Time to get into the festive SPIRIT and make sure your booze bar is well stocked in time for Santa. I hear he enjoys a tipple when he delivers your gifts in the night *wink*. And no home-bar is really complete in December without a festively flavoured gin!
Manchester Evening News have been taking a look at all of the most popular, Christmassy beverages to get you feeling merry this weekend - and we've come across some absolute blinders.
This year, M&S's popular snowglobe gins have returned, with Aldi launching two new novelty bottles in fun, seasonal flavours. There are also a couple of lesser-known bottles too - including one that's mince pie flavoured.
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Another trend we've been seeing with Christmas booze is edible gold leaf, too, with most of these containing a glittery, shimmery element to make your Christmas cocktails even more exciting. Here are our top picks for festive gin in 2022, and where you can buy them.
Aldi
Off the back of the success of Aldi’s Infusionist Clementine Gold Flake Gin Liqueur last year, the supermarket has launched two brand new limited edition flavours this year, encased in novelty shaped bottles that promise to get shoppers into the Christmas spirit.
While tempted by a light up Christmas tree shaped Morello Cherry variant, it was the snowflake shaped Blackberry and Blueberry gin I picked up,
This snowflake-shaped bottle is filled with the most flavour-filled winter berry gin liqueur, with notes of bitter blackberry, sweet blueberry, traditional juniper and lemon peel, it is sure to sweeten up guests this holiday season.
Oh, and it’s packed with 23-carat gold leaf, so it’s not just the tree or your party outfit glittering this weekend.
The Infusionist Blackberry & Blueberry Gold Flake Gin Liqueur costs £13.99 for a 50cl bottle and is best served neat over ice or with a dash of chilled prosecco.
Whitley Neill
For gin fans wanting to get their hands on a gin inspired by the flavours of a classic Christmas treat, the Whitley Neill limited-edition Mince Pie Gin is absolutely perfect.
A flavour to stir up a conversation, the Mince Pie Gin is packed with aromas of rich mince pies and a touch of citrus, there’s also a subtle hint of pine Christmas trees - it smells and tastes just like Christmas.
Sweet with hints of raisins, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg it’s got all of the flavours that will get you into the festive spirit.
If you want to get your hands on it, it’s available exclusively at B&M for £17.99, as well as at selected Greene King Pubs across the UK.
Meanwhile, their Black Cherry Gin, available to purchase at Tesco, ASDA, and Sainsbury’s for £22, features notes of cherries, almonds and a faint wisp of chocolate, making it reminiscent of a Black Forest Gatteaux - the ultimate Christmas dessert?
Ideal as Christmas gifts, or for socialising with family and friends, both festive gins work brilliantly in a number of cocktails, or served over ice with a classic tonic mixer.
Gravity Drinks
Gravity Drinks’ Christmas Globe Gin Liqueur comes in at £29 , and this year’s new design features a collectable light-up globe and an enchanting festive scene. A Christmas tree takes centre stage in a snowy street scene, while townsfolk teeter on a ladder, adding the last lights and finishing touches to the tree.
Carol singers practise nearby and a chestnut stand is selling piping hot treats as fireworks light up the night and Father Christmas races across the sky. It’s like something from your favourite festive movie and it makes you want to shrink down like Alice in Wonderland and join them,
The all-important gin liqueur inside the bottle is a taste of yuletide, with spiced orange and cranberry flavour using Seville oranges and cinnamon. For that extra wow factor, you can give the globe a gentle shake and turn on the light at the base of the bottle to illuminate the edible 23 carat gold leaf cascading around the Christmas scene inside
Subtly sweet and indulgent, this gin liqueur with zesty spiced orange and sharp berries really captures the spirit of Christmas in a show stopping way.
You can find this particular bottle at Harvey Nichols, Costco, Master of Malt and Firebox from £24.95.
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer have sent shoppers into a festive frenzy after announcing the return of one of their most popular Christmas products. And what’s more, is that it’s even cheaper than last year.
The supermarket’s stunning light-up Snow Globe Gin Liqueurs are back by popular demand, offering a seasonal tipple and Christmas decoration in one. The bottles were the number one selling spirit in the UK last December, according to M&S, and they’re just as popular this year.
The flavours returning to shelves include Clementine and Spiced Sugar Plum, the latter of which tastes just like a warm mince pie.
With a Nutcracker inspired design, this light-up bottle contains edible 23 carat silver leaf for the ultimate glittery snow globe effect.
Last year, the bottles were priced at £20 a bottle, but this year, they’re £10 cheaper, marked up online at Ocado at half of last year’s price- making them cheaper than Aldi, too.
As well as the single bottles available on Ocado, M&S are stocking a duo for £20, for shoppers who just can’t decide which flavour to get.
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