to find special limited-time deals.

Amici Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2019

This full-bodied Napa Cabernet from Amici Cellars is bursting with ripe black

and blue fruit. Choose it as part of a Mix 6 case for a discounted price.

$49.99  Now $44.99 when you mix six

View Deal

Gallant Vodka

The water for this vodka comes from the Gensac spring in Cognac. Smooth with a floral twist.

$40.99 Now $32.99 at Total Wine & More

View Deal

Wine.com

If you already know what you’re looking for, there’s great value to be found with Wine.com’s deals. You’ll discover discounts of over 50% on some wines, with a great range of Californian bottles to choose from, plus Bordeaux, Italy and spirits.

Pedro Parra Imaginador, Itata Valley 2020

Get a great deal on this Chilean Cinsault sourced from vines 45-70 years old in the Itata Valley – now with 50% off.

$40 Now $19.99 on Wine.com

View Deal

Vigilance Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County 2020

There’s a huge 56% off this Cabernet, which is aged on French oak for 15 months, and offers complex layers of black fruit spice, and dark chocolate.

$25  Now $10.99 on Wine.com

View Deal

With summer here and more chances to socialise, time to start thinking about occasions when you can indulge and enjoy some Champagne – so time to take advantage of great offers from the retailers.

With many of us having stayed home for a while, UK drinkers were turning to higher-end home drinking – with Champagne sales growing 13% over the festive period and in 2020 the average bottle of Champagne going over the £25 price mark, according to data from Nielson.

Champagne fans can also enjoy a new documentary film – featuring British actor Stephen Fry alongside an all-star cast of producers and experts – which promises a light-hearted journey through all things Champagne.

Prosecco vs Champagne: What’s the difference? Ask Decanter

Best Champagne deals

Bollinger Special Cuvée NV

A classic for a reason, this is a great non vintage to snap up.

Was £47 Now £35 at Waitrose

Buy now

Lanson Black Label Brut NV

A Pinot dominant blend for under £30.

Was £35 Now £26 at Tesco

Buy now

Pol Roger, Brut Reserve NV

Made from the three classic Champagne grapes, from Winston Churchill’s favourite Champagne house.

Was £39.99 Now £34.99 on Amazon UK

Buy now

Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut NV

An elegant Champagne, made from the classic blend of grapes.

Was £45 Now £33.75 at Waitrose 

Buy now

Over on Wine.com, there’s Laurent-Perrier Cuvée rosé down to $79.99, Bollinger Special Cuvee down to $59.99 and Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose down to $59.99.

Vintage vs Non-vintage Champagne

Non-vintage Champagne accounts for around 79% of the total Champagne production, according to The Comité Champagne. 

Every year producers hold back some reserve wine and blend these to make the non-vintage, creating a consistent and reliable reflection of the house style, though these wines won’t be quite as complex or ageworthy as the vintage ones.

Vintage Champagne is produced in the best years – so not every year – showing more of a unique reflection of the year it was made. The higher quality means it can continue to age in the bottle and further develop. The 2020 vintage is a rare third consecutive year for Champagne vintages – though the ones to look for drinking now are around 2008 – 2012.

Non-vintage Champagne must be aged for a minimum of 15 months (12 on the lees) while vintage must be aged for a minimum of 36 months.

When’s the best time to open your NV Champagne | What does Brut mean on a Champagne label?

We’ve also got the latest deals and prices for some of the most popular Champagne houses – for vintage and non-vintage options – and retailers below.

Don’t forget to look for further savings on multiple bottles too…

Non-vintage Champagne deals

Bollinger Special Cuvée NV

60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier, this Champagne is recognised as one of the top non vintages out there.

Bollinger Rosé NV

Don’t forget about rosé Champagne in the festive season. This has red fruits and fresh acidity.

Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut

A Champagne house known for elegant wines, this non vintage is no exception.

Taittinger Brut Reserve NV

A fresh and fruity Champagne made from 40% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier and 35% Pinot Noir.

Pol Roger Brut Reserve

A balanced and elegant expression of the three classic Champagne grapes.

Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial

This nicely balanced Champagne is a blend of the three classic Champagne grapes.

Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne

A restrained and elegant, Chardonnay-dominated blend.

Lanson Black Label NV

A classic, Pinot-driven Champagne that will see you through your celebrations.

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label 

Champagne’s ‘second most prolific house’, Veuve Clicquot sells an estimates 19 million bottles per year of the yellow label non-vintage.

Ruinart R de Ruinart Brut

From one of Champagne’s oldest houses, this non vintage is a blend of 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier

An excellent non-vintage Champagne, which uses all three Champagne grapes, mostly from Roederer’s own estates.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut

50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, a lively non-vintage Champagne.

Krug Grande Cuvée

A blend across many different vintages and wines, Krug is a ‘super multi-vintage of its own kind’.

Laurent-Perrier Rosé NV

An 100% Pinot Noir rosé Champagne, with the colour extracted from skin contact, rather than blending with red wine, like many other Champagnes.

Vintage Champagne deals

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012

A great choice for a vintage Champagne this festive season, with an elegant, fruity finish.

Laurent-Perrier Millésimé 2008

50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, a refined and elegant Champagne.

Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2012

A highly anticipated vintage, this Pinot Noir dominant blend is made from all three Champagne grapes.

Pol Roger Vintage 2012

A blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, in a very good year for Pinot in particular.

Report: The best NV Champagnes to buy

It’s day two of Amazon Prime Day 2021 and, there’s still time to snap up deals on some of your favourite wines and spirits – not to mention glassware and wine gadgets and accessories too.

We’ve been looking out for some of the best Amazon Prime Day wine and spirits deals to help you find a great price.

Amazon Prime Day is when millions of products are reduced in price, exclusively for Amazon Prime members. It’s one of the biggest shopping days of the year, after Black Friday.

It’s worth doing your research to get the best deals – so far this year, we’re seeing better spirits offers than ones for wine and Champagne.

In terms of wine gadgets, one of the best deals are on a Coravin Model Two, down by 40% – and also under $200 if you’re in the states.

It could also be a good time to treat yourself to a new wine fridge or top up your glassware collection. 

Amazon Prime Day 2021: Wine and spirits deals

Mount Gay Black Barrel double cask blend rum

Made from a blend of rums, matured separately in American oak casks. Great to use in a rum Old Fashioned.

Was £37 Now £26.99

Buy now

Volare Espresso Coffee Liqueur

If you like to make up a batch of Espresso Martinis at home, make sure you’re well stocked with some coffee liqueur.

Was £14.99 Now £11

Buy now

El Rayo Plata tequila 

Great to use in a Margarita cocktail – or even try as a tequila and tonic.

Was £34.95 Now £27.96

Buy now

Twin Fin Spiced Golden rum 

From the makers of Tarquin’s Cornish gin (see below), this golden rum is smooth with warm spicy notes and a tropical fragrance.

Was £25.35 Now £21.50

Buy now

Campari ready to drink Negroni

The past year has seen a boom in ready to drink cocktails, removing the effort and mutliple bottles that many of our favourite cocktails require. Just pour over ice with a slice of orange.

Was £22.50 Now £15.99

Buy now

Cointreau Triple Sec

Love Margaritas? Make sure your drinks trolley is always stocked with Cointreau to complete it.

Was £20.99  Now £15.99

Buy now

Remy Martin VSOP Cognac

‘Bags of vanilla and baking spices from Limousin oak, alongside stewed apricot and a whisper of hedgerow florals’ said Woodard. ‘Classics are classics for a reason.’

Was £18   Now £12.99 

Buy now

Absolut Elyx Single Estate vodka

With second distillation in a 100-year-old column still, Elyx retains Absolut’s unctuous character, with notes of clean cereal, white pepper and a touch of Madagascan vanilla, says Decanter contributor Richard Woodard.

Was £38.25  Now £27.99

Buy now

Aperol Spritz gift set

Whilst we might not be jetting off to Italy this summer, bring the feeling of holiday home with this Aperol gift set – with one bottle of Aperol and two glasses.

Was £25 Now £19.49 

Buy now

Lyre’s non-alcoholic Negroni set

Lyre’s Italian Orange is a great replacement for Campari, says Decanter‘s spirits editor Julie Sheppard. She recommends pairing with the Lyre’s Dry London Spirit and Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso ‘for a lighter, delicate take on a Negroni’ – which this set has done for you.

Now £70.50

Buy now

Amazon Prime Day: Save on a Coravin 

Coravin Model Six – Save 20% 

Enjoy and preserve your fine wines with a Coravin Model Six – in black, with two Argon gas capsules and screw cap.

Was £289  Now £230 

Buy now

Coravin Model Two – under £200

A huge saving of 40% on a Coravin Model Two, in grey, which comes with two Argon gas capsules, an aerator and a carry case.

Was £299 Now £179

Buy now

Coravin Model Two – under $200

There are Coravin savings to be made state side too – save $35 on a Coravin Model Two with two Argon gas capsules.

Was $209  Now $174

Buy now

Amazon Prime Day gin deals

Plymouth Navy Strength gin

Decanter‘s Julie Sheppard recommends Plymouth Navy Strength to use in a Negroni, calling it ‘a bold style with a classic mix of botanicals including: juniper, orange and lemon peel, angelica root, orris root and cardamom. Juniper-led with bright zesty citrus on the palate.’

Was £38.83 Now £25.99

Buy now

Tarquin’s Cornish dry gin

A handcrafted, highly aromatic gin, this is one of our top gins to use in a gin and tonic.

Was £32.50 Now £22.20

Buy now

Berry Bros & Rudd, No. 3 London dry gin

A trio of juniper, citrus, spice, this is a classic gin and perfectly balanced.

Was £36.50 Now £26

View Deal

Find more Amazon Prime Day gin deals

Amazon Prime Day whisky deals

Jameson Black Barrel Blended Irish whiskey

‘A pot still-heavy whiskey that uses lots of influential ex-bourbon and Sherry cask,’ says expert Richard Woodard. ‘You get the sweet, honeyed cereal flavour of Jameson, but with extra plummy fruits and plenty of tannic depth from the oak.’

Was £37.69  Now £23.99

Buy now

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenlivet is some of the world’s best selling single malts, this is aged in American oak casks – and almost half price today.

Was £36.59 Now £19.99

Buy now

Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Made on the Isle of Skye, this single malt has a smokey, peaty flavour.

Was £44.99   Now £26.99

Buy now

Hatozaki Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

‘Wood-spiced malt, dried grapefruit peel and coconut on the nose, the palate is sweet-spiced with an umami tone,’ said Decanter‘s Sylvia Wu.

Was £48 Now £36

Buy now

Amazon Prime Day wine accessories deals

LSA Champagne tulip glasses

The elegance of the flute without losing the essential aromas of Champagne, this set of four is almost half price.

Was £40  Now £20.99

Buy now

Champagne stopper

Every household should have a stopper on hand to keep the fizz in your sparkling.

Now £6.48

Buy now

COMFEE 34 bottle wine fridge

Have your bottles chilled and ready to drink at all times with this wine cooler, able to store 34 bottles, with electronic touch temperature control – and a saving of £42.

Was £209 Now £167.99

Buy now

Moleskine wine journal

Keep your wine tasting notes in order, and organise what’s in your cellar, with this stylish wine journal from Moleskine. A great gift for any wine lover.

Was £26.99 Now £15.35

Buy now

LSA Borough wine glasses

Save almost 50% on this set of four elegant wine glasses from LSA.

Was £40 Now £20.99 

Buy now

Keep looking back for more of our favourite offers…

Amazon Prime day is a great chance to restock your drinks cabinet, and there are often great savings to be found on a range of gins, whatever your favourite style.

So whether your go-to cocktail is a Negroni, a Martini or even just a classic gin and tonic, these Amazon Prime Day gin deals will have you covered.

Amazon Prime Day deals on Coravin, glassware, whisky and more

Best Amazon Prime Day gin deals 2021

Conker Spirit Dorset dry gin

‘The name conjures up images of crisp autumn walks in the English countryside, and indeed this Dorset gin is produced with local botanicals top of the list,’ says Decanter‘s Amy Wislocki, who picked this as one of her top British gins to try.

Was £34 Now £29.75 

Buy now

City of London Christopher Wren gin

‘This gin represents a very classic London Dry expression,’ says Decanter‘s Amy Wislocki.

‘The distinctive bottle, featuring the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, would make the perfect gift for friends or relatives overseas.’

Was £35  Now £25.49

Buy now

Aviation American gin

Actor Ryan Reynolds’ gin, this ‘is a weighty gin that makes an excellent, takes-no-prisoners Martini,’ according to spirits expert Richard Woodard. 

Was £35.95 Now £22.99

Buy now

Gunpowder Irish gin

‘Along with traditional botanicals, it has dried gunpowder tea in the mix – giving an unmissable aromatic profile and a dry, slightly tannic finish,’ says Decanter contributor Chris Losh.

Was £38 Now £29.56

Buy now

Bloom London gin gift set

‘Bloom is a light gin style, made with less juniper to create an easy drinking spirit that will even appeal to non-gin drinkers,’ says Decanter‘s Julie Sheppard. Great for a delicate G&T, this set also comes with two gin glasses.

Was £25  Now £19.99

Buy now

Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle gin (50cl) 

Perfect for summer cocktails, this is hand crafted in small batches.

Was £24  Now £18.50

Buy now

Tanquarey London Dry gin (1L)

A classic London dry style, this is worth snapping up at this price.

Was £26 Now £20

Buy now

Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice gin

We may have just passed the longest day, but this limited edition gin will be perfect to enjoy all summer. With floral flavours, it would work well in a Bramble cocktail.

Was £35 Now £28.99

Buy now

Plymouth Navy Strength gin

Decanter‘s Julie Sheppard recommends Plymouth Navy Strength to use in a Negroni, calling it ‘a bold style with a classic mix of botanicals including: juniper, orange and lemon peel, angelica root, orris root and cardamom. Juniper-led with bright zesty citrus on the palate.’

Was £38.83 Now £25.99

Buy now

Vemacity gin glasses and cocktail set

Perfect your at home gin cocktails with this set containing two gin bowl glasses, a pour measure and a stirrer.

Was £21.99 Now £16.99

Buy now

Best British gins to try

Best classic gins

Celebrity spirits: Which are the best?

Want to preserve your wine for weeks, months or even years, then look no further than Coravin. There is a wine system to suit all budgets and requirements.

Look out later this summer with Coravin’s first sparkling wine preservation system will be on sale.

Coravin products are available from many retailers, including the following:

• Harrods
• Harvey Nichols
• Fortnum & Mason
• Selfridges & Co
• Coravin
• Amazon UK
• Coravin US
• Amazon US

Amazon Prime Day 2021 Coravin deals

Coravin Model Six – Save 20% 

Enjoy and preserve your fine wines with a Coravin Model Six – in black, with two Argon gas capsules and screw cap.

Was £289  Now £230 

Buy now

Coravin Model Two – under £200

A huge saving of 40% on a Coravin Model Two, in grey, which comes with two Argon gas capsules, an aerator and a carry case.

Was £299 Now £179

Buy now

Coravin Model Three Wine Preservation System

The Model Three system is a good introduction to Coravin’s wine preservation systems. This easy-to-use system allows you to drink still wine, and preserve the rest of the bottle for later in the week, month or even year.

Coravin Model Six Wine Preservation System

The Model Six system is perfect to impress. The wine preservation system is enhanced to add a touch of class with a choice of glossy colours and metallic accents.

Coravin Model Eleven Wine Collector Pack

The Model Eleven system takes wine preservation to the next level. This is the first automatic system which can be used alongside the Coravin Moments app. Perfect for any gadget buff.

Coravin Capsules

All Coravin wine preservation systems run using Argon gas capsules – make sure you stock up on refills.

You might also like:

How to let a wine breathe, and when – Ask Decanter

How long does wine last after opening – Ask Decanter

How to cool wine quickly – Ask Decanter

Whether you want to sip it, shoot it, mix with tonic or shake up a sophisticated cocktail, vodka is a versatile spirit that belongs in everyone’s drinks cupboard.

That versatility is due to its pure, neutral taste, which is achieved through the distillation process itself and then further filtration, which removes any impurities left behind by the distilling process and brightens the clarity of the spirit.

Vodkas can be distilled, once, twice, three or four times – or even more – in search of that perfect purity. The filtration process adds polish and can impart flavour characteristics to a vodka; though not all producers choose to filter.

The quest for purity led to the development of premium vodkas, which started appearing on the market in the 1990s. Grey Goose led the way, but many other brands followed, with producers creating increasingly expensive super-premium and ultra-premium expressions.

While premium vodkas are great for sipping or in a Vodka Martini there are plenty of good quality, great value vodka brands, such as Smirnoff Red Label and Russian Standard – both currently on offer at Amazon (see below). Try them in the classic Bloody Mary brunch cocktail.

Choose from the great deals here or one of our top recommendations below.

