The Ultimate Luxury Christmas Hamper Food & Drink Ideas For 2020

Christmas 2020 may just be one that you either choose, or have, to stay at home! This luxury hamper gift guide provides an array of high-end food, drink and gift items for the ultimate festive hamper. Looking for top end gins, luxury chocolate or hamper ideas with a difference? Well, read on!

The Gins

Snow Globe Gin (£29)

This stunning gin is an absolute crowd-pleaser for Christmas 2020! Designed to emulate a snow globe in style, there is also a great deal of craft in the festive flavoured gin within! Presented in an exquisite Italian made Snow Globe Bottle, the product contains edible 23kt gold leaf and a lamp on the base for illumination. The luxurious gin has real zesty Seville orange upfront taste with warmth from gingerbread, notes of cinnamon and dried cloves which perfectly capture the spirit of Christmas. For an extra WOW factor, simply give the globe a gentle shake and turn on the lamp switch on the base to see the twinkling gold leaf cascade around the Christmas scene inside. The Snow Globe comes in a beautiful, gold-foiled gift-box making it the ideal present for loved ones. Plus, it’s vegan suitable and allergen free. Available from Harvey Nichols (RRP £29)

Fishers Gin, RRP £39.95 per bottle (70cl)

One of our absolute favourite gins! Fishers Gin oozes wonderful citrus flavour with a blend of unique botanicals hand foraged from the Suffolk area thrown in for a beautifully balanced offering. This coastal inspired spirit distilled between the sea and the salt marshes in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, evokes flavours of the English coast. Robust and natural with savoury, aromatic and herbaceous notes served from a beautiful bottle inspired by the fishing nets and brightly coloured fishing boats of the village, opt for a Fishers Signature G&T, a blend of Fishers, Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic, orange and rosemary; or a Fishers and Peas, a refreshing blend of gin, St Germain, cider vinegar and lemon juice to name a few. Perfect as a stocking filler or for the gin lover in your life! Buy yours here: https://fishersgin.com/shop/

Method in Mayhem gin (£40)

This Irish Micro Distilled gin has been created using an award-winning recipe inspired by over 200 years of history! The recipe, dating back to 1798, is packed with an eclectic fusion of 16 botanicals led by black lemon and Irish gorse flower. You can expect notes of citrus and spice with earthy undertones, for that truly festive feel! Warming on the palette and complex in flavour, Method in Mayhem Gin has a one of a kind taste. And, we are happy to say, it’s a taste we truly enjoyed! Available in Master of Malt, McSwinnigans and Selfridges, RRP: £40.00.

Pinkster Gin (£35)

One of the finest pink gins out there and fully refined to perfect form, Pinkster is the pioneer of pink gin. This stunning gin is made from gin-soaked raspberries grown near Pinkster HQ in Cambridgeshire. The raspberry infusion rounds off the juniper edges giving a deliciously dry gin with a hint of fruit and a smooth finish. Pinkster pride themselves on offering a gin with no added sugar, and it’s absolutely beautiful! Available from Marks & Spencer, Fenwick, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Majestic Wine, Ocado, 31Dover.com, Master of Malt and www.pinkstergin.com

Rock Rose Winter Gin (£37.50 70cl bottle or £30 subscription)

Rose Rose Gin is one of the best out there! Created by the Dunnet Bay Distillers in Caithness, Scotland, their Winter Edition gin is one of the finest examples of how embracing the season can lead to a stunning flavour profile. The renowned Rock Rose Gin includes juniper berries, rowan berries and sea buckthorn and many of the botanicals are hand foraged from the local cliffs and forest. In fact, its name comes from one of these botanicals, the Rhodiola rosea (a rose in the rocks), which adds a delicate floral note to the gin. The Winter Edition builds on this flavour profile by using spruce tips  for a festive flavour, it’s absolutely wonderful! Making for a truly festive flavour profile the hero botanical in this limited-edition release is spruce tips, with original Rock Rose elements scaled down to allow the delightful earthy and slightly citrusy notes from the spruce tips to shine through. What we also love about their Christmas offering for 2020 is their new, eco-friendly, recyclable approach. You can now buy Rock Rose Winter Gin in a ceramic bottle and then refill that bottle with brand-new pouches. Saving on waste, you simply refill your ceramic bottle and post back the pouch for it to be recycled. Get yours here.

