Food & Drink: Christmas Tipples

Who doesn’t love a Christmas tipple? Here are our top five to try this festive season, writes Paloma Lacy.

Salcombe Brewery’s very special limited edition yuletide ale, Christmas Tide (ABV 4.9%), is a well-structured, malt-driven beer, available exclusively to be enjoyed throughout the festive season.

The crystal, chocolate and wheat malts bring warmth and body to the beer, ideal for a winter’s day.

The plethora of hops build on the chocolatey malt base and add a bittersweet finish to this Christmas ale, which can be purchased in 500ml bottles, as a case of eight or, for the ideal gift, a presentation pack of three.
RRP £7.20.
www.salcombebrewery.com

Gin & tonic is not the preserve of long summer afternoons. Gin pioneer Sipsmith has three carefully selected variations, perfect for the season, including London Dry Gin, £29, Orange & Cacao Gin, £25 and Sloe Gin, £25.

Available from all major supermarkets.

If, like me, a glass of red wine is your poison, Barefoot Malbec, which will work rather well on the big day, with turkey, and even roast ham. Big juicy flavours of blackberry and currant, with undertones of vanilla, caramel and toasted oak, it’s widely available from all major supermarkets.
RRP: £6.99.

Gosnells has a range of  honey-based 4% ABV mead, including Gosnells Citra Sea: a delicious blend of honey, lemon, tarragon and citra hops, with a tantalising salty finish – it goes well with chicken dishes, and spicier ones, too, including curry.
RRP: £15 for a selection of four. www.gosnells.co.uk.

Now for a new Scottish spirit – Highland Boundary is distilled in Perthshire, flavoured with ethically hand-foraged botanicals, and distilled on the founders’ Perthshire Farm.

The spirit is perfect to be enjoyed neat, as part of a cocktail, or as a gin or whisky alternative, and is completely vegan, too. www.highlandboundary.com