Vodka deals

Absolut Vodka

Premium Swedish vodka with an iconic bottle design, based on a traditional Swedish medicine bottle. Grain, vanilla and liquorice on the palate. Alc 40%

£27.95 Now £20 at Amazon (Save £7.95)

View Deal

Smirnoff Red Label Vodka

Best-selling Russian vodka made with winter wheat from the Russian Steppes and glacial water from Lake Lagoda. Alc 38%

£21.50 Now £15.98 at Amazon (Save £5.52)

View Deal

Mamont Vodka

Smooth Siberian vodka in a striking tusk-shaped bottle that celebrates the symbol of Siberia: the mammoth. Alc 40%

£39 Now £33.99 at Amazon (Save £5.01)

View Deal

Russian Standard Vodka

Best-selling Russian vodka made with winter wheat from the Russian Steppes and glacial water from Lake Lagoda. Alc 38%

£16 Now £14.50 at Amazon (Save £1.50)

View Deal

Top vodkas to try

Absolut Elyx

Made from winter wheat grown on a single estate in southern Sweden, Absolut’s luxury bottling Elyx is distilled in a vintage copper column still from 1921. This is one of our favourite vodkas: rich and rounded, with a luscious silky texture. Light grain aromas, plus notes of fresh bread, white chocolate and mellow spice. The palate has creamy cereal notes, vanilla, macadamia nuts and baked pastries. Alc 42.3%

Belvedere Vodka

This high-quality vodka from Poland has an incredibly smooth texture thanks to its four-times distillation process. Made from rye, it has a creaminess on the palate with notes of vanilla and white pepper along the edge giving it a spicy boost on the finish. It’s easy to see why this is a classic and well-loved vodka. Alc 40%

Grey Goose Vodka

The world’s first premium vodka. From the Cognac region in France, Grey Goose was created by François Thibault, son of a wine-grower and a master Cognac blender. It’s a versatile, super-creamy wheat vodka that works well in a whole range of cocktails. Alc 40%

Haku Vodka

Produced by Suntory, which is better known for its whiskeys, this Japanese vodka is made from Japanese white rice (the word ‘haku’ means ‘white’ in Japanese). Double distilled with bamboo charcoal filtration, the palate is pure, soft and rounded, with an edge of sweetness on the soft lingering finish that marries well with the dry vermouth in a Vodka Martini. Alc 40%

Ketel One Vodka

Made by 10th generation distillers – with over 300 years of expertise – this is one of the smoothest and cleanest vodkas on the market today. This Dutch vodka is distilled in small batches and made from 100% GMO-free European wheat. It has a crisp citrus flavour with notes of honey and a long and lively finish. It makes a great cocktail but if you like your vodka neat this is a great choice, chilled or served over a little ice. Alc 40%

Stolichnaya Elit Vodka

A premium Russian vodka made using a revolutionary freeze filtration technique, filtering the spirit at -18°C. This makes all impurities freeze against the walls of the filtration tanks giving ultra-high levels of purity and making it one of the smoothest on the market. It has subtle flavours of creamy aniseed with a light spiciness and balanced dryness on the palate. A fantastic buy from one of the most prestigious vodka brands. Alc 40%

You might also like:

Celebrity spirits

Best whisky deals

Great Champagne deals

Price inflation has become a major talking-point in the world of whisky in recent years, with some aged expressions of single malt Scotch rapidly rising in price thanks to the dynamics of supply and demand.

Meanwhile, in Japan, many expressions have been withdrawn altogether as stocks run dry – leaving the remaining bottles on the market too expensive for all but a few.

But these headlines can disguise the fact that, in a crowded and competitive marketplace, there’s still a huge amount of good value to be found: from underrated blends, entry-level single malts and NAS (no age statement) products.

This is particularly true if you’re brave enough to venture off the beaten track and take a punt on some of the less famous names out there. Some of these may be little-known outside whisky circles, but each has its own unique style and flavour profile.

Here are eight characterful whiskies that won’t break the bank.

Best whiskies to buy under £50/$50

Ardbeg 10 Year Old

It’s easy to forget that the self-characterised ‘Beast of Islay’ has a gentle side. The key to Ardbeg’s appeal is not just that famously feral peatiness, but also the distillate’s perfumed fruit character – never so obvious as it is here in the Islay distillery’s flagship product. Yes, there’s camphor, coal tar and smoke, but also a gently creamy seamlessness underpinning everything. Alc 46%

Aultmore 12 Year Old

Aultmore is one of those wonderful, lesser-known Speyside gems that is well worth seeking out. There’s nothing obvious here – an elegant, fragrant, extremely subtle malt that combines green apple and pear with a creamy, lemon meringue citrus character and some beautiful floral highlights. Take your time. Alc 46%

Compass Box Great King Street Artist’s Blend

This modern blend aims to recapture the character of the great 19th-century pioneers of the art of blending, with a malt-heavy mix that majors on waxy Clynelish. It’s wonderfully fruity – tangerine and candied strawberry strengthening into more mature, dried fruits – with great weight and spice from some well-chosen casks. Great for mixing. Alc 43%

Glenturret Triple Wood 2020 Maiden Release

Glenturret in Crieff has undergone a rebirth under new owner Lalique, with ex-Macallan master distiller Bob Dalgarno taking charge of the liquid. This is a highlight of the new range, offering sweet plums, cherries and ginger alongside a peppery floral element, from maturation in American and European ex-Sherry casks, and ex-Bourbon oak. Alc 43%

Inchgower 14 Year Old Flora & Fauna

Diageo’s Flora & Fauna range is a great way to get to know some lesser-known malts, such as this rare Inchgower – a chameleon-like whisky that fluctuates between spice and salt, sweetness and bitterness, green and dark fruits, with a flinty edge and a dry nuttiness on the finish. Bags of character. Alc 43%

Jameson Black Barrel

One of the secrets to Jameson’s huge global success has been the endless array of spin-offs – riffs on the core Jameson style like this, a pot still-heavy whiskey that uses lots of influential ex-bourbon and Sherry casks. You get the sweet, honeyed cereal flavour of Jameson, but with extra plummy fruits and plenty of tannic depth from the oak. Alc 40%

The Norfolk Parched Single Grain

Norfolk’s take on the Irish pot still style, with brewer-turned-distiller David Fitt using a mix of malted and unmalted barley. The unmalted component is relatively small here, bringing bags of sweet fruit, vanilla and popcorn alongside tangy fruit, light spice and peanut brittle. One of an excellent trio of grain whiskies from The English Whisky Co. Alc 45%

Wild Turkey 101

A gorgeous rye-heavy Bourbon bottled at a higher than regular strength and showing all the punch that you’d expect: spice, black banana, sawmill scents and coconut, but underscored by a refined note of wax furniture polish and darker, dried fruit. There’s also a lighter touch of cereal and Sugar Puffs. Certainly not shy. Alc 50.5%

You might also like:

Understanding whisky styles

The best whiskies for an Old Fashioned

Best wine gifts under £15

Wine tree decorations

For a fun stocking filler, these drinks-themed Christmas tree decorations are now on sale and under £10. Alternatively, divide them up and give one to each person at the dinner table alongside their cracker.

Buy: UK – Marks & Spencer £7.50

Wine glass letterpress cards

Some reports suggest 2020 has made many of us fall back in love with the art of sending hand-written notes, so how about treating someone to these wine glass-themed letterpress correspondence cards? There are eight cards and envelopes with a choice of blue or red ribbon.

Buy: UK – Topnote Design £12.99

Champagne stopper

Every household needs (at least) one Champagne stopper – using a spoon or fork won’t cut it – and these can also make a great stocking filler. These ones come in a fun choice of gold or rose gold, to match your Champagne or rosé perfectly.

Buy: UK – £8.99 for two Amazon UK / US – $12.49 for two Amazon US

Wine glass charms

This year more than ever it’s essential not to lose track of which wine glass is yours. These wine charms from John Lewis help everyone know which is their own – and the wine-themed design means they can be used all-year-round, not just at Christmas.

Buy: UK – £7.50 John Lewis

Best wine gifts under £50

Moët Christmas crackers

Great for a stocking, or to upgrade the Christmas crackers – for the grown-ups at the table, that is. These Moët crackers contain a 20cl bottle of Moët & Chandon Moët Impérial Champagne. You can also get the rosé version.

Buy: UK – £20 John Lewis 

Decanter magazine subscription

A Decanter magazine subscription makes a great present for those tricky-to-buy-for people. As well as hundreds of wine recommendations each month, the latest issue will also come straight to their door, or digital device. Purchase a subscription now and save at least 35%. If you purchase before 13 December, get an Amazon £5 giftcard (UK) or a further 5% off.

Buy: UK £45.59 / US – $68.99

Riedel Vinum Chianti glasses

A set of Riedel wine glasses will always be a welcome and well-used present. Although you could choose a specific glass for a wine style – there are more than 150 options – a good all-rounder from the range is the Chianti glass, also used by Decanter across DWWA judging and our tastings. Decanter‘s Georgie Hindle went behind the scenes at Riedel earlier this year.

Buy: UK – £40.94 Amazon UK / US – $59 Amazon US

Best wine gifts under £100

Decanter Premium subscription

A Decanter Premium subscription gives access to thousands of tasting notes every month and in-depth vintage reports; recent ones include Rhône 2019, Napa Cabernet 2018 and Chablis 2019, while reviews of recently bottled Bordeaux 2018 wines are just around the corner.

Subscriber benefits include early access to Decanter Events tickets, including our new virtual tastings, such as the recent sold-out masterclass with Château Palmer, plus exclusive in-depth collector’s reports.

Buy: UK – £75 / US – $100

Veuve Clicquot Champagne and personalised arrow

Clos19, the online retail platform launched by LVMH in 2017, has released a Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne in a gift tin that can be emblazoned with the recipient’s name. Shaped liked an arrow and with a design inspired by grape seeds, the tin can also include the distance of your chosen address to Reims in Champagne.

Buy: UK – £69 Clos19

Best wine gifts under £300

Coravin Model Six

If you’re working with a bigger budget, why not treat a wine collector to a Coravin this Christmas? The device enables you to pour a glass of wine without opening the entire bottle. There are several designs, but the ‘Mica’ version is currently half-price on Amazon in the UK and US. It’s available in a range of colours.

Buy: UK – £164 Amazon UK / US – $199 Amazon US 

Armand de Brignac & Harrods Champagne gift

For the ultimate luxury gift, Harrods has released a limited number of Armand de Brignac Champagnes in a special Harrods-green gift box. All the bottles are numbered and only 300 of the Harrods Édition Spéciale Brut Gold has been made.

Buy: UK – £295 Harrods

Hawksmoor guide to Christmas drinking hamper

A great gift if you’re away from loved ones this year, or just want to sort all of your Christmas wines in one swoop, steak restaurant Hawksmoor has released a ‘Guide to Christmas drinking’ hamper.

It includes:

• Two bottles of Palmer & Co Brut Reserve Champagnes;
• One bottle of Nicolas Choblet, ‘Pavillon’ Muscadet 2018;
• Domaine Berthenet, Montagny 1er Cru 2014;
• Pulenta Estate, ‘Hawksmoor Blend’ Malbec 2018;
• ‘Viña Tondonia’ Reserva Rioja 2005;
• Quinta de la Rosa LBV Port 2014;
• A bottle of Hepple Gin;
• Six Hawksmoor lagers and a 500ml bottle of Fuller-Fat Old Fashioned.

Buy: UK – £200 Hawksmoor

Cuvée Privée Adopt a vine

Cuvée Privée’s unique gifting concept gives the chance to ‘adopt a vine’ and receive the wine made from it! Vines can be selected from a range of prominent estates spanning exceptional vineyard locations including Champagne, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Burgundy and a recent tasting of six wines showcased the quality of production. Membership options range from one to three years and all come with a beautiful welcome box containing either one or six bottles of the current vintage, introductory words from the winemaker, a personalised certificate and a medallion placed above your vine. During the year of your adoption, you will be invited to visit the property (and your vines) to taste their wines and meet the winemaker and at the end of the subscription Cuvée Privée members will receive six or twelve bottles of the next vintage personalised with their name.

This Christmas, Cuvée Privée is offering a £10 voucher code for every Decanter reader using the code DECANTER10. Valid until 21st December 2020.

Buy: UK – prices from £140 Cuvée Privée

See also: 

Best spirits gifts to give this Christmas

Best wines to have with turkey

Best wine books: Latest releases to read

Christmas whisky deals

To keep your festive season merry and bright (especially after the year we’ve all had…), look no further for the top Christmas whisky offers – there are some great deals leading up to the big day on the 25th – and through the new year – on single malts and blended Scotch and Irish whisky, as well as bourbons, ryes and other global drams.

Whether you are buying presents for others, stocking up the drinks cabinet to make classic cocktails such as Highballs or Old Fashioneds, or simply wanting to understand more about this complex spirit, Decanter has you covered with the top deals on whiskies.

For US whiskey fans, don’t miss our special Jack Daniel’s deal page. And keep scrolling down for offers on Southern Comfort, Maker’s Mark – and more. Plus, check out our Top 10 under $50 from Wine.com, which features Balcones Texas Rye Whiskey at 51% off!

But it’s not just whisky: Decanter‘s elves have found some of the best Christmas wine and spirit buys for you, including specials on Champagne, vodka, rum, tequila and gin. 

And why not combine a bargain bottle with a Decanter subscription – now 50% off!

Christmas whisky offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across spirits, including malt, grain and blended Scotch and Irish drams, bourbon and rye, plus Japanese whiskies
• Waitrose – Up to 25% off brands, such as Jim Beam, Jamesons, Chivas Regal and more…
• Master of Malt – Early Black Friday deals live, including Talisker and Glenfarclas
• The Whisky Exchange – Reductions on favourites such as Highland Park, Bowmore and Johnnie Walker
• Laithwaite’s – Great deals on Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie
• Tesco – 25% off when you buy six bottles
• Majestic – Deals on Hibiki Japanese Harmony and The Hakushu
• Wine.com – Incredible deals of up to 50% off rye, bourbon, Scotch and Irish and American whiskeys
• Amazon US – All your wine accessories, including a half-price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range
• Selfridges US – Save 20% on Riedel glassware

Top 10 Christmas whisky deals under $50 from Wine.com

• Balcones Texas Rye Whiskey – 51% off, now just $38.99
• Dalwhinnie Game of Thrones House Stark Winter Frost Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 38% off, now just $25.99
• Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey – 33% off, now just $36.99
• Speyburn Arranta Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 28% off, now just $43.99
• Jack Daniels Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey – 26% off, now just $19.99
• Bowman John J Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon – 24% off, now just $49.99
• Balcones Brimstone Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Whiskey – 23% off, now just $49.99
• Woodinville Washington Straight Rye Whiskey –20% off, now just $43.99
• Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey – 20% off, now just $31.99
• High West Distillery American Prairie Bourbon – 20% off, now just $31.99

SCOTLAND

Chivas Regal Scotch whisky blending kit

A fun kit so you can experiment with flavours to make your own bespoke blend, just like the master distillers themselves. It includes six 5cl bottles of malt and grain whiskies from the Chivas range – including the 12 year old – a measuring pipette, a mixing beaker and a bottle for your final blend. Alc 40%

View Deal

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Named in tribute to distillery founder George Smith, this is a good Speyside for newcomers to the world of single malt Scotch. It’s soft, rich and toffeed, with creamy, smooth chocolate notes, dried fruit and baking spices. The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve Single Malt, finished in ex-Cognac casks, is also good value. Alc 40%

View Deal

Haig Club Clubman Single Grain Scotch Whisky

David Beckham’s whisky, distilled at Cameronbridge Distillery, founded in 1824 by John Haig. Matured in bourbon casks, it has notes of vanilla and dried fruits. When on sale at £15, the price is as pretty as the bottle – perfect to serve in a Highball or Old Fashioned cocktail. Alc 40%

View Deal

Tamnavulin Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Sherry Cask edition)

After its maturation in American oak barrels this single malt is finished in three different types of oloroso Sherry cask, which gives it a distinctively banoffee pie-like aroma and rich, smooth dried-fruit palate. Alc 40%

View Deal

Johnnie Walker Double Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky

A slightly peatier whisky compared to JW’s other lines, matured in casks that were more heavily charred. Along with toast and smoke, there’s dried fruit, toffee and creamy vanilla notes, plus the brand’s signature rich, malty core. Alc 40%

View Deal

Naked Grouse Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

A base of Highland Park and Macallan whiskies matured in first-fill Sherry casks, the simplicity of the packaging belies the complexity inside. Sweet Sherry notes of dried spiced fruit, caramel and apple crumble. Great value. Alc 40%

View Deal

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A classic Speyside style: subtle oak joins fresh orchard fruit, sweet citrus and honeyed granola on a creamy palate. Including a limited-release gift tin, it would make a great Christmas gift. Alc 40%

View Deal

Cardhu Gold Reserve

From one of Speyside’s oldest distilleries comes this sweeter-style of single malt that will appeal to those just getting into Scotch whisky. Aromas of rich honeyed malt and ripe tropical fruit leap from the glass and continue on the palate, along with flavours of spiced orange and vanilla. The peating is light, giving a subtle toasty smoke note. Alc 40%

View Deal

IRELAND & WALES

Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey

Whiskey and beer come together to create Jameson’s latest innovation an Irish whiskey finished in craft stout-seasoned barrels. It’s a smooth, chocolatey drop, with flavours of spiced pears, mocha and nut brittle. Alc 40%

View Deal

Hinch Distillery Small Batch Irish Whiskey

Matured in first-fill bourbon casks, this County Down whiskey is a blend of 75% grain and 25% single malt. The smooth palate shows vanilla custard, maple fudge and smoky oak notes. Alc 43% 

View Deal

Roe and Co Blended Irish Whiskey

First released in 2017, this gives a lot of bang for your buck. Matured in bourbon casks, there’s lots of apple pie spice, creamy vanilla and gentle sweet oak notes on a smooth, balanced palate. Perfect in an Irish coffee. Alc 45%

View Deal

Penderyn Single Malt Welsh Whisky

From Wales’ only whisky distillery in Rhondda Cynon Taff, this Madeira cask-finished bottling is light and smooth with aromas of fudge, tropical and dried fruits and vanilla bean. A great buy from Waitrose. Alc 46%

View Deal

USA & CANADA

Southern Comfort Original

Purists might argue that SoCo isn’t a true whiskey, but you can’t deny its popularity. Blending American whiskey with spices and fruit flavours, this New Orleans spirit is a great addition to many cocktails or as a long drink with fresh lime and soda. Alc 35%

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey

Inspired by the original gentleman distiller, this is the world’s only double-mellowed whiskey, which has a second charcoal filtering after reaching maturity for even more smoothness. If you like Old No 7, give this a try. Alc 40%

View Deal

Maker’s Mark Bourbon with Adult Christmas Jumper Gift Set

Look no further for the perfect Christmas gift for any Maker’s Mark fan: a limited-edition adult-size Christmas jumper with a full-sized bottle of bourbon. If you just want the ever-popular vanilla-caramel flavoured whiskey, then Amazon has it at 33% off, at just £20 here. Alc 45%

View Deal

FEW Bourbon

FEW Spirits was born in Evanston, Illinois, a city under Prohibition for more than 100 years, and takes its name from the initials of Frances Elizabeth Willard, a key figure in the Temperance movement. This small-batch bourbon brims with warm cinnamon buns and toffee, with a long Christmas spice finish. Alc 46.5%

View Deal

Woodford Reserve Bourbon

This small-batch Kentucky straight bourbon is understandably popular, boasting round, mellow and delectably sweet notes of chocolate, honeycomb and nutty spice with some lifted florals on the finish. Top value from Waitrose. Alc 43%

View Deal

More of the best Christmas whisky deals

Glenmorangie Allta Whisky

The January 2019 release from this Highland distillery’s uses a yeast discovered on barley growing near the distillery. It has quite a flavour impact, adding a bready, almost nutty character to Glenmo’s trademark silky citrus fruit and hint of menthol. Alc 51.2%

Teeling Small Batch Whiskey

This blended Irish whiskey comprises grain and malt whiskies that have initially been aged in ex-bourbon barrels, before being blended and further aged in rum casks from Central America. Spicy, floral and rich, the palate also boasts plenty of vanilla custard, lemon, rum n raisin fudge and orchard fruits. Alc 46%

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whiskey

A blend of Yamazaki and Hakushu malts, plus Chita grain, this whisky exemplifies the subtlety of Japanese distillates, combining gentle fruit with layers of cream and white chocolate. Alc 43%

More Decanter spirits

Christmas shopping isn’t all about the turkey and the presents for under the tree. Even if we’re not entertaining as much this year, you’ll want to make sure that you have enough wines and spirits to see you through the festive season.