Chapel Down Pinot Noir Gin (£40) 

Chapel Down have become one of the UK’s best and most well-known English sparkling wine producers in the country. However, you may not have heard that they also create high-end gins too!  This refined take on sweet gin is more elegant and refined than many out there. Creamy and not overpowering, the taste is subtle and yet floral on the nose. This gin is different, as it is created using the Pinot Noir grape skins from Chapel Downs harvest and this is then blended with English wheat for a truly homegrown gin. There’s also a range of quintessential gin ingredients, such as ose buds, coriander, angelica, grains of paradise, citrus, rosehip and juniper.  Delicately balanced, juniper leads, the finish is citrus and yet there is a wonderful red berry aroma. Get yours in time for Christmas from Majestic Wine .

Kopparberg Mixed Fruits Gin (£20)

Kopparberg, typically known for their cider range, have developed a London Dry Style Gin, double distilled with botanicals of juniper, coriander and lemon zest, infused with raspberries and blackcurrants to create a refreshingly bold and balanced serve. Perfect for warm evenings spent outside with friends. Although, perhaps not offering the depth of flavour of other premium gins on the market, the gin is very, very drinkable and a fine addition to any drinks cabinet for the festive season. Available in most supermarkets or online.

The Wines

Food-matched wines from Jeroboams

The perfect partner for Turkey this Christmas, 2018 Bourgogne Blanc, ‘La Tufera’, Domaine Etienne Sauzet (RRP £28.95 but on offer for £22.95) is made from fruit from 3 parcels in Puligny, hand harvested and bunch pressed, it is fermented in old barrel, then racked to fresh barrels, 15% new and the remainder 2-3 years old. Matured for 15 months in barrel before bottling. Elegant, supple Bourgogne, round but bright. Gently forthcoming without being too much, lovely citrus, peach, white flower and mineral notes. Puligny-esque. We tried many wines this Winter and this has to be one of our absolute favourites with the nation’s favourite festive meat. Looking to celebrate Christmas with beef? We’d recommend the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino, Agostina Pieri, Montalcino, Tuscany (RRP of £36.95 on offer for £26.25). Located in the warmest southern part of Montalcino, there are 4.5 hectares of Brunello vineyards here.  The first vintage was 1994 and the winemaker for every year has been Francesco Agostina whose family have owned the land for generations. The Brunello is fermented in stainless steel and spends 40 days macerating on the skins, before the wine is run off to a mixture of mostly large barrels and a few French oak Barriques  for 24 months maturation. Both of the above wines are available from Jeroboams.

La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino 2018 (£29.80)

La Fiorita Rosso di Montalcino is a classic “Baby Brunello” with supple, wild berry fruits and earthy notes.  Ideal as an addition to a lux festive hamper, this satisfying red is one of our favourite wines for Winter 2020.  This stunning wine is divided into four parcels from which all fruit is fermented separately and then divided between the production of either Brunello or Rosso. You will enjoy attractive wild berry, tar, earth and herbs with this wonderful red. AVailable from from Hedonism Wine, London: https://hedonism.co.uk/product/rosso-di-montalcino-la-fiorita-2018 Champagne Bruno Paillard Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs (£67.95) If you are looking for one of the best Champagnes out there to toast in the festive season, then you should really consider Bruno Paillard’s Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs. The heart of this Champagne, the fruit, comes only from the Cote des Blancs. The grapes have been through a 12-year process to get to this point with four years on the lees and eight resting in the cellar. Created using the unusual process of adding less yeast than for normal Champagne during secondary fermentation, there is a gentleness and elegance to this Champagne that makes it a very classy offering. For a Champagne with wow, with a difference and with real pedigree, this is a must-try. Find out more here. Billecart-Salmon Brut  One of the finest Champagne producers out there, Billecart-Salmon have a range of the most beautiful and refined bubblies on the market. This half bottle of Brut Reserve is a stunning blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier from three different years, sourced from the best sites in the Champagne region.  Delicate in straw colour, it’s light, elegant and defined by slowly rising bubbles. Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve is available in full bottles or half bottles in halves (ideal for luxury stocking fillers).  

The Ports

Kopke 10-Year-Old tawny (£29)

Kopke are world-renowned for their authentic port and their 10-year-old tawny. Presented in the first port house’s unmistakable and unique hand-painted bottle, this 10-year-old Tawny port by Kopke is an intrinsically Portuguese affair that boasts an appealing gold hue. Elegantly complex with the aromas of spice, dried fruit and hints of wood and honey mingling, the smooth, rounded palate is a superior collision of intense flavours. Perfect for pairing with an endless array of nutty desserts.

J.de Telmont Champagne and Truffles (£54.90 from Bradfords)

 This exquisite set combines stunning truffles from Bradfords Bakers and a wonderful Champagne! Ideal for popping into any hamper or as a standalone gift, the set comes presented in an elegant wooden box. Superbly balanced, there is just the right amount of sweetness and alcohol from the truffles. A very memorable and enjoyable treat! Available from Bradfords for £54.90.

Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve English Sparkling Wine (£29)

A show-stopper from our very own shores! Heralding from an eco-friendly winery in Hampshire Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve is pale gold in colour with delicate and fine long-lasting bubbles. The refreshing bouquet combines aromas of green apples with creamy nougat, freshly baked brioche and delicate toasted notes from ageing in bottle. Superb to kick off toasting or to quaff throughout Christmas Day, this is great alternative to Champagne or Prosecco. Light and perfectly balanced, with a delightfully long finish – this is one to watch and to consider for the festive season. Available from www.hattingleyvalley.com / tesco.com (£29)

The cocktails

Moore House Cocktail Company (£varies)

Bring the festive frivolity and fun to your house this Christmas with Moore House Cocktail Company cocktails!  Moore House Cocktail Company offers six classic pre-batched, handcrafted cocktails using only the highest quality ingredients, available in a generous single 100ml bottle serving (from £9.60) or 200ml bottles (from £16). All you need is your favourite glass, ice, shaker, and provided garnish for that perfect pour. Inject some style into your Christmas happy hour and try one of the new range, choose from a Classic Martini, clear Cristal Margarita, ready to be shaken and poured into a salt rimmed glass and garnished with a slice of lime, or an Old Fashioned. Or enjoy the existing classics, Espresso Martini, Manhattan, or a Negroni, for a warming winter tipple. Our personal favourite was the Espresso Martini – perfectly blended, smooth and rich with delicious coffee flavour. It is hard to find a cocktail of this quality at your typical cocktail bar, so to have this at home was a real treat! Available here https://www.moorehousecocktails.co.uk/

Coffee

Perky Blenders Christmas Coffee (£7.50)

Simply delicious, festive and super smooth, this wonderful coffee has been created by order of the Perky Blenders, a family built coffee creator who started with a humble little coffee cart outside St James’ Street station. Now, they have a range of high-end coffees that are ideal for the festive period and beyond. Their Christmas Coffee gives the wintery taste of orange and candied fruit for a dose yuletide happiness in each mouthful! To find out more, visit their website.

Sweet treats

Joe and Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn (£Varies)

Luxury comes in many forms, and yes, there is a high-end popcorn option out there! A little flavour of the North Pole has arrived courtesy of Joe & Seph’s . This family founded brand offer gourmet, handmade popcorn and caramel sauces. This festive season sees their elves pack selection boxes chockfull of festive favourites including Salted Caramel, Toffee Apple & Cinnamon and Prosecco Popcorn.  Plus, especially for 2020, the new Vegan Salted Caramel and Vegan Coconut & Cacao Festive Mini Gift Boxes (£4), which are perfect as stocking fillers, and even double as delicious edible baubles. Absolutely gorgeous and full of rich, deep and satisfying flavours! There is also an extensive vegan range on hand too! One of the biggest hits in our office! Joe & Seph’s Christmas range will be available in-store at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, QVC, Harrods, Ocado and Boots. You can find the full Christmas range online at joeandsephs.co.uk.

Farhi Chocolate Coated Coffee Beans in a Hand-made Papier Mache Large Bonbonnière Regular (£25.00)

Another sweet treat and on for coffee fans, Farhi have created a stunning gift bonbonniere and they really are a show-stopper! Farhi’s bonbonnières were inspired by a European tradition from centuries ago, where the host of a celebration offers their guests a little box (or a bonbonnière) made from porcelain, crystal or silver, containing delicacies made from sugar. Given out at special events such as weddings, christenings and birthdays, they were designed to bestow good luck on the guests. Rita Farhi Bonbonnières are made from papier mâché and hand painted creating a beautiful and truly luxurious gift. Filled with aromatic Brazilian coffee beans wrapped in sumptuous dark chocolate these stunning boxes make a stand-out celebratory gift. In a range of elegant designs these beautiful, luxurious gift boxes will be treasured long after the delicious chocolate is gone. Refined, delectable and visually impressive – we would highly recommend this top-end addition to any festive hamper! Available from www.farhi.co.uk or sold in Selfridges and Harrods

Niedregger Marzipan Loaf Assortment (£55)

Niederegger is world renowned and at the top of the tree when it comes to marzipan! This festive delicacy makes for a truly Christmas fuelled tasting experience. For all marzipan fans, we recommend this bumper collection of all of their greatest hits. This presentation box contains all 10 flavours of Niederegger’s famous mini loaves – a huge 86 pieces in total. Flavours include plum Armagnac, pineapple orange, classic, apple Calvados, whole milk, Rum-Krokant, Mirabelle, spirit, espresso, pistachio. If you are looking to really WOW with your hamper inclusions, this stunning set is a must-have. Currently sold in Selfridges, Lakeland, John Lewis and Chocolates Direct.

