Whether you’re hosting a Christmas gathering for family and friends, turning your hand to a bit of amateur mixology, or like to have a well-stocked bar just in case, we’ve got a few spirit options for you this festive season.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
47% ABV
£44
This small batch offering from bourbon producers Heaven Hill has been blended to replace the popular 12-year-old expression, and has itself been well received by whiskey aficionados — and we can see why.
There are some lovely aromas when the cork is popped — some sweet vanilla and caramel waft out at you, with a hit of spices and oak to follow. Once on the palate, a touch of apple and honey joins the vanilla, and the spices mellow to a lovely cinnamon mix. Oak is still there, too, with the whole mouthful combining to make a satisfying sip that has just a slight edge of harshness that’s never overbearing. The finish is long and lingering, with nutmeg, cinnamon and oak leaving a warming feeling.
A pleasure to drink neat over ice, this spirit also makes an excellent base for an Old Fashioned.
Evan Williams Black Label Kentucky Bourbon
43% ABV
£26
Reputedly named after the man who opened the first commercial distillery in Kentucky in 1783, Evan Williams is today the world’s second-largest-selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey. It doesn’t carry an age marker, but the law states that it must be aged for a minimum of four years, which is done in charred oak barrels.
On the nose, the initial aromas aren’t overly intense, but there are hints of vanilla, caramel and an oaky peppered spice. Once on the palate, the flavours are still fairly gentle, with some zesty orange getting in on the act. With some rye and spice rounding out the flavour, it gains a little more depth. The long finish gets a little spicier, giving it a slightly harsher edge. While it can happily be sipped neat, it also works as a fantastic choice for a bourbon-based cocktail, adding an extra layer of depth.
Mapmakers Coastal Spiced Rum
40% ABV
£35
Mapmakers Rum is blended and distilled by Scottish distillers Dunnet Bay. It was created to pay tribute to mapmaker Timothy Pont, who surveyed Scotland in the 17th century.
This unusual rum is made with Dunnet Bay rum — more specifically, the middle cut of the second distillation — which is then blended with Caribbean rum and Loch Calder water. This blend is then flavoured with local botanicals, including lemon verbena, scurvy grass, sea kelp and Scottish sea salt.
You’ll find the usual suspects on the nose: vanilla, caramel and hints of toffee and citrus. Once on the palate, the citrus bursts through with some creamy banana alongside salted caramel and a touch of spice. The flavour is full and well-rounded, with something different in each sip. The finish is long and spicy, full of Scottish salinity, which keeps the taste buds tingling nicely.
The GreatDrams Christmas Series: Cawdor Springs Single Cask Single Malt
48.2% ABV
£75
Each year, GreatDrams produces another expression as part of its Christmas series. This year, it has opted for something a little different — rather than its usual peat-filled profile, GreatDrams, alongside Cawdor Springs distillery, has produced this fruit little number, which has been fully matured in Chateau Margaux wine casks for eight years, infusing the liquor with red berries, reminiscent of excellent wines.
Pop the cork and the red berries are there, along with vanilla, citrus and a hint of chocolate. On the palate, the berries mingle with raisins, nuts and warm cinnamon, with a hint of almond sweetness. The combination of flavours gives hints of Christmas with every mouthful. The finish is just as Christmassy, too, with candied orange and gingerbread spices lingering nicely.
Any whisky lover would be happy to unwrap a bottle on Christmas day, or alternatively, sign them up for a monthly GreatDrams subscription
and they can enjoy different tipples all year long.
Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Brandy
40% ABV
£36
Carlos I is produced using a mixture of Airén and Palomino grapes, and the liquor is distilled in aged American oak casks. The flavour profile of the brandy comes from these casks, which were previously used for more than two decades to age Amontillado and Oloroso sherries. By ageing Carlos I in them, the spirit takes on the flavours of old oak, as well as nutty almond and hazelnut hints, and the plump raisins and dried fruits of the sherries. The combination created a delightfully sweet, nutty spirit, which is both elegant and rich, without any harshness on the palate.
A lovely addition to your drinks cabinet that can happily be sipped with ice, it will be an excellent ingredient in a decadent cocktail, or for a bit of winter warmth, add a tot to a luxurious hot chocolate and enjoy.
Havana Club 7 Años
40% ABV
£27
This offering from Havana Club has been created for sipping, and a fine job has been done. It is matured in ex-bourbon barrels, which add to the depth of colour and flavour in the finished spirit.
From the moment you open the bottle, flavours abound, with the sweetness of molasses kept in check by the spices and hints of tobacco. On the palate, the flavour develops, with vanilla and sweet tropical fruits joining the mix. The finish is long and woody, with a hint of spicy burn that perfectly compliments the rum.
A nice rum over ice, which for me calms any harshness and brings out more flavours, but it is a versatile rum which will be a great addition to cocktails too if there is any left, that is…
Madeira Rums from Harold & Hansa
From £36
If you’re looking for something particularly special this Christmas, look no further than Madeira rum specialists Harold & Hansa. Madeira rum, or Agricole rum, differs from other rums in that it is produced in Madeira using the juices from sugarcane (rather than from molasses) and is distilled using age-old traditional methods.
Harold & Hansa source and distribute the finest of these premium rums from distilleries across the island of Madeira, as well as providing tasting events and masterclasses for rum lovers across the UK.
We tried out a handful of the Madeira rums Harold & Hansa offer. Tristao Vaz Teixeira TVT Natural (60% ABV) is a white rum with some light tropical notes and a hint of florals in there, too, with a long, slightly biting finish. TVT 3 Year Old (40% ABV) is aged in French oak barrels, giving it a golden colour and adding some richer notes of dried apricots and a little honeyed sweetness. The unaged white rum and this 3-year-old are perhaps a little harsh, but they will work well with a suitable mixer or in a spirit-based cocktail.
For those who prefer a straight rum over ice, the Rum 970 collection is where you should head. Our favourite is the 970 6-Year-Old Reserva (40% ABV), which has a rather fine and delicate nose with a rich, smoky flavour with notes of vanilla, thanks to the ageing in French oak barrels. The vanilla plays a big part on the palate, along with hints of citrus that take you to a long and flavourful finish.
- Havana Club Golden Mojito: Should you mess with a classic? - 10 August 2026
- No alcohol, no problem: Summer drinks to hydrate and refresh - 10 August 2026
- Bababing Imi Review: This cabin-compatible stroller is a brilliant buy - 4 August 2026