This Christmas, Decanter’s experts have done the hard work for you and tracked down the best Christmas wine deals and spirits deals – not just gin, but vodka, rum, tequila and whisky.

Whether it’s for your own drinks cabinet or for Christmas gifting, check out the great selection of gins below – but get in quick, as deals can be short-lived.

And if you’re buying for a gift, why not combine a bottle with a subscription to Decanter? Get a discounted UK or overseas magazine subscription in our Christmas subscription sale.

Christmas offers, by merchant

• Amazon UK – Savings across spirits, including gin
• Waitrose – Great discounts off gin brands
• Master of Malt – A great place to look for craft gins
• The Whisky Exchange – Savings on brands, including The Botanist and Tanqueray 10
• Wine.com – savings of 25% or more
• Amazon US – great wine accessories, including a half price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range

Tanqueray No. 10

Always a popular choice, this gin is a great example of citrussy botanicals in action, with flavours of lemons, oranges and blood grapefruit. Alc 47.3%

Plymouth gin

Distilled in Plymouth since 1793, this is a blend of seven botanicals, including sweet orange. It’s smooth, and slightly sweeter than a classic London dry style, and is a great-value everyday gin choice – even more so when it’s on offer! Alc 41.2%

Bulldog gin

With its iconic bold, black bottle, Bulldog makes a stylish gift for the modern gin lover. Twelve carefully selected botanicals are added, including white poppy from Turkey, dragon eye and lotus leaf from China, and warming liquorice. It has a distinctive flavour of juicy blueberries, and a sprinkling of blueberries makes the ideal garnish. There you go – one of your five a day sorted! Alc 40%

Hendrick’s

If you enjoy a more floral flavour in your gin, this is the one to go for, and also a good choice if you’re not a big fan of juniper. Alc 41.4%

Bombay Sapphire gin

The exotic botanicals used in this popular gin include grains of paradise from West Africa, cubeb berries from Java, Cassia bark from Indo-China, and almonds and lemon peel from Spain. Alc 40%

The Botanist gin

Made with 31 botanicals, 22 of them Islay-foraged, all flavours are well balanced, resulting in a rounded, herbal gin. Alc 46%

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish gin

This gin gets its name from the gunpowder tea that’s included in the flavour mix, along with other traditional botanicals, giving it a slight tannic finish. Alc 43%

No.3 London Dry Gin

It took Berry Bros. & Rudd two years to create this award-winning gin, working with master distillers, top mixologists, and Dr David Clutton – the only person in the world to have a PhD in gin. They selected a mix of botanicals to create a truly classic London Dry gin, With just the right amount of coriander, angelica root, cardamom, grapefruit peel, sweet orange peel and, of course, juniper. Alc 46%

Sipsmith’s London Dry gin

A classic example of the London Dry style, this popular gin is bold, complex and aromatic. Made using traditional methods in the Sipsmith Distillery in London. Alc 41.6%

Beefeater London Dry

Distilled and made to the original recipe created in the early 1800s, Beefeater has won more ‘best gin’ awards than any other brands. The bold juniper character is balanced by strong notes of citrus, with botanicals including Seville orange peel and Sicilian lemon peel. Alc 40%

Gordon’s London Dry

Among the most recognisable gin brands in the world, Gordon’s was created in 1769 by Alexander Gordon, who believed that the secret to a successful gin lay in the perfect combination of pure distilled grain spirit and rich botanicals. These include coriander, angelica and liquorice. Alc 38%

More advice and ginspiration:

The best British Gins to try

How to taste gin like a professional

Expert guide to gin botanicals 

For the best Whisky deals click here

For the best Champagne deals click here

For the best Tequila deals click here

For the best Rum deals click here

More Decanter spirits

Top rum deals for Black Friday weekend

Oops, Black Friday 2020 has come and gone. Or has it?! The shopping event now stretches far beyond Friday itself, covering the weekend all the way through to CyberMonday. Which in turn has morphed into Cyber Week.

Following Thanksgiving, it certainly is ‘beginning to look a lot like Christmas’. What this means is that we’ll now have plenty of excuses, if needed, to nurture the ritual of a cocktail-a-day.

Rum aficionados will now the endless potential for this fascinating spirit to be drunk either neat or as the base of a variety of concoctions; ideal for multiple occasions, from an aperitif to a cheeky dessert or nightcap.

So don’t miss out on the Black Friday & Cyber Monday event and get your hands on a great bottle at the best possible price. There are great deals out there, for both bar staples that you’ll want to stock up on, and for premium and craft bottles that you might have been wanting to discover.

We’ve taken a look at of the best rum offers covering different styles, including white, golden, spiced rum, dark and even – believe or not – pink rums. Both specialist and general retailers have a lot on their Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaigns so keep an eye on the list below as we’ll be updating it throughout the day.

Top rum deals from specialist retailers:

Master of Malt have been running an exciting Black Friday campaign since the beginning of last week and until Cyber Week, with daily offers offering time-sensitive opportunities to grab some amazing bottles. Today’s highlights include the zing in the Central Galactic Spiced, and the smokey (and very good value) Phraya Elements.

Central Galactic Spiced £34.95 Now £29.95 

To a base of aromatic Caribbean spiced rum, pot-distilled fresh raspberry distillate was added, as well as star anise and cold-distilled lime peel (OK, that one has nothing to do with space, but it does add an extra zing of citrus). An absolutely stellar bottling.

View Deal

Phraya Elements £24.95 Now £19.95

A top Thai rum from Phraya, Elements is distilled from local molasses sourced from Kanchanaburi. It’s then aged in American oak bourbon barrels. The result is a wonderfully rich rum, with heaps of butterscotch and spices to enjoy.

View Deal

The Whisky Exchange have a great line-up of offers, both in value and choice. Some of them include free gifts rather than discounts – we’ve focused on those giving greater immediate savings. The Mount Gay Origins Gift Pack and the Appleton Estate 21 Year Old are well worth taking a look at. And for a substantial saving on a premium top-rated rum don’t miss the offer on the El Dorado Port Mourant 1999. The beautifully shapped bottled of the Mainbrace Golden Rum, on the other hand, will make a beautifully gift for a classical rum lover.

Mount Gay Distillers Origins Gift Pack  £59.95 Now £49.95 

A set of two rums from Mount Gay that are identical in every aspect apart from one: one is distilled in a pot-still and the other in a column. The pot is rich and robust and the column delicate and mellow. A fascinating display of how distillation affects the final spirit.

View Deal

El Dorado Port Mourant 1999 £180 Now £155 

A 1999 vintage rum made in the last remaining operational double wooden pot still in the world, moved from the Port Mourant distillery when it was closed. A complex rum with notes of smoke, liquorice, molasses and a hint of peat.

View Deal

House of Malt, although not running a Black Friday event, are hosting a Fall Sale that you might want to check. The Hampden Estate Rum is one of the labels on offer.

Hampden Estate Rum £59.95 Now £54.95

The Hamden Estate in Jamaica has long produced excellent aged rum, much of which goes into blends, making it a bit hard to come by. The distillery has now released some of its own aged rum! Creamy and sweet with tropical notes and a delightful minty finish.

View Deal

If your based in the US you absolutely need to take a look at Reserve Bar. They have a number of great ongoing promotions and free engraving options that will make great gifts. You’ll want to act fast though – one of their Black Friday rum deals sold out in a matter of hours.

The packs below are great stocking fillers – or just perfect self-indulging treats!

Ten To One Dark & White Rum with Sugarfina Advent Calendar $127 Now $112

A beautiful pack that includes Ten To One’s Dark and White Rum’s as well as the Sugarfina Advent calendar which includes four pieces of candy for each day of advent.

View Deal

Zacapa XO with St. Johns Bay Rum Candle $171 Now $161

Zacapa XO is a blend of 6 to 25 years old rums. A perfectly balanced combination of sweetness, spice, fruit and spirit. It comes with a hand-wrapped candle infused with St Johns lime scent.

View Deal

Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum with Dartington Bar Excellence Glasses $145 Now $129

Crafted from the same incomparable Bermuda blend as Gosling’s renowned Black Seal Rum but with extended cask ageing. Comes with a pair of beautiful Dartington tumblers.

View Deal

Top rum deals from generalist retailers:

There are also great opportunities to grab a few bottles of your favourite rum, at great value, while doing your weekly shopping today.

Waitrose have a great line up on offer over at Waitrose Cellar. It covers staples like the Havana Club Anejo or the Bacardi Carta Blanca, as well as some interesting, more premium pours like the William George. 

Havana Club Anejo 3-Year-Old £18 Now £15 

Intense vanilla and smoky aromas backed by notes of caramelised pear and banana make this a distinctive white rum. On the palate the Havana Club is smooth long and smoky with velvety vanilla and white chocolate notes.

View Deal

Bacardi Carta Blanca £17 Now £14

The world’s best known refined rum is double filtered through charcoal for smoothness and aged in white oak for character. Bacardi is an ideal mixer, particularly in a mojito.

View Deal

William George Rum £45 Now £40

This unique blend, brings tropical notes of tinned pineapple and banana, with hints of macadamia and almond nuts, followed by grassy overtones, cherry and citrus. Finishes with a lingering flavour of raisins, vanilla and cacao. Perfect for a Daiquiri.

View Deal

Morrisons have also lined up an interesting selection of rums ahead of Black Friday 2020, with some enticing deals going. Both the Lamb’s Dark Navy Rum and the Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum are great examples of the each of the styles at a very competitive price. There’s also funkier fare, such as the Duppy Share Caribbean Rum or the Dead Man’s Fingers flavoured range.

Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum £20.50 £15.99 

A premium spirit drink with Caribbean rum, spice and other natural flavours. Delicious served with cola, but also great with lemonade and apple juice. Its subtle spicy flavour also combines well with ginger ale.

View Deal

The Duppy Share Caribbean Rum £26 £20 

Distilled and aged in the Caribbean, a fine blend of golden rums matured in old oak casks.

View Deal

But one of the best spirit selections from a non-specialist retailer is probably that of Harvey Nichols. Not only a fantastic range of brands and styles but also some great deals – great savings on some truly interesting bottles and lovely gift packs.

Neptune Barbados Gold Rum £40 £32 

A powerful and complex Barbados golden Rum, also crafted by the award-winning FourSquare distillery. Super versatile, you can sip it neat, topped up with cola or ginger beer and lime, or mixed into a Daiquiri, a Rum Old Fashioned or a Bajan take on the Espresso Martini.

View Deal

Rathlee Distiling Co. 3 Year Old Golden Barrel Aged

£36 Now £28.80

Abound with toasted oak, dried tropical fruits, roasted nuts, peppery spice, dried flowers, butter, vanilla, salted caramel and heather honey, this will appeal to rum lovers and fans of Lowland Scotch alike.

View Deal

Bacardi Reserva Limitada £245 £196 

Hand-crafted by the Maestros de Ron Bacardi from an exquisite blend of mature reserve rums, Reserva Limitada is the top release from the legendary rum producer. Complex, delicate, and sophisticated, this is a value and highly collectible bottle.

View Deal

It’s impossible not to think of Amazon, of course, if talking about Black Friday. The lead online retailer kicked off its Black Friday 2020 event early, with (flash) offers running for over two weeks now. There have some interesting well-discounted Rums, many of which have sold out fast!

You can see some of the best deals below – a list that we will be updating regularly throughout the day.

We’ll also be uncovering some of the best Black Friday wine deals and other Black Friday spirits deals – including vodka, gin, tequila and whisky.

Black Friday and Cyber. Monday rum deals:

Twin Fin Spiced Golden Rum

Twin Fin has a rich smooth taste with warm spicy notes combined with a touch of tropical fragrance and a light smoky-sweet finish. Distilled in Cornwall in a flame-fired copper pot still, Tressa, it combines oak-aged Caribbean rum and a secret blend of spices before adding a touch of PX Sherry for sweetness. 38%

Flor de Caña 12 Year Naturally Aged Rum

Sugar-free rum, sustainably produced with no artificial ingredients. Reddish amber colour with aromas of honey, toasted nuts and a flavour that evokes vanilla and baked apples. 40%

The Real McCoy 5 Year Old Rum

Beautifully balanced rum with luxurious texture, perfect for sipping or mixing. The nose is packed with dried fruit, brown sugar, vanilla and oak. 40%

Doorly’s XO Barbados Rum

Aged in ex-bourbon casks for 5 to6 years, after which it undergoes a second maturation in ex-sherry casks

Very elegant nose of toffee with loads of vanilla and mocha and a touch of honey. A rich, spicy yet subtle rum with surprisingly mellow and complex flavours. 43%

Kirk and Sweeney XO

Kirk and Sweeney’s most sophisticated XO with layers of dried fruits, oak and subtle hints of caramel and toffee. Long, warm and robust finish. 65.5%

Bacoo 7 Year Old Rum

A mature, toasty and complex Rum with full body and long spicy finish. Great as a mixing component – will add great complexity to your cocktails – but also extremely elegant as a neat sip. 40%

Doorly’s 3YO White Barbados Rum

A very fruity Rum, dominated by tropical flavours and with a clean, linear finish. It was aged for a minimum of three years in old Bourbon casks, adding great complexity and smoothness of texture. 40%

Black Magic Spiced Rum

A warming and complex rum with enveloping mouthfeel, ideal for based-rum cocktails. Its intense and full flavours are balanced by the vibrancy of the spice blend and the lingering toastiness of brown sugar and vanilla . 40%

Mount Gay Black Barrel

An oaky number, this blend of pot and column still spirits is matured in ex-American whisky casks then finished for six months in heavy-char ex-Bourbon casks. Dried fruits are joined by gingerbread, toffee, vanilla and wood. 43%

Langs Banana Flavoured Rum

Sweet and fruity on the nose with bold banana topped by molasses. Luscious palate with the sweetness of the banana softening the alcohol warmth. Long finish. 40%

Bacardi Anejo Cuatro Rum Gift Pack

A golden rum with notes of vanilla, toasted oak, clove and honey. Either alone or with the beautiful patterned glass that comes with ii in the amazon gift pack, it makes a great gift for rum-lovers. 40%

Koko Kanu Coconut Rum 

A subtle blend of finest white aged Jamaican rum, blended with the natural essence of coconut. Perfect on its own but particularly suited for cocktails. 37.5%

Bacardi Premium Gold Rum Major Lazer Limited Edition

A collaboration with DJ Major Laser. A warm and silky rum with layers of tropical fruit and subtle notes of wood, roasted nuts and dried fruits. An ideal rum for cocktails. 40%

Dead Man’s Fingers Coffee Rum

A coffee-flavoured rum with notes of vanilla, raisins, rich ground coffee, chocolate orange, a whack of cumin and burnt sugar. Perfect served with an espresso and a spoonful of honey, then garnished with coffee beans. 37.5%

Halovie Cocktail Shaker Set

The Halovie full set comes, in different sizes, with all you need to start your home mixology with full confidence and precision.

We will be updating this article with the latest rum deals, so check back regularly for all the latest offers.

Jack Daniel’s is the top-selling American whiskey in the world, best known for its Old No7 label, along with its iconic square bottles.

The man himself, Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel, founded his company in Lynchburg, Tennessee in 1875 but as Moore County (in which the Jack Daniel’s distillery is located) is dry, you can’t buy any of the whiskey in local restaurants or shops.

But that hasn’t stopped the huge global success of this brand. While officially a straight bourbon, Jack Daniel’s prefers to use ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ on labels.

Jack Daniel’s uses corn, rye and malted barley in its mash, and distills in copper stills. After a filtering through ground maple charcoal, the whiskey matures in new oak barrels.

Cyber Monday Jack Daniel’s whiskey deals

The most famous bottle in the ever-increasing Jack Daniel’s range – and the original – is Old No7, aka Black Label. Amazon UK sells several fun packaging options of this whiskey, including an Old No7 Guitar Case Whiskey gift pack which is a perfect present for the rocker in your life, complete with a guitar-head topper.

Others include the popular No27 Gold (an extra maturation period in maple wood before being double-charcoal filtered) and limited-edition select ranges, often in tribute to famous fans of Jack Daniel’s.

The most renowned of these fans was Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, the crooner Frank Sinatra, in whose honour the Jack Daniel’s Frank Sinatra Edition Whiskey was created.

While you should serve the pricier special bottlings on the rocks, enjoy 25ml Old No7 poured over ice in a highball glass, topped up with 175ml of your favourite cola.