waterdrop® Microdrinks and Limited Edition Steel Set

Who said Christmas had to be all about indulging and getting merry? waterdrop have created a stunning set of unique beverage options that may suit as a great alcohol-free alternative for a hamper addition with a twist! waterdrop® is fresh offering on the drinks scene and they have introduced the first “microdrinks” to the UK! These delicious, small cubes are packed with real fruit and plant extracts and enriched with vitamins that dissolves into water to make a tasty, sugar-free beverage, anytime, anywhere. Simply use tap or filtered water and add one of these small cubes to create a deliciously refreshing, healthy drink!

We particularly loved the waterdrop® Limited Edition Steel bottles (as featured above), available in a set alongside 24 delicious microdrinks, ideal for any hamper or stocking this Christmas at £53.28.

Find out more here.

Foodie inspired gifts

Sous Chef Japanese Ramen Bowl Set (£45)

This beautiful Ramen Bowl set from Sous Chef is one of the most wonderful and unique gift sets we have seen this festive period. The Japanese ramen bowl set is your shortcut to ramen mastery and the ideal gift for any Japanese food fan! The start to perfect ramen is a gorgeous ramen bowl to serve it in, and this set will certainly give you that. Each ramen bowl is imported from Japan, and carefully chosen with the perfect size and shape for ramen. They are dishwasher safe. Containing two ramen bowls, two ramen ladles, and a full colour ramen recipe booklet. All packed together in a reusable drawstring cotton gift bag. The full-colour ramen recipe booklet gives you a brief introduction to Japanese ramen. You’ll have all the recipes at your fingertips to become a ramen expert at home! The set includes:

• 2 x Bamboo Ramen Ladle 
• 2 x Blue Wave Ramen Bowl
• Sous Chef Ramen Recipes
• Sous Chef Drawstring Gift Bag

Find out more at SousChef.co.uk.

Italian inspired Hamper additions from SousChef.com

Acquerello Risotto Rice – 7 Year Aged 500g (£12.50) Acquerello 7 year aged carnaroli rice is the one easy change you can make to your risotto that will make it the talk of the town! Acquerello aged carnaroli rice is the favourite rice of top chefs, like Alain Ducasse and Heston Blumenthal. Acquerello grow a specific type of carnaroli called Riso Lungo A. You’ll start to see this on their labels instead of Riso Carnaroli, to distinguish their rice from other carnaroli. The extra-long aging process makes the starch, proteins and vitamins in the rice less water-soluble, strengthening the structure of each grain. Not only does this mean that next to none of the nutritional value is lost during cooking, but the rice can absorb lots of liquid without breaking down and becoming sticky or ‘mushy’. Find out more here. La Favorita Pesto With Genovese Basil DOP (£5.99) La Favorita pesto with Genovese basil DOP, or pesto alla Genovese, is extremely special. Close your eyes, and you’ll believe you’re eating pesto from freshly harvested basil in the Italian sun. No-one would imagine it is from a freshly opened jar. Basil has been cultivated in Genoa – the home of pesto – as far back as the 16^th century. The Ligurian climate is mild, with lots of sunshine and a cooling sea breeze, producing the finest basil in Europe. The basil farms surrounding Genoa hold the Protected Designation of Origin status, or DOP, in recognition of the environment that grows such high-quality basil. The DOP also ensures that traditional farming methods are used. This includes the use of wholly natural fertilisers, and harvesting the basil by hand 30 days after the seeds are sown. Only the uppermost parts of the basil plants are picked. This is where the richest basil aromas are found. La Favorita pesto with Genovese basil is rich and fragrant. It pairs wonderfully with spaghetti or tagliatelle. Simply stir through cooked pasta and top with a grating of parmesan. Or drizzle over slices of mozzarella and fresh tomato for a twist on a classic caprese salad. Find out more here.

Signature Brew Pub in a Box (£25)

Can’t head to the pub right now? This Signature Brew Pub in a Box brings the pub to you! Introducing Signature Brew’s award-winning Pub In A Box, a selection of our award-winning craft beers, with glassware, snacks, a music quiz and exclusive playlists curated by music journalists to accompany the beers themselves. The box contains a mix of core and seasonal beers in 330ml cans (either 8, 16 or 24), a super Signature Brew Glass, some tasty pub treats (we had some delicious Joe & Seph’s Mint Chocolate popcorn, a Beer mat, because it wouldn’t be a pub without them, Spotify playlists, curated by music journalists to accompany each beer and a fun Music quiz. Get yours here.