Here are the best Cyber Monday Jack Daniel’s whiskey buys we’ve found on Amazon UK…

Jack Daniel’s 150th Anniversary Tennessee Whiskey

Not cheap, but 28% off is a great deal for a one-litre bottle of this special edition, and perfect for JD fans to add to their collections. Here, the classic butterscotch, vanilla and apple compote notes meld with popcorn, sweet spice and dried peach. Bottled at 100% proof to accentuate the richness. Alc 50%

£149.99 Now £107.56 at Amazon UK

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s 4 Year Old Single Barrel Rye

Snap this up at 37% off! Bottled at 90% proof, it has a unique 70% rye grain bill. Nutty, toasty rye notes mix with spiced dried fruit for a whiskey that’s perfect on the rocks or in a Sazerac cocktail. Alc 45%

£60 Now £38 at Amazon UK

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey

36% off! Inspired by the original gentleman distiller, this is the world’s only double-mellowed whiskey, which has a second charcoal filtering after reaching maturity for even more smoothness. If you like Old No 7, give this a try! Alc 40%

£36 Now £23 at Amazon UK

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey

If you’re looking to trade up from Old No7, this is the JD for you – now 36% off. Only 1% of barrels is deemed good enough for this bottling, gaining its unique caramel, vanilla and spice flavours from its time spent in the fluctuating temperatures of the upper floors of the barrelhouse. Collectors will like the limited edition mesh gift tin for 16% off. Alc 45%

£46 Now £30 at Amazon UK

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey

A 33% off bargain for three one-litre bottles of this rich drop. For this bottling, Black Label whiskey is blended with JD’s own honey liqueur, giving an ultra-smooth, almost pecan pie-like flavour. Alc 35%

£90 Now £60 at Amazon UK

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple

Here in this one-litre bottle (for 25% off), the spiced, creamy caramel notes of Old No7 is blended with natural apple liqueur to give the same smooth JD texture with fresh twist. Try it with tonic, garnished with an apple slice. Alc 35%

£32 Now £24 at Amazon UK

View Deal

Jack Daniel’s Legacy Old No7 Tennessee Whiskey

The first bottle in Jack Daniel’s limited Legacy Edition series bottling, at 22% off the regular price. In the 1900s, these iconic square bottles weren’t always so distinctively black! The classic JD flavours of apple and butterscotch join charred vanilla oak and baking spices. The Legacy Edition No2 is also 22% off. Alc 43%

£32 Now £24.99 at Amazon UK

View Deal

More Cyber Monday whisky deals 

View more deals on our Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 hub for top buys on Champagne, gin, rum, vodka and tequila.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday wine and spirits offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across wine, spirits and Champagne
• Waitrose – 25% off a wide selection of wines, including Champagne
• Laithwaite’s – Huge savings across the range
• Tesco – 25% off when you buy six bottles
• Majestic – Save 25% on its Fine Wine range
• Master of Malt – Flash sales across spirits and Champagnes
• Wine.com – savings of 25% or more
• Amazon US – great wine accessories, including a half price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range
• Selfridges US – Save 20% on Riedel glassware

If you liked our Cyber Monday Jack Daniel’s deals, you might also like…

Game of Thrones whiskies in Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

Best Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals: Jura whisky

Laurent Perrier was founded in 1812 by André Michel Pierlot, former cooper and bottler in Chigny-les-Roses. He bought two plots of vines named ‘Les Plaisances’ and ‘La Tour Glorieux’ from his village Tours-sur-Marne and started his own sparkling wine business.

The Champagne house is conveniently located at the crossroads of the three Champagne growing areas; the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.

The house was passed on to his son and then former cellar master Eugène Laurent. It was Laurent’s widow Mathilde Emilie Perrier who combined the two family names and renamed the Champagne house as ‘Veuve (“widow”) Laurent-Perrier’.

Lauren-Perrier is one of the pioneers to produce drier-style Champagne, even at the time when sweetness was more appreciated in the traditional fizz. In 1889, the house launched a sugar-free ‘Grand Vin sans Sucre’ to the pleasure of British drinkers. The low-to-zero-dosage style of Champagne was more than a century ahead of its time, when ‘Brut Nature’ became a fashion nowadays.

In 1939 the House was sold to the de Nonancourt family and Madame de Nonancourt passed control of the House to her son Bernard in 1948. Bernard re-launched the zero-dosage style in 1981. Try the Ultra Brut Laurent-Perrier for £38.99 on Ocado.

Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut

Laurent-Perrier has pioneered the Brut Nature category with the Ultra Brut. It is a champagne with no added sugar (‘dosage’).

£51.99 Now 38.99 on Ocado

View Deal

The estate is now exporting to more than 160 countries worldwide, known for a house style of freshness, finesse and elegance.

Our top recommendations for this Cyber Monday is the Laurent-Perrier 2008 Vintage Champagne. Available at just £39 on Waitrose, £13 off its original price.

Laurent-Perrier 2008 Vintage Champagne

‘Disgorged in July 2018 with 8g of sugar, this is a wonderfully poised blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir.’

£52 Now £39 on Waitrose

View Deal

Decanter’s Simon Field MW noted the 2008 vintage to be ‘generous of colour and with forward toasty aromas. The wine is thereafter softer, more refined and elegant, with grapefruit notes ceding to a bed of dried almonds and summer flowers.’

More Cyber Monday Laurent-Perrier Champagne deals

Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée

It’s a deliciously indulgent aperitif – especially because it’s excellent with canapés.

£44.99 Now £24.99 when Mix Six on Majestic

View Deal

Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut NV

Intensely fruity flavours, clean, well-defined and slightly sharp

£60.00 Now £53.95 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose NV – Magnum in Gift Box

Cuvée Rosé pioneered the rosé brut Champagne category and remains the benchmark.

£170.00 Now £129.00 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Laurent Perrier 2008 Millesime Champagne in Gift Box

Crafted exclusively from Chardonnay from the Côte des Blanc and Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims.

Now 52.99 on Amazon

View Deal

See more Cyber Monday deals on Champagne, Whisky, Rum, Gin, Vodka and Tequila.

In a matter of years, what used to be the unfashionable drink that your spinster aunt would sip at awkward family reunions, became a phenomenon that rocked the spirits industry. Suddenly, gin was cool!

From East London railway arches to workshops in Manchester or garages in Brooklyn, craft distillers armed with vintage pot stills, started a movement that made gin fashionable again.

What used to be the domaine of well-established brands became a sandbox for creative types churning an amazing number of different bottling. The idea of small-batch or tailored-made became important concepts for young millennials wanting hip brands they can relate to.

So is it all a fad? Not at all – craft gins bring very interesting takes on one of the world’s favourite spirits, with innovative botanical combinations and a focus on natural ingredients and flavourings. They also convey a particular sense of place – of ‘terroir’ if you will – as distillers tend to grow the botanicals themselves and use the herbs & spices of their specific region. This, combined with the fact that these spirits are almost invariably distilled in small batches, produce spirits with incredible expressiveness and aromatic complexity.

And if you’re looking for stocking fillers for your favourite gin-lover, look no further: with their exquisite, often quirky branding, craft gins have become equally famous for their beautiful bottles and labels. Perfect gifts, inside and out. So don’t miss out on these Cyber Monday offers!

Cyber Monday craft gin deals

East London Liquor Company London Dry Gin

East London Liquor London Dry Gin is made using wheat and an infusion of lemon peel, grapefruit peel, coriander, angelica root, juniper berries, cubeb berries and cardamom.

£21.75  Now £17.75 on The Whisky Exchange 

(multi-buy deals also available)

View Deal

Hidden World Guardian Gin

Guardian is a small batch gin made with native New Zealand botanicals, including the peppery kawakawa and horopito plants, as well as locally grown limes and lemons.

£39.95 Now £34.95 on The Whisky Exchange 

(multi-buy deals also available)

View Deal

Edinburgh Gin Small Batch Distilled

Distilled in the shadow of Edinburgh castle, this gin is crafted from the finest quality grain spirit with a unique blend of Scottish botanicals.

A classic gin with a citrusy nose, a subtle note of heather and a burst of juniper.

£25 Now £20 at Morrisons

(multi-buy deals also available)

View Deal

The Old Curiosity Distillery Geranium & Mallow Limited Batch Secret Garden Gin

Husband and wife Hamish and Liberty Martin bought a derelict plot of land at the foot of the Pentland Hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Over several years they transformed that wasteland into The Secret Herb Garden, which is now home to over 600 herbs.

£60 Now £48 at Harvey Nichols

View Deal

Four Pillars Sherry Cask Gin

Four Pillars is a small Australian distiller who create awe-inspiring gins in a copper still called Wilma. Whisky aged in Sherry casks may be commonplace, but rather unusual for a gin. And Four Pillars’ Sherry Cask Gin is just as intriguing as it sounds…

£53 Now £42.40 at Harvey Nichols

View Deal

The Kyoto Distillery KI NO BI

The first Japanese gin made in Kyoto, KI NO BI is an elegant and distinctively Japanese take on gin. Created using a rice spirit base and peerless water sourced from the Fushimi sake–brewing district. Juniper frames and deepens the array of Japanese botanicals.

£59 Now £53.10 at Harvey Nichols

View Deal

More Cyber Monday gin deals | Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2020 wine and spirits

Cyber Monday wine and spirits offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across wine, spirits and Champagne
• Waitrose – 25% off a wide selection of wines, including Champagne
• Laithwaite’s – Huge savings across the range
• Morrison’s – Savings across wine, Champagne and spirits
• Tesco – 25% off when you buy six bottles
• Majestic – Save 25% on its Fine Wine range
• Master of Malt – Flash sales across spirits and Champagnes
• Wine.com – savings of 25% or more
• Amazon US – great wine accessories, including a half price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range
• Selfridges US – Save 20% on Riedel glassware

Wine lovers can get a Coravin Model Six Wine Preservation system for half price this Cyber Monday.

Amazon – both in the UK and the US – are selling a Coravin with 50%, saving £164 / $199.

Coravin Cyber Monday deals – UK and US

Coravin Model Six – Amazon UK 

Save over £160 with 50% off the Coravin Model Six Wine Preservation system, and enjoy any of your wines without pulling the cork.

£329  Now £164.50 on Amazon UK

View Deal

Coravin Model Six – Amazon US 

Save $200 with this half price offer for a Coravin and start enjoying more of your fine wines, more regularly.

$399.95 Now $199 on Amazon US

View Deal

Coravin means you no longer have to open an entire bottle of wine when you just want one glass – particularly useful for those with special bottles in their cellar.

With smaller gatherings for Christmas celebrations in order this year, this means you could still enjoy some of your finer wines without needing to open and finish multiple bottles.

It also makes a perfect gift for a wine collector.

The Cyber Monday offer is for the Coravin Model Six Wine Preservation system, in colour ‘Mica’, which also comes with three capsules of Argon gas, two of the screwcap additions and a carry case.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday wine and spirits offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across wine, spirits and Champagne
• Waitrose – 25% off a wide selection of wines, including Champagne
• Laithwaite’s – Huge savings across the range
• Tesco – 25% off when you buy six bottles
• Majestic – Save 25% on its Fine Wine range
• Master of Malt – Flash sales across spirits and Champagnes
• Wine.com – savings of 25% or more
• Amazon US – great wine accessories, including a half price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range
• Selfridges US – Save 20% on Riedel glassware

More Cyber Monday deals

Will the Coravin revolutionise the way we drink wine?

Cyber Monday is here! Find best supermarket deals, unique gift ideas, discounted big brands and cocktail inspirations from our selection of top tequila deals.

The spirit of Mexico, Tequila has gained popularity moving away from the image of being a ‘shot’ spirit, to high-class cocktails and when aged, a lovely sipping drink. It is also the heart of a range of colourful cocktails.

From every day & premium tequilas on discount to characterful decanter & glasses giftsets, time to stock up for Christmas & New Year.

Supermarket Tequila Deals

Sierra Tequila Silver

Enjoy Sierra Tequila Silver neat, in cocktails or in long drinks with cola, orange juice or exotic juices.

£21 Now £17 on Morrisons

View Deal

Sierra Tequila Gold

Enjoy Sierra Tequila Reposado neat, in cocktails or in longdrinks with cola, orange juice or exotic juices.

£21 Now £17 on Morrisons

View Deal

El Jimador Tequila Blanco

Young and fresh, el Jimador Blanco tequila steps up with truly authentic character. It¿s made with 100% hand-harvested blue Weber agave and double distilled with sparkling clarity.

£23 Now £20 on Ocado

View Deal

Espolon Super Premium Tequila Reposado

El Espolón takes you to where people celebrate everyday life – it pours you into the heart of real Mexico.

£27 Now £20 on Ocado

View Deal

Cazadores Reposado Tequila

£28 Now £20 on Ocado

View Deal

For your cocktails – Aperol deals

Aperol

Aperol

A classic rhubarb and orange flavoured aperitif from Italy. The original recipe for Aperol dates back to 1919. The drink gained great popularity after the Second World War and is quite similar to Campari.

£13.63 on Master of Malt

View Deal

Cointreau Liqueur

Top Tequila gift ideas

HALOVIE Cocktail Making Set 11pcs Gift Set

This Cocktail Making Kit contains everything what a bartender’s needs. You can mix wonderful drinks at home, and no need to pay too much at fancy bars. Anybody can be a bartender.

£35.99 Now £20.99 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Crystal Glasses and Ice Cube Moulds

The wedge-shaped ice bowl increases the contact surface with whisky whose balls melt much slower than square ice and round ice cubes, and keeps your whisky cool for as long as you like.

£16.99 (Prime Price: £13.59) on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Globe Decanter with Glasses and Stainless Steel Whiskey Stones

Perfect size, the diameter of the globe decanter ball is 13.0 cm, the size is suitable and 1000ml of capacity is enough to hold your favourite spirits.

£40.99 (Prime Price: £32.79) on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Final Touch Agave Tequila Decanter

Serve & savour your favourite tequila from our Agave plant-inspired decanter. With All-natural Portuguese Cork Stopper Holds 850 ml Of Liquor Spirits.

Now £33.63 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Skull Hand-painted Tequila Shot Glasses

One of kind hand-painted decanter set, skillfully crafted by an artisan in Mexico.

£61.58 Now £55.42 on Etsy.com

View Deal

Hand-painted Decanter Set with Tequila Shot Glasses

The bottle can be customized with a name or a small message.

The shot glasses can be short or long and they both hold 2oz (60ml) each.

£85.47 Now £76.93 on Etsy.com

View Deal

Mucha Liga Blanco Tequila

Mucha Liga Blanco Tequila

Unique and striking hand-blown and painted glass bottle. 100% hand-crafted Mexican design. Perfect for collectors or home bars.

Now at 43.95 on Amazon

View Deal

Don Julio Tequila deals

Don Julio Blanco Tequila

Don Julio Blanco Tequila

Don Julio González founded the La Primavera distillery in 1942, where he pioneered the world’s first ultra-premium tequila from 100% agave.

£42.90 Now £37.95 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Don Julio Reposado Tequila

Barrel aged for 8 months, Tequila Don Julio Reposado is golden amber in colour and offers a rich, smooth finish.

£43.95 Now £38.85 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Don Julio Anejotequila

Wonderfully complex with expressions of vanilla and oaky butterscotch notes. Bright and lightly spiced finish with the essence of wild honey in the back for a rewarding long finale.

£49.99 Now £45.75 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Don Julio 1942 Anejotequila

A tribute tequila of astonishing depth, Don Julio 1942 is presented in an elongated bottle whose design is inspired by the agave leaf…

£135 Now £130.73 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Casamigos Reposado Tequila

Small batch, ultra-premium 100 Percent Blue Weber agave tequila founded by George Clooney and Rande Gerber.

£57.49 Now £50.00 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Lunazul Blanco

Lunazul Blanco is a simple, great-quality Tequila. It is double distilled in stills once used in Cognac production.

£31.25 Now £28.25 on Master of Malt

View Deal

Lunazul Añejo

A 100% agave tequila that’s aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for 12 to 18 months.

£33.95 Now £29.95 on Master of Malt

View Deal

El Rayo Plata Tequila

A herbal-flavoured tequila designed to be paired with tonic as a gin and tonic alternative. Simply top with tonic and garnish with grapefruit for your perfect El Rayo and Tonic.

£34.95 Now £27.96 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

El Rayo Reposado Tequila

El Rayo Reposado has a golden caramel colour and a rich, nutty complexity. Notes of aromatic spices give way to flavours of cinnamon, fresh herbs and bitter orange

£37.95 Now £30.36 on Amazon.co.uk

View Deal

Top tequila tasting sets

Master of Malt – Tequila Tasting Set #2

-Clase Azul Reposado

– Enemigo 00 Extra Añejo

– Fortaleza Reposado

– Herencia Mexicana Tequila Extra Añejo

– Ocho Single Barrel – La Latilla Añejo – 2015 Harvest

£49.95 Now £24.95 Flash sale on Master of Malt

View Deal

Tequila Tasting Set

Featuring La Certeza Blanco, Patrón Añejo, Tequila Chamucos Blanco, Tapatio Excelencia Gran Reserva Extra Añejo and Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia 2013, this tequila tasting set provides a premium tour of this delectable spirit.

£33.00 Now available on The Conran Shop

View Deal

Drinks by the Dram 12 Dram Tequila & Mezcal Collection

Within this stylish box sits 12 different 30ml wax-sealed drams of absolutely delicious Tequila and mezcal from some of Mexico’s most excellent producers.

£45 Now available on Master of Malt

View Deal

Top tequila deals

Patron Silver Tequila

Patron Silver Tequila – Small Bottle

A 20cl bottle of Patron Silver Tequila. Made from Wever blue agave in small batches, this is great in cocktails.

Now at 19.45 on thewhiskyexchange.com

View Deal

Patron Silver Tequila Jalisco Mule Cocktail Gift

A beautiful limited edition gift pack containing full size 70 cl silver patron and two patron mule mugs

Now at £46 on Amazon

View Deal

A premium un-aged tequila from one of the most famous houses in Mexico. Patron has gained worldwide recognition for its quality blue agave spirits and distinctive handcrafted bottles and this silver tequila doesn’t disappoint. Made in the Jalisco mountains of central Mexico, it has a wonderful crystal-clear colour with a light, smooth and delicate taste with notes of citrus and subtle spices. Each bottle is individually signed and given a unique number due to its limited production. Makes a fantastic and authentic margarita.

Patron XO Cafe Liqueur

XO Cafe Tequila Coffee Liqueur is a blend of coffee essence and Patron Tequila, which is made with 100% Weber Blue Agave. The dark-coloured, rich and dry-flavoured liqueur features notes of fresh coffee and vanilla. It’s a delightful sipping liqueur on its own and also perfect as an ingredient in desserts or cocktails. The alcohol sits at 35%.

Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila

Olmeca Altos Tequila Plata, 70 cl

An aromatic and fruity Tequila. Sweet in the mouth, with citric notes like lime – lemon cooked agave.

£28.20 Now £23 on Amazon

View Deal

Olmeca Altos Plata is a 100 per cent agave tequila produced exclusively in the Los Altos region in the Highlands of Central Mexico. It is a joint creation of two of the UK’s most prominent mixologists, Henry Besant and Dre Masso alongside Master Distiller Jesus Hernandez.

The blue agave gives this smooth-textured tequila herbal and fruity aromas on the nose and a sweet and citrusy palate. It’s already delicious when drinking neat or on the rocks, but it can also serve as a top ingredient for Margarita.

Cazcabel Reposado

Cazcabel Reposado

Reposado tequila from the Cazcabel range, matured in American oak barrels for at least 9 months before bottling. Suitable for enjoying in cocktails and well as simply sipping neat.

27.21 Now 24.49 on Master or Malt

View Deal

The Cazcabel Reposado is made from 100% locally produced blue weber agave grown seven years before harvesting. Aged in American oak barrels for a minimum of 9 moths, this tequila features earthy notes and sweet spices, dried tropical fruits and toasted oak.

Also from the same producer:

Cazcabel Blanco

Cazcabel Blanco is a classically-styled tequila from Jalisco, Mexico, evidently named after a legendary medicine man known as Don Cazcabel. Rich in earthy roasted agave with citrus notes shining through and black pepper bringing spice to the finish.

£25.63 Now £23.07 on Master of Malt

View Deal

Cazcabel Coffee Liqueur

Rich and aromatic, Cazcabel Coffee Liqueur is made using their Blanco Tequila as a base and is blended with coffee. Great for use in cocktails, or perhaps splashed in a cuppa joe.

£25.33Now £22.80 on Master of Malt

View Deal

Fortaleza Reposado Tequila

The Fortaleza Reposado is made by the fifth generation of the Sauza family, who is said to have been the first to export “mezcal de tequila” to the United States. 100% stone crushed blue agave was steamed then aged in oak barrels for 6-9 months, giving this tequila a smooth texture and exotic aromas including dried citrus, earth, caramel, agave and sweet spices.

Fortaleza Blanco

Fortaleza Blanco

Handcrafted with exceptional with notes of black pepper, earth and butter.

£56.45 Now £50.81 on Master of Malt

View Deal

Sierra Milenario Reposado

Sierra Milenario’s 100% Agave Reposado Tequila must be aged in oak barrels called ‘pipones’ for a minimum of two months and up to a maximum of 12 months – it’s better known as rested, and it more of a sipping tequila rather than for cocktails. Made with 100 percent premium agave and distilled in traditional copper pot stills with triple distillation process. This one is aged in sherry cask.

Check Sierra Milenario Reposado deals on Amazon>>

Don Julio Blanco Tequila

A deliciously fresh and luxury Tequila bursting with citrus flavours. Made by the much-awarded Don Julio, this Tequila is made using the finest agave plants from Los Alton de Jalisco, masterfully crafted at La Primavera distillery (founded in 1942) and bottled immediately after distillation to maintain as much of the fresh agave flavour as possible. It’s incredibly smooth with crisp agave notes and a long finish with a touch of black pepper. A great Tequila for sharing, neat on the rocks or in cocktails.

Casamigos Reposado Tequila

Casamigos was the brainchild of longtime friends Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, Rande Gerber (husband of Cindy Crawford) and Mike Meldman and their shared love of tequila. Initially created as a ‘house tequila’ for the three friends – its name translates to ‘house of friends’ – the small batch production soon became available internationally and launched in the UK in 2015. The reposado is 100% blue agave from the highlands of Jalisco, aged for seven months in American oak and has a soft and smooth taste with hints of caramel, vanilla and cocoa.

Calle 23 Anejo Tequila

Created by Sophie Decobecq, who originally worked as a chemist in the cognac industry but was drawn to Mexico due to her love of tequila. This aged tequila has a great depth of flavour with notes of chocolate and chillies and touches of vanilla and coffee. Smooth and vibrant with some smokiness too.

Compare deals on Drinks & Co

View more deals on our Black Friday 2020 hubfor top deals for more whisky, Champagne, gin, rum and tequila.

Black Friday weekend wine and spirits offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across wine, spirits and Champagne
• Waitrose – 25% off a wide selection of wines, including Champagne
• Laithwaite’s – Huge savings across the range
• Tesco – 25% off when you buy six bottles
• Majestic – Save 25% on its Fine Wine range
• Master of Malt – Flash sales across spirits and Champagnes
• Wine.com – savings of 25% or more
• Amazon US – great wine accessories, including a half price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range
• Selfridges US– Save 20% on Riedel glassware

When first launched, the Game of Thrones whiskies proved to be an instant sell-out success, and the popularity continued with each subsequent range release.

The final one, released in November 2019 was called the ‘Six Kingdoms whisky‘ and was produced by Mortlach. It was the most premium offering to date, aged for 15 years in first-fill, Sherry-seasoned casks and finished in used American oak, ex-Bourbon casks.

Luckily for Game of Thrones and whisky fans, this one is included in Amazon’s deals – down to £93 instead of £120.

At the time of release, Kavita Agarwal, Diageo’s global brand director for malts said ‘Mortlach is one of our most sought-after, super premium single malts, and seemed fitting as the perfect finale to complete the collection.’

Game of Thrones whisky: Cyber Monday deals

Mortlach Six Kingdoms Game of Thrones whisky

The final release of the Game of Thrones whisky range – and also the most expensive, so even more reason to grab it when on offer, with nearly £30 off.

£120  Now £93.89 on Amazon UK

View Deal

Johnnie Walker White Walker blended whisky

The first of the Game of Thrones-inspired spirits, this whisky evokes the icy Frozen North and includes single malts from some of Scotland’s most northern distilleries in the blend. Best served straight from the freezer – but the bottle design also provides an unexpected reminder once it freezes…

£30  Now £27.47 on Amazon UK

View Deal

The other Game of Thrones whisky on offer is from the Johnnie Walker range.

The White Walker whisky was released in October 2018, and the Song of Fire and Song of Ice ones were released in 2019. Only the White Walker is still on offer for Cyber Monday – both the Song of Ice and Song of Fire deals have already finished, so you need to act quickly!

More Cyber Monday whisky deals | Cyber Monday 2020 wine and spirits

Buy the full range of Game of Throne whiskies

Cyber Monday wine and spirits offers

• Amazon UK – Savings across wine, spirits and Champagne
• Waitrose – 25% off a wide selection of wines, including Champagne
• Laithwaite’s – Huge savings across the range
• Tesco – 25% off when you buy six bottles
• Majestic – Save 25% on its Fine Wine range
• Master of Malt – Flash sales across spirits and Champagnes
• Wine.com – savings of 25% or more
• Amazon US – great wine accessories, including a half price Coravin
• ReserveBar.com – Great savings across the range
• Selfridges US – Save 20% on Riedel glassware

Majestic have announced their Cyber Monday 2020 deals and one of them is a 50% saving on bottles of Olivier Baudin Brut Champagne.

The single bottle price is reduced from £29.99 to £14.99 when purchasing as part of the mix six deal.

That’s a £15 saving per bottle.

The Champagne joins four other Cyber Monday offers including a 2015 Pomerol, a New Zealand Pinot Gris and a pair of California wines, one Chardonnay and one Pinot Noir .

Majestic Cyber Monday deals

Save 50% when you buy a mixed case of six bottles. These offers are only availale online and end at midnight.

Olivier Baudin Brut Champagne

Single bottle price: £29.99 Black Friday mix six price: £14.99

A lovely celebration fizz from an exciting producer at less than £15. Lively, fresh and zesty with balanced creamy undertones. Plus at half price, now is the perfect time to stock up.

View Deal

Escarpment Pinot Gris, Martinborough 2020

Single bottle price: £19.99 Black Friday mix six price: £9.99

Pear and white stone fruit flavours abound in this soft, ripe and round wine from the alluvial soils of Martinborough. It is richly textured from partial malolactic fermentation and lees stirring with a long and lingering finish. A lovely alternative to Chardonnay and a great partner to a wide range of meat, fish and creamy dishes.

View Deal

Duckhorn Vineyards Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday mix six price: £19.99

This Chardonnay shines in the glass showcasing the best of California’s characteristics – rich, radiant and alluring. It is round and smooth with lively acidity and flavours of tropical fruits, soft floral elements and hints of French oak. Elegant and refreshing. And a bargain at half its usual price.

View Deal

Ryder Estate, Pinot Noir, California 2017

Single bottle price: £17.99 Black Friday mix six price: £8.99

Quality California Pinot for less than £9. Snap up this bargain bottle which is silky and morish. The palate is succulent and balanced, bursting with flavours of black cherries, plums and raspberries with a touch of vanilla toast from oak ageing. It also has an interesting and nuanced coffee undertone which adds complexity and texture.

View Deal

Château Marzy, Pomerol 2015

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday mix six price: £19.99

A complex wine full of black cherries and blackberries with savoury touches of coffee and mushrooms and soft liquorice spice. Succulent, juicy and from a great vintage. Perfect to drink this Christmas.

View Deal

See all Majestic Black Friday deals 

Majestic’s Cyber Monday 2020 deals are here with a massive 50% saving when buying a mixed case of six. The Black Friday Majestic 2020 deals are also still around until midnight this evening.

The retailer is offering 25% off the entire range of Fine Wines, which has been greatly expanded in 2020, plus some key discounts on some of Majestic’s ‘favourite wines’ as well as Champagnes.

You can also save up to 40% on the price of Majestic’s mix six cases.

Most of the offers will be around until midnight tonight or until they sell out.

The below offers are from Majestic’s fine wine range covering reds and whites from France, Italy, the USA, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Germany, Lebanon, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Cyber Monday deals

Save 50% when you buy a mixed case of six bottles. These offers are only availale online and end at midnight.

Olivier Baudin Brut Champagne

Single bottle price: £29.99 Cyber Monday Majestic mix six price: £14.99

A lovely celebration fizz from an exciting producer at less than £15. Lively, fresh and zesty with balanced creamy undertones. Plus at half price, now is the perfect time to stock up.

View Deal

Escarpment Pinot Gris, Martinborough 2020

Single bottle price: £19.99 Cyber Monday Majestic mix six price: £9.99

Pear and white stone fruit flavours abound in this soft, ripe and round wine from the alluvial soils of Martinborough. It is richly textured from partial malolactic fermentation and lees stirring with a long and lingering finish. A lovely alternative to Chardonnay and a great partner to a wide range of meat, fish and creamy dishes.

View Deal

Duckhorn Vineyards Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2017

Single bottle price: £39.99 Cyber Monday Majestic mix six price: £19.99

This Chardonnay shines in the glass showcasing the best of California’s characteristics – rich, radiant and alluring. It is round and smooth with lively acidity and flavours of tropical fruits, soft floral elements and hints of French oak. Elegant and refreshing. And a bargain at half its usual price.

View Deal

Château Marzy, Pomerol 2015

Single bottle price: £39.99 Cyber Monday Majestic mix six price: £19.99

A complex wine full of black cherries and blackberries with savoury touches of coffee and mushrooms and soft liquorice spice. Succulent, juicy and from a great vintage. Perfect to drink this Christmas.

View Deal

Ryder Estate, Pinot Noir, California 2017

Single bottle price: £17.99 Cyber Monday Majestic mix six price: £8.99

Quality California Pinot for less than £9! Snap up this bargain bottle which is silky and morish. The palate is succulent and balanced, bursting with flavours of black cherries, plums and raspberries with a touch of vanilla toast from oak ageing. It also has an interesting and nuanced coffee undertone which adds complexity and texture.

View Deal

Black Friday deals

France

Bordeaux

White

Château La Garde Pessac-Léognan Blanc, Graves, 2019 

Single bottle price: £29.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £22.48

Scoring 90 points by Jane Anson, this Bordeaux white is ‘sappy with edges of gooseberry’ and ‘full of interest and personality’ with ‘minerality and salinity clear through the finish’.

View Deal

Red

Château La Croix De Gay 2016, Pomerol

Single bottle price: £46.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £35.22

A chance to buy a classic and renowned wine from an excellent vintage in Bordeaux. With family roots in Pomerol going back to 1477, this wine comes from a tiny 4ha plot on a privileged position within the appellation. A soft and smooth bottling with plenty of character and typicity.

View Deal

Château Batailley, Pauillac 2014

Single bottle price: £52.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £39.72

A satisfying and smooth Pauillac with great appellation typicity. Fresh and fruity, this powerful but elegant wine is sumptuous with good acidity and seamless tannins. Charming and great to drink this Christmas.

View Deal

Château Lagrange, St Julien 2010

Single bottle price: £84.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £63.71

Jane Anson rated this wine 94 points earlier this year saying: ‘This is a brilliant St-Julien – full of joy and finesse and elegance. Black fruits and smoke combine with a slate minerality – I love it. This is also one that offers good value for money and will be a perfect match for food. Can drink now, or wait, and will age’. A great time to stock up.

View Deal

Château Duhart-Milon, Pauillac, 4ème Cru Classé, 2012

Single bottle price: £99.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £74.95

From the Château Lafite stable, this is intense and concentrated, bursting with Pauillac power. Juicy and vibrant still the flavours combine ripe cassis and delicate oak tones. Decant before serving to allow the aromatics and full character to shine in the glass.

View Deal

Burgundy

White

Olivier Leflaive Sous Le Château Saint-Romain 2018

Single bottle price: £32.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price :£24.73

Saint-Romain is known for its mineral whites and this is an intense and characterful bottling from one of Burgundy’s renowned estates. This wine was given 92 points by Tim Atkin MW who said it was ‘taut and tight’ with ‘subtle gunflint aromas’.

View Deal

Domaine de L’Enclos Premier Cru Vau de Vey Chablis 2018 

Single bottle price: £33.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £25.48

A wine from an exciting estate in Chablis which has a cooler vineyard site suited to the warm conditions in 2018.

View Deal

Domaine Brocard, Grand Cru Chablis Blanchot, 2013

Single bottle price: £49.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price £37.47

It can be difficult to find mature vintages of Grand Cru Chablis in the marketplace but this is worthy of recommendation.

View Deal

Alain Chavy, Les Charmes Puligny-Montrachet, 2017

Single bottle price: £49.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price £41.98

Puligny-Montrachet is home to some of the world’s most acclaimed vineyards and the Chavy’s have roots here dating back almost 200 years. Alain, who created his own domaine in 2003, has 7ha and boasts some of the deepest cellars at 5.5m below ground. This has ripe fruit flavours balanced by crisp acidity.

View Deal

Olivier Leflaive Clos de la Velle Meursault 2018

Single bottle price: £54.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £46.47

Made from 40-year-old vines, this is rich and powerful, bursting with bright citrus flavours, toasted spices, fine acidity and a generous length.

View Deal

Henri Boillot, Meursault 2018

Single bottle price: £59.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price £44.97

From fifth generation winemaker, this is a satin-textured, chalky and structured Chardonnay from a domaine with an excellent reputation. An impressive density and tension here with lemon flavours coupled with pastry and biscuit notes.

View Deal

Alain Chavy Premier Cru Puligny Montrachet Champ Gains 2017

Single bottle price: £64.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price £54.72

Another worthy purchase from Alain Chavy demonstrating excellent winemaking and why Puligny deserves its quality reputation. This has understated elegance and showcases signature crisp acidity, a rich texture and structure to age.

View Deal

Domaine Henri Clerc, Premier Cru Meursault Les Charmes 2015

Single bottle price: £69.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price £59.22

Good value here for a rich and powerful wine from a maturing vintage. Les Charmes is known for producing stellar Chardonnays and this doesn’t disappoint with ripe fruit flavours and mineral complexity.

View Deal

Red

Remi Seguin Morey-Saint-Denis 2018

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £29.98

A good-value option from the very good 2018 vintage. Morey is known for producing complex wines, this has signature typicity with raspberry and cherry fruit flavours alongside anissed touches. It is organic and biodynamic too.

View Deal

Henri Pion, Très Vieilles Vignes Morey-Saint-Denis 2015

Single bottle price: £37.99 Black Friday Majestic price £32.98

Slightly more age here, again from a very good year. This is made from 80-year-old vines and is deep, complex and full of black cherry fruit flavours alongside subtle oak vanilla touches.

View Deal

Château de Santenay, Petit Clos Pommard 2017/2018

Single bottle price: £62.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £47.22

This can be found on the market at a much higher price so it’s worth stocking up on. It’s a deep and powerful Pommard from an estate with 90 hectares of vineyards across the region. Concentrated with sumptuous blackberry and cherry fruit flavours and tons of charm.

View Deal

Henri de Villamont Les Groseilles Premier Cru Chambolle Musigny 2013

Single bottle price: £59.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price £51.71

A wonderfully mature Chambolle here from a prestigious Burgundian estate. This is full bodied with a silky smooth texture. On the palate there are red fruits, raspberry and strawberry alongside floral touches and some softly savoury edges.

View Deal

Loire

White

Domaines de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé 2018 

Single bottle price: £32.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £24.73

This estate has a long winemaking history in the Loire with the 11th and 12th generations currently at the helm. This is a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc with intense and mineral crispness, expressive fruit flavours and full typicity.

View Deal

Alphonse Mellot ‘Les Demoiselles’ Organic Sancerre 2018

Single bottle price: £34.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £26.23

A floral and fruity Sauvignon with lively citrus flavours and a distinct creamy elegance. Perfect for Christmas with seafood and shellfish.

View Deal

Red

Alphonse Mellot, ‘Les Demoiselles’ Organic Sancerre Rouge 2018

Single bottle price: £34.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £26.23

An organic and biodynamic Pinot from seasoned winemakers in the Loire. This is a soft, red-fruited, spicy Pinot with a lean and elegant finesse.

View Deal

Champagne

Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Champagne

SAVE £20!

Single bottle price: £44.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £24.99

Grab a bargain and snap up Laurent-Perrier’s signature non-vintage Champagne. A perfect apéritif and celebration fizz with elegance and vitality.

View Deal

Rhone

White

Guigal. Condrieu, Rhône Valley, 2018

Single bottle price: £44.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £33.72

Viognier fans will be happy to see savings on Guigal’s fine bottling. Perfect to pair with hearty Christmas and festive foods, this is full-bodied with intense stone fruit and citrus flavours. Pure and soft with great aromatic interest.

View Deal

Red

E. Guigal, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £29.98

This famed producer has produced a wonderful, full-bodied and characterful wine with prominent flavours of red plums and mulled spices.

View Deal

Jaboulet ‘La Petit Chapelle’ Hermitage 2013

Single bottle price: £66.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £50.22

A stellar wine from the Rhône Valley made from old vine Syrah. This is full of dark fruits, blackberries and black cherries with soft floral aromatics and hints of liquorice spice. It is persistent with a long finish combining smokey and mineral notes. Concentrated and harmonious.

View Deal

Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011

Single bottle price: £84.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £63.71

One of the most famous estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this 2011 is a structured and well-built wine with immediate appeal, elegance and bite. Decanter for at least two hours before serving to reveal the flavour complexity of 13 different grape varieties used in the blend. A wonderful combination of fruit, flowers and spice.

View Deal

Italy

White

Planeta, Chardonnay, Sicily, Italy 2018/19

Single bottle price: £28.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £21.73

A single-variety bottling direct from the estate that has become an icon of quality Sicilian wine. Powerful, balanced and creamy, this has flavours of ripe yellow peaches and soft honey tones with a refreshing mineral-rich acidity driving through to a long finish.

View Deal

Red

Tenuta San Guido, Guidalberto, IGT Toscana 2018

Single bottle price: £46.99.22 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £35.22

The younger sibling of Sassicaia, this is fantastic value with real concentration of fruit, rich and seductive mouthfeel and fine tannins. Full of aromatic interest with cherry, vanilla, violet and toasted spices underpinned by bright acidity keeping things lively and fresh.

View Deal

Ornellaia ‘Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia’ Bolgheri 2017

Single bottle price: £49.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £37.47

The second wine of cult Super Tuscan producer Ornellaia. Rated 91 points by Aldo Fiordelli when considering Italy’s best second wine. He said: ‘Polished cassis and plum fruits are intensely present yet supported by earthy notes and dark chocolatey flavours. It’s velvety on the palate, with refreshing acidity and a thick finish. It lacks a bit of longevity yet shows voluptuous fruit.

View Deal

Pio Cesare, Barbaresco, 2016

Single bottle price: £49.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £37.47

Sourced from the firm’s vineyards in Treiso. The nose is pure charm and delightfully fragrant, with aromas of strawberries and violets. The attack is initially sweet and supple, but the tannins soon kick in.

View Deal

Giacomo Fenocchio, Castellero Barolo 2016

Single bottle price: £51.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £38.97

Intense and characterful, this is full-bodied with a velvety texture. Flavours comprise blackcurrants, cherry jam and sweet liquorice spices with touches of soft floral scents.

View Deal

Allegrini, Amarone 2014

Single bottle price: £69.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £52.46

Allegrini producers some of the most famous and revered Amarones. This is rich, complex and heady with layers of flavour and complexity. A delicious, full-bodied red with an imposing structure and depth. Perfect for hearty meals, game, roasted and grilled meats and mature cheese.

View Deal

Germany

Dr Loosen spatlese 2018

Single bottle price: £24.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £18.73

Made from 60-year-old vines, this late-harvest Riesling is bursting with sweet marmalade, honey and peach flavours with a vibrant mineral-driven core.

View Deal

USA

White

Au Bon Climat, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, 2017

Single bottle price: £27.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £20.98

A subtle and refined Chardonnay more akin to top Burgundy bottlings from a top Californian name. This has citrus vibrancy – lemon and lime flavours, underpinned by flint and stone notes alongside soft spicing from oak ageing.

View Deal

Château Montelena, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2015

Single bottle price: £62.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £47.22

The fame of this estate was cemented in 1976 after beating out competition from French wines in the Judgement of Paris. Balanced and complex this is a 100% Chardonnay bottling aged in 100% French oak barrels for 10 months. It is concentrated and sophisticated leaving a refreshing persistence on the palate.

View Deal

Red

Qupé, Syrah, Central Coast, California 2016

Single bottle price: £29.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £22.48

A reliable and harmonious bottling from Qupé which blends grapes from 12 different vineyard locations ranging in temperature. This combines blackberry aromas with a soft and spicy flavour on the palate. Juicy and elegant and comparable in part to the nuanced wines of the northern Rhône.

View Deal

Birichino, Saint Georges Pinot Noir, California 2018

Single bottle price: £28.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £21.73

A minimal-intervention wine, this comes from fruit harvested just below the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s juicy, light and playful with red strawberry flavours alongside dark cherries with a crunchy texture leading into the long finish.

View Deal

Au Bon Climat, Isabelle, Pinot Noir, California 2016

Single bottle price: £54.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £41.22

A bright, punchy Pinot Noir made from selected barrels across several plots. Intense and interesting with touches of eucalyptus spice, cherries and french oak nuance. A California Pinot worth trying.

View Deal

Mt. Brave, Mt Veeder Merlot, Napa Valley 2013

Single bottle price: £79.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £59.96

Bold and beautiful, this wine speaks loudly of its place and grape variety – full bodied with fragrant notes of blackberry. Fruit forward on the palate with liquorice and touches of minerality. It has a long finish and is distinctly memorable. A robust and confident wine.

View Deal

Spain

Marqués de Murrieta, Rioja Gran Reserva 2014

Single bottle price: £41.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £31.48

A celebration of red fruit here with red cherries, redcurrants and red plums mixed with aromatic herbs and soft vanilla spices. Seductive aromas of dark chocolate come into play on the mid-palate with well-textured tannins and a long, rich finish.

View Deal

Bodegas Roda, Roda 1, Rioja Reserva 2015

Single bottle price: £49.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £37.47

Deep, dark and heady, this is a blockbuster wine with an intense aromatic profile. Bursting with black fruits, chocolate shavings and a slightly earthy savoury character, this is full-bodied and characterful. Well-integrated tannins and a sumptuous texture complete the wine. Decanter a few hours before serving to get the most out of it.

View Deal

Lebanon

Château Musar, Gaston Hochar, Lebanon, 2001

Single bottle price: £32.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £24.73

A smoky, spicy and overall intriguing blend from this famous estate. A combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley, this is richly-textured, intensely flavoured and a powerful wine even at 19 years old. A chance to buy a mature vintage at a great price.

View Deal

Australia

White

Ten Minutes by Tractor Estate, Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, 2018

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £29.98

Tasted by Decanter this year, and scoring 92 points, this wine is a blend of the single-vineyard Chardonnays (about £45 each) which are the trump cards at this estate, and a step up in seriousness from the deliciously approachable 10X cuvée (£26). It spends 11 months in oak, 15% new, giving great length and texture to the nutty, tropical fruit palate and crisp, preserved-lemon acidity. Lean and classy.

View Deal

Eileen Hardy, Chardonnay, 2016 Australia

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £29.98

This bottle was given 95 points by Sarah Ahmed as part of Decanter buyer’s guide for Australian Chardonnay. Ahmed said it had ‘terrific flavour and body’ with ‘nougat, cashew, struck match and whetstone notes surrounding a powerful core of citrus and nectarine fruit’. A ‘delicious’ wine to buy at a reduced price while you can.

View Deal

Tyrrell’s, Vat 1 Semillon, Australia 2013

Single bottle price: £39.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £29.98

First produced in 1963, this is made from one of the largest and most prestigious wineries in Australia giving a unique and true expression of Semillon from the Hunter Valley terroir. Vineyards are dry-grown with light, sandy, well-drained soils. This wine sees no oak fermentation or maturation retaining a fresh and juicy core and vibrant long length.

View Deal

Red

Two Hands ‘Holy Grail’ Shiraz Barossa, 2018

Single bottle price: £40 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £29.98

This single-vineyard wine showcases exceptional varietal definition with a unique sense of place. Made in tiny quantities, this is a wonderful expression of Shiraz – ripe, seductive and full of ripe cherry and vanilla-spiced wood flavours.

View Deal

Torbreck ‘The Struie’ Shiraz, Barossa 2017

Single bottle price: £45.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £34.47

This 100% Shiraz comes from different sites in the Eden and Barossa Valleys. It showcases the best cool-site flavours of plum, savoury olive tapenade and chewy cherries. Matured for 20 months in new (15%) and seasoned French oak without filtering or fining.

View Deal

Grant Burge ‘Meshach’ Shiraz, Barossa 2016

Single bottle price: £89.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £65.99

This wine scored 95 points by David Sly for Decanter this year who said; ‘The nose presents a sweet, high perfume of red and purple berries rolling around playfully with vine leaves. There is a massive wall of fruit on entry – all purple mulberry and iodine – before secondary characters peek through; spice and chocolate, tobacco leaf and a lick of cassis’.

View Deal

New Zealand

White

Cloudy Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand 2020

Single bottle price: £25.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £19.48

The 2020 vintage is regarded as one of the best in recent times, with excellent growing conditions and quality grapes at harvest, so this is not going to disappoint – nor at this price. Fresh, fruity and brilliantly crisp – a go-to New Zealand Sauvignon.

View Deal

Greywacke, Pinot Gris, Marlborough, New Zealand 2017

Single bottle price: £28.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £21.73

This wine is made by ex-Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd and has quickly established itself as a key quality reference for Pinot Gris in New Zealand. Filled with ripe fruit flavours and mulled spices this has a succulent texture and off-dry richness with a long length.

View Deal

Red

Te Mata Estate ‘Awatea’ Cabernets/Merlot, Hawke’s Bay 2017

Single bottle price: £29.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £22.48

A great-value, elegant and expressive blend from Hawke’s Bay mixing fresh fruit flavours with coffee, chocolate, cedar and dried herbs. Abundant and harmonious and a wine that would work well with roasted meats or slow-cooked stews.

View Deal

South Africa

White

Ataraxia, Chardonnay, Hemel-En-Aarde 2018

Single bottle price: £28.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £21.73

This small-volume white grown in the mild-Atlantic climate of the Hemel-En-Aarde (heaven and earth) is a top buy. The 2015 vintage was rated 96 points by Tim Atkin MW in Decanter’s report of the best Chardonnays outside of Burgundy and this wine is consistently voted as one of South Africa’s top Chardonnays. This is pure and balanced, crisp, concentrated and complex.

View Deal

Lismore, Chardonnay, Cape South Coast, South Africa 2018 

Single bottle price: £28.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £21.73

This star South African estate suffered a destructive fire in 2019 with the 18s being the last bottled vintage and the loss of any remaining bottles in the cellar. A Burgundian-style of Chardonnay with charm and elegance and perfect balance between oak and acidity.

View Deal

Red

Boekenhoutskloof, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch 2017

Single bottle price: £44.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £33.72

Concentrated and precise, this Cabernet from exceptional vineyards in South Africa’s Stellenbosch region has aromas of blackcurrants and black cherries. Intense and refined, this is drinking well now and has great ability to age.

View Deal

Argentina

White

Catena Alta, Chardonnay, Mendoza 2018

Single bottle price: £25.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £17.99

A limited production of this single-varietal wine made from vineyards growing at 4,757 metres above sea level creating freshness, minerality and excellent acidity. This serious wine has flavours of pear, apricot and lemon with a softly saline finish.

View Deal

Red

Catena Zapeta, Nicasia Malbec 2015

Single bottle price: £66.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £50.22

A wonderful wine from Argentina’s Uco Valley – complex, interesting and a benchmark for the grape’s quality in the region. This is full of black cherry, blueberry and vanilla tones with sweet spices and thyme notes alongside dark chocolate and touches of liquorice.

View Deal

Chile

Red

Viña VIK Milla Cala, Cachapoal Valley 2015

Single bottle price: £31.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £23.98

Rated 90 points by Decanter, VIK has ‘one of the classiest winery hotels in the New World. If you can’t get there, console yourself with this equally classy and warming red wine. There’s a lovely balance here between primary juicy fruit and a slightly evolved savouriness. Some boot polish and coffee, adding complexity to the fresh, ripe fruit.’

View Deal

Montes ‘Alpha’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley 2018

Single bottle price: £33.99 Black Friday Majestic mix six price: £25.48

Rich, layered and full of flavour, this Cabernet Sauvignon has flavours of ripe cherries and blackcurrants along with nutmeg, tobacco and soft violet aromas. Well balanced, round and structured.

View Deal

New store openings

Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has just announced the opening of two new branches in Beckenham and Henley.

Both stores will open in November, Beckenham in south London on the 12th November in a converted, grade listed former Chinese garage and Henley-on-Thames following a fortnight later on the 26th November in the newly created Gardiner Place development.

John Colley, CEO said; ‘The team have worked incredibly hard, in really challenging circumstances, to get these open in time for Christmas and we’ve packed them full of some fantastic new wines, beers and spirits to help spread some joy through an unprecedented festive season.’

Our experts picked some of their favourite Majestic wines from the range earlier this year, and praised the additions to the own-label Definition range and the reintroduction of some classic wines.

All Majestic stores are currently open and trading – with limited shopper numbers in place, plus free delivery and collection services.

There is no minimum purchase shopping at Majestic, and the range includes over 1,100 different wine, spirits and beers both online and in-store.

Majestic Christmas predictions

The retailer has also looked ahead to Christmas, and what our wine purchases might be this year.

This Christmas could be record-breaking for Sherry, following summer sales that were up 75% year on year.

English wines were also in high demand over 2020 and are sure to be a popular choice this Christmas. Many people are now searching beyond the sparkling and exploring the range of still English wines too.

As 2020 saw people trying their hand at cocktails at home during lockdown, sales of Vermouth of soured too, up 69% like for like since April. A key ingredient for your Martinis, Negronis and more – so Majestic has significantly increased its stock and selection.

See all Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals 2020

Vodka has a long heritage, tracing its roots back to Eastern Europe. Mentions of vodka appear in texts from the Middle Ages in Poland, Russia and Sweden. But production spread to the rest of Eastern and Northern Europe – including Norway, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and Belarus – and then to the rest of the word.

So what is vodka? It’s a clear spirit that can be distilled from any starch- or sugar-rich fermentable agricultural crop. These include wheat, rye, rice, sugar beets and potatoes. Distilling produces a super-strong alcoholic spirit, which is then ‘cut’ with water to bring down the abv and make it drinkable.

Modern vodkas

Obviously production methods have improved considerably over time and today modern vodkas can be distilled, once, twice, three or four times – or even hundreds of times if a process called continuous distillation is used – in search of perfect purity.

For some traditional vodka producers, distilling is enough. But producers in the west and the United States go a step further by filtering their vodka, which removes any impurities left behind after distillation.

As with distillation, vodkas can be filtered multiple times, using a variety of materials. Typically charcoal is most popular, but stone, quartz and even diamonds are used by some producers.

Choosing the right vodka

How do you find the right vodka for you? Although vodka is characterised by its neutral taste, there’s actually plenty of variety on offer: from good value buys to smooth premium vodkas and flavoured variants.

Think about how you prefer to drink vodka. Are you going to enjoy it neat – either sipped or in a shot? Or pair it with a mixer such as tonic, ginger ale or cola?

If you’re drinking vodka neat, you want something with a smooth texture – think Absolut, Finlandia, Stolichnaya or Smirnoff. For sipping vodkas head towards the premium, super-premium and luxury end of the market: brands like Grey Goose, Belvedere and Cîroc.

If you’re pairing with a mixer, texture is less important. You need a vodka that will deliver that kick of alcohol, even when it’s diluted. Good value brands like Russian Standard and Eristoff will work perfectly. The same rule applies for mixing with fruit juices: vodka cranberry or vodka and orange for example.

Fruit-flavoured vodkas are fun for shots, but also make a really simple, summery cocktail with tonic. Our favourites include Grey Goose L’Orange, Chase Rhubarb and Absolut Mango. Pair Vestal Black Cherry vodka with cola for an addictive take on cherry coke.

Vodka cocktails

If you’re using vodka to mix up cocktails, there’s plenty of choice. Because of its neutral taste vodka works brilliantly in a whole range of cocktails, from fruity mixes like the Cosmoplitan and Screwdriver; to a creamy White Russian; savoury Bloody Mary or with coffee in a punchy Espresso Martini.

It’s a helpful idea to talk to bartenders and find out their preferred choice for your favourite cocktail. But a general rule of thumb is that in drinks with just a few ingredients, always try to use a better quality of vodka.

That’s certainly true if you enjoy a sophisticated Vodka Martini. This classic mix of vodka and vermouth puts your vodka front and centre stage, so always choose a premium brand for your Vodkatini.

Are luxury vodkas worth the price?

If you Google ‘most expensive vodkas’ the search will deliver an eye-watering selection of prices. Top of the list is Billionaire’s Vodka, which is marketed as ‘the world’s most expensive vodka’ and retails for a whopping $3,750,000 (£2,789,025) for a six-litre Methusalem.

The vodka is ice-filtered, then filtered through Nordic birch charcoal and finally filtered through crushed diamonds and gems. It’s sold in a platinum- and rhodium-encased, diamond-encrusted crystal bottle, with solid gold labels and a neckband encrusted with diamonds.

While vodkas costing millions of dollars are aimed firmly at Russian oligarchs and the super-wealthy, there are more ‘affordable’ luxury bottlings running to hundreds or thousands of pounds. But are they worth the money?

Often these price-tags are simply the result of luxury packaging. For example back in 2008 Oval vodka launched its Swarovski crystal bottle, encrusted with sparkly gems and retailing for a cool £3,500 ($6,922).

If bling’s your thing, these bottles can be worth the investment. It’s no different to buying a luxury watch or jewellery.

But if you have an interest in what’s inside the bottle as well, you can find much better value lower down the price spectrum – though still with some glitzy packaging that will make a great gift for a special occasions.

For example Gem Diva Vodka is a quality Scottish wheat vodka presented in a bottle with a wand of glittering Swarovski Elements crystals. It sells at Master of Malt for £109.92.

Or what about Belvedere’s Silver Saber? This laser-cut metallic magnum contains Belvedere’s signature premium vodka, but can be customised with names, dates or a personal message for a memorable birthday or anniversary gift. Yours for £134 at Clos19.

Top vodkas to buy as a gift

Absolut Elyx

Made from winter wheat grown on a single estate in southern Sweden, Absolut’s luxury bottling Elyx is distilled in a vintage copper column still from 1921. This is one of our favourite vodkas: rich and rounded, with a luscious silky texture. Light grain aromas, plus notes of fresh bread, white chocolate and mellow spice. The palate has creamy cereal notes, vanilla, macadamia nuts and baked pastries. 42.3%

Belvedere Vodka

This high-quality vodka from Poland has an incredibly smooth texture thanks to its four-times distillation process. Made from rye, it has a creaminess on the palate with notes of vanilla and white pepper along the edge giving it a spicy boost on the finish. It’s easy to see why this is a classic and well-loved vodka. Alc 40%

Broken Clock

A distinctive English wheat vodka infused with apples and English country garden botanicals. It has a perfumed nose with fruity, floral hints, followed by a rich and rounded palate, with a lingering finish. Sweetly herbal, with a subtle russet apple note that lingers on the finish, this is a characterful sipping vodka. 40%

Cîroc Vodka

Made from grapes grown in the Charente-Maritime region of France, Cîroc was created by oenologist and Master Distiller Jean-Sebastien Robicquet in 2003. Distilled five times, it’s got a fruity palate, with fresh lemony notes, plus a honeyed sweetness and spice. Cîroc is a great choice for vodka cocktails – either the original or one of its flavoured variants such as Mango, Apple, Red Berry or French Vanilla, which is great in an Espresso Martini. 40% abv

Grey Goose Vodka

The world’s first premium vodka, which was launched in 1997. From the Cognac region in France, Grey Goose was created by François Thibault, son of a wine-grower and a master Cognac blender. It’s a versatile, super-creamy wheat vodka that works well in a whole range of cocktails. Alc 40%

Haku

Produced by Suntory, which is better known for its whiskeys, this Japanese vodka is made from Japanese white rice (the word ‘haku’ means ‘white’ in Japanese). Double distilled with bamboo charcoal filtration, the palate is pure, soft and rounded, with an edge of sweetness on the soft lingering finish that marries well with the dry vermouth in a Vodka Martini. Alc 40%

Ketel One Vodka

Made by 10th generation distillers – with over 300 years of expertise – this is one of the smoothest and cleanest vodkas on the market today. This Dutch vodka is distilled in small batches and made from 100% GMO-free European wheat. It has a crisp citrus flavour with notes of honey and a long and lively finish. It makes a great cocktail but if you like your vodka neat this is a great choice, chilled or served over a little ice. Alc 40%

Reyka Vodka

This wheat and barley vodka is distilled in Iceland using glacial spring water and sustainable energy from geothermal heat – earning it the label of ‘world’s first green vodka’ when it launched in 2005. Full and rounded, with a creamy vanilla note that plays against peppery spice and fresh citrus, Reyka delivers a classic Vodka Martini. Alc 40%

Stolichnaya Elit Vodka

A premium Russian vodka made using a revolutionary freeze filtration technique, filtering the spirit at -18°C. This makes all impurities freeze against the walls of the filtration tanks giving ultra-high levels of purity and making it one of the smoothest on the market. It has subtle flavours of creamy aniseed with a light spiciness and balanced dryness on the palate. A fantastic buy from one of the most prestigious vodka brands. Alc 40%

Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka

This Polish vodka is infused with Hierochloe Odorata grass, a unique variety grown in the Bialowieza Forest bordering Poland and Ukraine and the habitat of wild Polish bison – hence the name. Distilled from rye, the spirit is strained through bunches of hand-harvested and dried grass; every bottle contains a single blade of grass, giving a translucent, greenish colour and a herbal, aromatic and delicate taste. Notes of citrus, jasmine, black pepper and lavender can be detected. A great sipping vodka or pair it with ginger ale. Alc 40%

You might also like:

Best Vodkas for a Martini 

Best Vodkas for a Bloody Mary

Pink Champagne was long disregarded as a lesser counterpart to other, more highly regarded, styles. A Blanc de Blancs or Blanc de Noirs might still muster more prestige, but the perception – of both consumers and sommeliers – is changing.

Rosé Champagne has grown a reputation of its own, as a more structured and food friendly option, that adds aromatic complexity and a subtle tannic grip to the trademark minerality of Champagne.

While sometimes associated with higher dosage levels, rosé Champagnes shine in Brut and Extra Brut bottlings and are perfect companions to a variety of cuisines. From sushi or ceviche to fruit-based desserts, rosé Champagne will be a good pairing choice.

Many producers now have iconic rosé bottlings that showcase their house styles as well as, if not better than, any of their other cuvées. Billecart Salmon’s Brut Rosé is a perfect example, as are Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé or Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame Rosé.

More limited production makes rosé Champagne sometimes harder to come by and often more expensive though. These Black Friday deals are therefore a great way to discover a pink take on the Champagne we all love.

Black Friday rosé Champagne deals

Laurent-Perrier Rosé NV Champagne (Gift Box)

Laurent-Perrier Rosé remains as one of the leading pink champagnes thanks to its consistently appealing light, elegant notes of red fruits, and delicate mousse.

£57.95 Now £49.95 on The Whisky Exchange 

(multi-buy deals also available)

View Deal

Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé NV

Veuve Cliquot is the home of rosé Champagne, were it was created in 1775. While the Grande Dame might be over-budget for most of us, this Brut NV is a great introductory option.

£46  Now £41.96 on Laithwaite’s Wine

View Deal

Bollinger Rosé NV

The Brut Rosé is based on Bollinger’s Special Cuvée, combined with a proportion of still red from Bollinger’s Grand Cru vineyards. Dry, intense, well-balanced and with a long finish, this is ideal for food.

£60 Now £51 on Fortnum & Mason

View Deal

More Black Friday champagne deals | Black Friday 2020 wine and spirits

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your favourite gin lover, it can be difficult to know where to start. The current boom in the gin category means there are hundreds of brands to choose from, including classic London Dry styles and characterful craft gins, as well as exotic botanicals and flavoured gins.

To make life easier we’ve rounded up our top five picks on gins and gin gift packs that will bring a smile to the face of any gin-drinker on Christmas Day

Gin gifts to buy for Christmas

Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin & Glass Gift Set

Fruity gift pack from Whitley Neill containing a bottle of its Raspberry Gin and a balloon glass for gin and tonics.

£33.50 £23.50 on Amazon UK (Save £10)

View Deal

Hendrick’s Gin Limited Release Christmas Cracker Gift Set

Hendrick’s is infused with cucumber and rose petals for a distinctive taste. We love the festive packaging on this limited release.

£35 £29 on Amazon UK (Save £6)

View Deal

Sandy Leaf Farm Ultimate Gin Maker’s Kit

Get creative with this botanicals kit. Just add 700ml of any basic vodka to produce 10 bottles of your own botanical-infused gin.

£29.99 £24.99 on Amazon UK (Save £5)

View Deal

Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin

One for fans of small-batch craft gins, Tarquin’s is a modern take on a classic London Dry gin. Its icy blue frosted bottle looks the part for a winter tipple too.

£32.50 £30 on Amazon UK (Save £2.50)

View Deal

Edinburgh Christmas Gin

With spicy, aromatic notes of frankincense and myrrh alongside the classic juniper, this is a warming gin either to sip or mix in a G&T.

£34.99  £33.94 on Amazon UK (Save £1.05)

View Deal

You might also like

Best British gins to try

Best gins for a Negroni

But, if you’re struggling to find that perfect something for the wine lover in your life, we’ve hand-picked some of this year’s favourites.

Many were tried and tested first hand, some at this year’s Spirit of Christmas Fair in London others at the Decanter’s HQ.

They cover a range of budgets with a few stocking fillers to surprise and delight on Christmas day..

Eto wine preserver, £125, Etowine.com

Christmas celebrations are the perfect time to open lots of wine but what do you do with only half-finished bottles? Introducing Eto’s new stylish wine preserver system designed to keep wine as fresh as newly opened, even after five days. We tested it first-hand at the Decanter offices and were blown away with the results. The wine was still aromatic, fruity and extremely drinkable after five days compared to the same wine left in the bottle with the cork which was completely spoiled, as expected. With this handy gadget there’s no need to finish each bottle or throw any leftover wine away. A five-star wine lover’s Christmas gift. Also comes in a sleek copper and gold finish. For an exclusive discount use the code: DECANTER at the checkout.

Bespoke labelled Champagne, prices start from £35, Rupert Forsythe

Upgrade your Christmas Champagne present this year with a bespoke label. Choose from a range of pre-designed labels such as ‘Merry Fizzmas’ or ‘Festive Fizz’ or create a completely new one to include names or well wishes or your favourite phrase. Start with one of four different types including; Blanc de Blancs, Premier Cru NV, Grand Réserve or Rosé NV in half-bottle, standard, magnum or a hamper of six. A thoughtful and delicious gift.

Jigsaw puzzles, £18.99-£39.99, Bamboozled

Wondering what to buy the wine and puzzle loving person in your life? Look no further than this range of beautifully illustrated, 500-piece themed jigsaws that are not only fun to do but educational too. Created by Master of Wine and Decanter contributor Rebecca Gibb, you can choose whether to complete the famed appellations of Bordeaux or Champagne on their own or go for the gift box option that includes a small bottle of each region’s wine – a glass of which will no doubt helpfully assist the completion process. There is also a new Whiskies of Scotland puzzle broadening the range for spirit fans.

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Personalised City Arrow, £59, Selfridges

You may have seen these bright yellow boxes on your Christmas shopping trips before but this year you can get your hands on the limited-edition ‘personalisable’ arrows in a new metallic finish which can feature up to 14 characters. These fun tins, which are exclusive to Selfridges, offer a 750ml bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne for celebrating over the festive period and a nice keepsake box for all year round.

Wine Cellar Record Book, £35, Top Note Design

Ever wish there was an easy way of keeping wine tasting notes together that wasn’t on your phone? This handy, and well put together book is just what you need. It has great sections for keeping track of wine purchases – allowing you to write multiple tasting notes for bottles from the same case of wine, as well as memories of occasions or meals and one-off individual wines you try. It comes beautifully finished in two colours of linen and is made in England.

Adopt a vine, prices start from £121, Cuvée Privée

If buying a vineyard is out of your price range this year, how about ‘adopting’ some vines and drinking the wine made from them? Membership with Cuvée Privée allows you to select from a range of exceptional vineyard sites from around France (Bourgogne, Bordeaux, Rhône, Champagne, Loire, Alsace, Languedoc) from which you will receive a welcome box with 1 or 6 bottles from that plot. Your final box will contain six bottles from the harvested fruit of your adoption year. During the year of your adoption, you will also be invited to visit the property (and your vines) to taste their wines and meet the winemaker. Subscription periods range from one to three years.

Decanter Premium App Subscription, from £50, Decanter

Did you know Decanter has just launched its Premium App – a brand new way to access wine content with unlimited viewing of Decanter.com and Premium articles as well as 1,000+ new wine tasting notes and scores each month. With a usual Decanter Premium subscription you get priority bookings to all Decanter events, access to ‘My Wines’ and CellarTracker integration, but with the app you can also bookmark articles to read later, download the latest issue as soon as it goes on sale and browse through the vast archive of Decanter magazines dating back to 2013. For new subscribers you’ll need to subscribe before 31st December 2019 and you’ll get app for free for 12 months. Simply select the Premium Digital + Free App Trial to claim this offer. Click here to sign up now.

Decanter’s Spain and Portugal Fine Wine Encounter, Grand tasting tickets £55, Decanter

Know someone who loves Spanish or Portuguese wine? Our bi-annual event covering the wonderful wines of Spain and Portugal is back in 2020. As well as having the exclusive chance to meet more than 50 of the best winemakers from both countries, and taste their wines in person, there will be three expertly led masterclasses including top wines from La Rioja Alta, S.A. – The Art of Ageing, The New Classification of DOQ Priorat and Rare Museum Wines from Portuguese Icons. The event takes place on the 29th February at The Landmark London from 11am – 5pm. Book quickly to avoid disappointment.

Riedel Vinum Riesling Grand Cru/ Zinfandel glasses, £45, Riedel

Decanter’s wine glass brand of choice for all its expert panel tastings, the World Wine Awards and consumer events around the world – using a combined total of more than 70,000 Riedel glasses a year! This one is simply a great all-rounder for still or sparkling wines and makes a brilliant gift for the glasses cupboard.

The Five Regions Whisky Pack with Glencairn nosing glass, £35 (down from £59.99), Really Good Whisky

A non-wine option here for whisky fans. This tasting set offers the chance to sample five different premium single malts from producing regions around Scotland. They come in a presentation gift box with a special glass for detecting aroma and flavour nuance, tasting notes, Whisky facts and information and instructions to carry out your own tasting. You can also add a gift note for online postal orders.

Stocking fillers

24K Gold Champagne Bears, £9.95, Ask Mummy & Daddy

Made with real vintage Champagne and finished with 24k gold leaf, these delicious little chewy sweets make a fun gift for the sweet tooth in your life. The range also includes handmade mojito, pina colada, cuba libre and prosecco flavours.

Mini Moët & Chandon Christmas Cracker 2019, £20.99, Selfridges

This is no ordinary Christmas cracker, inside hides a mini 200ml bottle of Brut Imperial Champagne. Perfect as a luxe treat on the Christmas dinner table or a surprise stocking filler. There’s a Rosé version too for fans of pink fizz.

Wine Folly: A Visual Guide to the World of Wine, £12.78, Amazon.co.uk / $25 WineFolly.com

A great gift to welcome someone into the wine world. Using an array of colourful and informative info-graphics and flowcharts, this book provides a host of wine fundamentals covering tips on which glasses to use and flavour characteristics of grapes as well as food and wine pairing advice.

You may also like

Wine with turkey – Food pairingSupermarket of the year 2019: Best Waitrose wines to try this ChristmasThe best non-vintage Champagnes to buy this ChristmasTen of the best whiskies for Christmas

We've rounded up some of the more interesting spirits set to go on offer for Amazon Prime Day (16 July), when the online retailer launches discounts for its Prime members.

Amazon Prime Day 2018: Champagne, wine and spirits offers to watch

Louis Roederer, Brut, Champagne 2009

Take this chance to snap up a vintage Champagne , with 25% off the full price. A predominantly Pinot Noir blend, with 30% Chardonnay, save this for your next special occasion.

Amazon Prime offer: £45.95, down from £61.53

Champagne Pommery, Brut Royal, Champagne NV

The Pommery Brut Royal NV uses all three of the traditional Champagne grapes; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinor Meunier. Find flavours of citrus fruits and floral aromas.

Amazon Prime offer: £29.99, down from £39.99

Champagne Taittinger, Brut Prestige Rosé, Champagne NV

Enjoy a rosé Champagne this summer, with Taittinger’s NV. A blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay anjd 25% Pinot Meunier, with bright, red fruit flavours.

Amazon Prime offer: £28.99, down from £32.99

Inniskillin, Gold Vidal Ice Wine, Niagara 2013

‘Rich, very sweet… and with honeyed tropical fruit flavours’, this is also a rare example of an oak-aged ice wine said our tasters. It was also a Gold medal winner in the 2015 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Amazon Prime offer: £33, down from £48.72

Jura seven wood whisky

As the name suggests, this single malt Scotch from the island of the same name is matured in seven different types of oak, including first-fill American oak and several different types of French; Vosges, Bertranges, Jupilles, Allier, Tronçais & Limousin barrels, to be exact. It also follows a recent trend for Scotch distillers to move away from age statements on bottles with new ranges.

Amazon Prime offer: £39.99, down from £59.99

Graham’s Fine White Port

A white Port and tonic needs to be your new summer cocktail, so here’s an opportunity to stock up on this one from Graham’s, which our Decanter tasting team said has ‘Flavours of tangy lime, salt, cream, almond and grapefruit.’

Amazon Prime offer: £8.53, down from £12.99

No. 3 London dry gin, 70cl 

No. 3 London dry gin, made by long-standing wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, is full of aromas of juniper, orange peel, grapefruit and Angelica root.

Amazon Prime offer live at 4.50pm

Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 70cl

A triple distilled, single pot still Irish whiskey produced by Irish Distillers, aka Pernod Ricard, which is known for a somewhat spicy kick. The 21-year-old version came second in the latest edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – against global competition – so this could be an interesting opportunity to get a feel for the house style.

Amazon Prime offer live at 5.15pm

Blackdown Sussex Bianco Vermouth, 70cl

One of the first white Vermouths from England, something that is itself a testament to this category’s revitalisation within the craft drinks market. One that might be of interest to lovers of dry Martini cocktails. Read about other kinds of Vermouth.

Amazon Prime offer live at 5.40pm

Find exclusive wine reviews on in our Premium section

Perfect for your Secret Santa, a stocking filler or a light-hearted Christmas gift, and all under £25/ $25...

Secret Santa gifts for wine lovers – under £25

SEE ALSO: Decanter luxury gift guide 2017

Miniature Graham’s 10 yr old Tawny Port

Our panel found ‘notes of roasted nuts, caramel and cinnmon’ in the Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny, in our recent panel tasting. Treat any Port lover to a miniature serving, perfect to fit in a stocking…

UK

£9.50 Harvey Nichols , Laithwaite’s 

Mini Moët & Chandon Champagne crackers

An ideal treat, these Moët & Chandon crackers come with a 20cl bottle of Moët inside – choose from either the Brut NV or Rosé NV. Have a luxurious Christmas dinner table with one for each guest…

UK

£19.99 Selfridges – Brut, Selfridges – Rosé 

Biscuiteers Champagne card

Great for a secret santa gift, these Champagne-themed biscuits from Biscuiteers…

UK/ US

£9 Biscuiteers*

*Additional delivery charge for US orders.

‘Pimp your Prosecco’ gift set

For any cocktail fan out there – this gift set contains everything you need for a perfect sparkling wine cocktail; a mini sparkling wine (including Prosecco, Moët & Chandon Champagne or Anna de Codorniu Cava), a choice of liqueur, bursting bubbles and sparkling shimmer.

UK

From £22, PopBall.co.uk 

Wine Folly Wine Flavours wheel

Perfect for anyone studying, or just looking to improve their wine tasting skills – this flavours wheel from Wine Folly helps you to understand what different flavours indicate about a wine.

US/ UK

$5 Wine Folly*

*Additional delivery charge for UK orders.

Decanter magazine subscription

For this week only, you can get a Decanter magazine subscription for just under £20 – offer ends 17th December.

UK

£19.99 Magazines Direct

Mini Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte rosé

Give the gift of a glass of Champagne, with this miniature Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte rosé, with notes of ‘wild strawberry, ripe cherry and fennel’, according to our panel tasting, and comes in a matching jacket.

£12 John Lewis

Charbonnel et Walker pink Champagne truffles

No one could be disappointed to receive a box of these pink Champagne truffles, tasting of Champagne and strawberries. If you want to go for something slightly different, try their limited edition Sipsmith gin infused truffles instead.

UK

£13 John Lewis

US

For US delivery, from Charbonnel et Walker*

*Additional delivery charge for US orders.

‘Tommy Veltliner’ T-shirt

These T-shirts from Natural Whine mimic popular designer styles with grape names. Both the ‘Gamuuci’ and ‘Beaujenciaga’ styles have been sell-out successes, but there are plenty more to choose from.

US/ UK

$25 Allocated Apparel

*Additional delivery charge for UK orders.

‘Prosecco Pong’ party game

Liven up any Christmas party with a round of ‘Prosecco Pong’ – the sparkling wine version of the much-loved classic. Comes with 12 plastic coup style glasses and three plastic balls.

UK

£15 Amazon UK

US

$24.91 Amazon US

Decanter luxury gift guide 2017

More Christmas wine here

If you really want to spoil the wine lover in your life, we've picked some of our favourite luxury wine gifts...

Decanter luxury gift guide 2017

See also: Decanter Secret Santa gift guide – under £25

Penfolds Grange 2013 and decanter gift set

This year Penfolds released this limited edition gift set, with the Saint-Louis crystal decanter – who are one of the oldest glassmakers in the world. It comes with a bottle of Grange 2013, which John Stimpfig called in his tasting notes a ‘big, flamboyant and hedonistic’ wine.

UK

£1,500 Harrods 

Louis Roederer, Cristal 1990 (Magnum)

‘Dazzlingly delicious on the nose and palate‘, says John Stimpfig, on the 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal from magnum. A lavish gift, this is ready for drinking now, or could still be aged further. But could be ideal to drink on Christmas day…

UK

£950 Chelsea Vintners

US

$1,100 Flickinger Wines

Coravin Model Two Elite

The perfect gift for anyone with a cellar full of fine wine; a Coravin, allowing you to enjoy wine by the glass without opening the whole bottle. Choose from silver, black, red, gold or rose gold.

UK

£279 Amazon, Harrods

US

$225 Amazon

Krug Grande Cuvée gift set

This Krug Grande Cuvee gift set comes with two Riedel Joeseph glasses – notably not flutes, which the Champagne house declares are not appropriate for Champagne. The wider glass means that there is more chance for the aromas to circulate and enjoy.

UK

£205 Harvey Nichols 

US

$249.95 Sherry Lehmann

Decanter Premium membership

The ideal gift for any fine wine fan; Decanter Premium allows members access to over 1,000 wine reviews every month and exclusive Premium-only ratings and reviews, plus Decanter magazine articles online and priority access to Decanter events.

UK/US

£75 / $75 a year

Mouton Rothschild vertical

An extravagant gift for any Bordeaux fan, this 56 bottle collection of Chateau Mouton Rothschild wines, ranging from 1949 vintage to 1999.

UK/US

£136,000 Hedonism

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 Charlotte Olympia gift set

Designer Charlotte Olympia has collaborated with Veuve Clicquot on this limited edition gift set of La Grande Dame 2006, which Decanter’s John Stimpfig describes as a ‘high wire Prestige Cuvée act‘ and has notes of ‘cream, honey, nuts, brioche, pear, marzipan and ginger.‘

UK

£170 Harrods

US

$179 Wine.com

The Wine Buyer’s Selection Hamper

Pitched as the ultimate Christmas hamper for anyone who loves wine, this selection from Harrods wine buyers will see you through the festive season – and help you cater to everyone’s tastes! The hamper includes: Charles Heidsieck Brut NV, Château de Chamilly, Montagny Les Bassets, Côte Chalonnaise, Cantina Santa Maria La Palma Papiri Vermentino 2016, Chan De Rosas Especial Albarino 2016,. The Lane Vineyard Beginning Chardonnay 2015, Jean Baptiste Adam Pinot Auxerrois 2014, Château Les Moines, Médoc, Cono Sur Ocio Pinot Noir 2013, The Chocolate Block Boekenhoutskloof 2011, Finca Sophenia Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Argiano, NC Non Confunditur, Toscana IGT, Tuscany and Viña Albina Reserva Vendimia Seleccionada 2012, plus a wooden wine waiter.

UK

£350 Harrods

Dom Pérignon 2009 Tokujin Yoshioka Limited Edition Coffret

Another Champagne and art collaboration, treat someone this Christmas to the limited edition bottles of Dom Pérignon 2009, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka. The bottle represents what chef de caves Richard Geoffroy has termed a ‘solar Vintage’, emphasised – according to DP – by a holographic version of the famous shield-shaped label as a force emerging from the dark glass of the bottle.

For a truly extravagant gift, the ‘Prism’ installation is made of three crystal blocks that hold the Champagne in the middle, and costs £12,000.

UK

£160 Clos 19

US

$189 Wine.com

Armand de Brignac, Gold Brut, Champagne NV

The ‘Ace of Spades’ Champagne thanks to the design of the bottle, Armand de Brignac is owned by American rapper Jay-Z. Decanter’s Christelle Guibert describes it as ‘elegant, refined and very stylish‘, when tasted against other celebrity wines earlier this year.

UK

£300 Selfridges , £235 Waitrose Cellar

US

$300 Wine.com

Le Grand Hamper, Berry Bros & Rudd

Berry Bros & Rudd describe Le Grand hamper as ‘quite simply the most hedonistic collection we could contrive’ – and we’d have to agree it’s up there. The wines include vintage Champagnes, Grand Cru Burgundy, Bordeaux, vintage Port and Cognac, plus luxury treats like truffles, foie gras, Champagne Christmas pudding and more…

UK

£1,050 Berry Bros & Rudd

Bianca Bosker’s Cork Dork is a high-octane account of her year in the New York wine scene, from slaving as a cellar rat to training as a sommelier and partying in the city’s inner sanctums…

Cork Dork is pitched as a ‘wine-fuelled adventure among the obsessive sommeliers, big bottle hunters, and rogue scientists who taught me to live for taste’.

What’s in store is part memoir, part dissection of taste and what it means to devote your life to wine — with a great deal of humour and colourful characters thrown in.

Chapters including ‘The Secret Society’, ‘The Magic Kingdom’ and ‘The Orgy’ give you a flavour of the style. But above all, it is penetrative and debates the question, ‘what is good wine and why should I care about it?’

Curiosity piqued, she made the bold move of jacking in her job and throwing herself headlong into the world of wine…

From tech head to cork dork

Bosker was the executive tech editor for The Huffington Post, when she chanced upon a man who was preparing for the World’s Best Sommelier Competition.

Curiosity piqued, she made the bold move of jacking in her job and throwing herself headlong into the world of wine, training to become a sommelier.

But once you get to know her — and you do get to know her intimately (see page 249 for her Chablis bedroom mishap) —you realise that Bosker is first and foremost a professional journalist, with a sharp mind and structured approach.

Bridget Jones’ wine diary

At times, Bosker casts herself as an oenophilic Bridget Jones, haplessly falling into situations where others carry her along and shape her journey for her.

‘Along the way, you’ll meet the madman who hazed me, the cork dork who coached me, the Burgundy collector who tried to seduce me, and the scientist who studied me.’

In reality, Bosker is clearly a force to be reckoned with when it comes to navigating her way into the wine world’s inner sanctum.

In just one year she manages to access the Court of Master Sommeliers, New York’s most exclusive restaurants and the decadent La Paulée de New York – a ‘$1,500 BYOB gala dinner’. We finally leave her in a neuroscience lab in South Korea.

Controversy and acclaim

As a New York Times bestseller, Cork Dork clearly has broad appeal.

Its style has already caused a degree of controversy in wine circles, and not least Bosker’s subsequent praise for so-called ‘mass market’ wines in an opinion piece for the New York Times in March this year.

But, this book is in many ways a celebration of wine experts’ raison d’être, and for beginners it’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour.

Where you can buy it

UK £8.99 Amazon

US $9.88 Amazon

More like this:

• Best wine books of 2016: Decanter reviews

• See winners of the André Simon wine and food book awards

• I Taste Red by Jamie Goode: Book Review

Decanter and Watson's Wine hosted an exclusive rosé Champagne masterclass with tasting director, Christelle Guibert leading the way.

On 8 September, Decanter partnered with Watson’s Wine, the leading Hong Kong wine retailer, to organise an exclusive wine tasting featuring 10 Rosé Champagnes from some of the most prestigious Champagne houses including Dom Perignon, Perrier-Jouët, Gosset and Ruinart.

Only a small privileged group of wine lovers had the opportunity to attend the exclusive tasting.

Decanter’s very own Tastings Director Christelle Guibert guided the attendees through a variety of vintage and non-vintage world-class wines.

The wines that were tasted included:

More articles like this:

Top rated rosé Champagne – Full panel tasting results

Our experts rate 99 bottles of pink Champagne...

A new accessory released by Coravin claims to keep screw cap wines fresh for up to three months once the original seal has been broken.

Coravin screw caps have been made available to Coravin Club members and are expected to go on general sale in the UK from 15 September, the company said this week. A pack of six caps costs £29.95, it said.

It has already launched the screw cap devices in the US this summer.

Coravin has made a name for itself with technology that allows wine lovers to draw wine out of the bottle without pulling the cork and the new launch is its latest move to expand the range.

Coravin said its screw caps can keep wine fresh for up to three months once the original cap seal has been removed and the first needle puncture from the Coravin system is made.

Buyers still need a Coravin system to extract wine, as they would if the bottle was sealed with a cork.

‘A screw cap solution has been a popular request since introducing the original Coravin in 2013,’ said Greg Lambrecht, founder and inventor of Coravin.

‘We’re here to help enhance the wine experience by helping people enjoy any wine, in any quantity, at any time – without compromise.’

The caps are available in standard and large sizes, and can withstand up to 50 punctures, making them reusable for around 10 bottles of wine, Coravin said.

Decanter.com understands that Coravin tested its screw caps extensively in Australia before release.

Australia and New Zealand winemakers have pioneered using screw caps on some of their best wines.

Coravin’s UK stockists include Harrods, Selfridges, Amazon.co.uk, Hedonism Wine and Majestic Wine. It is also available via Amazon.com in the US.

More articles like this:

Cheaper Coravin Model One launched ‘for millennials’

See the new lightweight Coravin...

Coravin Model Two launches in the UK

The new Coravin claims to pour wine 20% faster...

Coravin: Changing how we drink wine

The system that is already revolutionising the way we drink wine....

Coravin issues product warning over cracked bottles

The developers of Coravin have issued a warning to buyers after learning that a small number of bottles have split

Visit Watson's Wine this August and enjoy 30% off 22 top wines that have been tasted by Decanter's wine experts.

Decanter has partnered with Watson’s Wine, the leading Hong Kong wine retailer, to organise a special wine promotion featuring 22 wines from Decanter’s panel tastings – tasted and rated by experts.

The wines available come from across the globe including Australia, North America, France, Italy and Spain. From the 7th – 21st August customers will receive a generous 30% discount on wines recommended by Decanter.

Find out which wines are on offer now!

More articles like this:

Decanter and Watson’s Wine dinner in Hong Kong

Decanter partnered with Watson's Wine, leading wine retailer in Hong Kong...

UK producers had another strong year in at the 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards. Here are the best performers and where you can find them, to coincide with English Wine Week.

DWWA 2017: English wine award winners

It’s fitting that this year’s English wine week has coincided with a set of Decanter World Wine Awards results that highlight a growing diversity, and quality, of wine styles being made in the UK.

And new figures show that 64 new producers and vineyards were registered in the UK in 2016, up by 73% on newcomers in 2015, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young, citing HMRC data.

There will also be one million new vines going into the ground in England and Wales this year, according to English Wine Producers.

See all UK winners at DWWA 2017 here 

Platinum Best in Show winner: Winbirri Vineyards, Bacchus 2015 from Norfolk

The judges said: ‘Complex, oily nose with spice, elderflower and citrus. Well-defined on the palate with grassy notes. Very elegant and delicate with a slight spritz and a long, clean finish. A perfect aperitif wine!’

UK

£78 for a case of six bottles – Marks & Spencer 

UK

£83.70 for a case of six bottles – Warlingham Wines 

UK

£13.49 per bottle – Waitrose Cellar 

Platinum winner: Gusbourne, Boot Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015

The judges said: ‘Opulent with impressive digestive biscuits, ripe red fruit and touch of herbs. Well integrated, fibrous tannins, structure, length. A very accomplished complex wine and worthy winner.’

UK

£22.50 per bottle – Haynes, Hanson & Clark [2014 vintage] 

Platinum winner: Wiston Estate, Cuvée Brut 2013

The judges said: ‘Beautiful nose with sweeter autolysis character. Caramel, ripe stone fruit, pear juice and a salted bread notes to finish, with a full and harmonious rich texture and good persistence.’

UK

£31.95 a bottle – Hennings Wine

UK

£32.95 a bottle – Corney & Barrow [2010 vintage]

Platinum winner: Denbies, Noble Harvest 2015

The judges said: ‘Very powerful, nose and long full-flavoured palate. Lovely ripe musky apricot, melon and steamed artichoke heart with impressive honey sweetness. Long and clean finish.’

UK

£19.99 a bottle – Waitrose Cellar [2014 vintage]

UK

£24.95 a bottle – Denbies

Gold winner: Greyfriars, Blanc de Blancs Brut 2013

The judges said: ‘Intense nose with ripe lemon character and touches of toast and yeasty notes. Fresh on the palate with well defined flavours and lovely ripe apple fruit. Chewy texture and an excellent fruit-filled length.’

UK

£24.95 a bottle – Lea & Sandeman

Gold winner: Hambledon, Classic Cuvée Rosé Brut NV

The judges said: ‘Hints of lemon candy, as well as bready brioche notes indicating extended lees ageing. Rich and generous on the palate with a fine mousse and extended length.’

UK

£36.50 a bottle – Berry Bros & Rudd

UK

£29 a bottle – Fareham Wine Cellar

Gold winner: Henners, Brut 2011

The judges said: ‘Tense and nervy this is a live wire on the nose with green apple fruit yeasty notes, Silky mouthfeel and long harmonious end.’

UK

£24.99 a bottle – Hennings Wine

Gold winner: Henners, Rosé Brut 2011

The judges said: ‘Very attractive red fruits on the nose showing some development. Substance on the palate with great acidity pushing the finish.’

UK

£32.99 a bottle – Virgin Wines

UK

£29.99 a bottle – Ministry of Drinks

Gold winner: Upperton, Alia Brut 2013

The judges said: ‘Quite a savoury, saline nose with great autolytic character. Full bodied with real focus on the palate. It has texture and weight yet manages to have finesse and depth. Long length.’

UK

£28 a bottle – Hawkins Bros

Gold winner: Camel Valley, Pinot Noir Rosé 2016

The judges said: ‘Attractive nose with pear drops, crunchy red fruit and some floral elements. Palate is crisp and shows pomegranate and cranberry notes.’

UK

 £13.99 a bottle – Waitrose

More DWWA winners:

English wine Winbirri scoops one of top prizes at Decanter World Wine Awards 2017

'Perfect aperitif' English still wine wins big at DWWA...

Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 results revealed

Search the full results for DWWA 2017...

Surprise Platinum winners at Decanter World Wine Awards 2017

How many wines from these regions have you tried?...

USA award winning wines at DWWA 2017: Finding a niche

With six of this years top medals, it's clear that US producers are finding their niches: Pinot from Willamette, Cab

It's not always easy to track down wine in larger bottle sizes, or know what to look for, so we have put together a brief guide to buying wine in magnums, jeroboams and more...

Where to buy wine in larger bottle sizes:

Stockists in the UK and US that often have a good range of larger bottles.

UK

Great Western

Hedonism

Lea & Sandeman

Majestic

Marks & Spencer

Waitrose Cellar

Wine Society

Berry Bros & Rudd 

US

Amazon

Sherry-Lehmann

Wine.com

Wine Library

For more stockist options, see the Decanter Retailer Awards winners from 2016

A quick guide to larger bottle sizes:

Serving wine in large bottle formats always feels special – they are usually made in much smaller quantities than a standard bottle size, are often considered to age better, and look impressive on any table. They are perfect for parties or dinners, and also make excellent, eye catching gifts.

See also: Ageing wine in double magnum versus bottle – An experiment

Larger bottles reduce the ratio of a wines surface area exposed to oxygen in relation to its volume, so the rate of oxygen absorption for a given volume of wine is generally lower. This slows down the ageing process and ensures a more nuanced and fresh wine when compared to an identical wine aged in 75cl bottle.

Magnums are widely considered to offer the best balance between ageability and development, especially for Champagne (see below).

And that aside, double magnums and jeroboams are a great way to enjoy a wine with a group of friends – perfect if you are hosting a dinner party.

The largest formats, mostly named after Biblical characters, are often one-offs or limited runs made for special events. They are rarely intended for the cellar, as the custom made, extra large corks have to be cut by hand and can be prone to air leakage.

Champagne

Champagne is a special case, as not only does the bottle size affect its ability to age, it also affects the rate of fermentation in the bottle. A larger size (with more volume) undergoes a slower fermentation and thus develops more complexity along the way.

A magnum is often the largest format that will undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle (larger sizes must be filled from magnums before being re-corked, usually to order).

Champagne expert Michael Edwards attended a blind tasting, pitting bottles against magnums. Unsurprisingly given the science behind it, magnums came up trumps, showing more complexity and vigour.

Further reading on Champagne:

Buying Champagne methuselahs – ask Decanter

How do I go about buying a methuselah of Champagne...?

Magnum of Champagne: Top wines to try

The Champagne Magnum is a symbol of celebration and extravagance...

Credit: Catharine Lowe

Ageing gracefully: Laying down Champagne

Michael Edwards looks at the Champagne styles best for ageing...

Highly rated large format wines: