Without ideas for Christmas cocktails? No worries, we show you 5 ideas which can please your guests and family in general; some suitable for all ages and others for adults.

Clericó Cocktail

This cocktail is ideal for Christmas parties, being composed of a soft liquor and numerous fruits. It has a mild flavour and is suitable for family members of almost all ages.

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle of White wine
• 1 litre of sparkling mineral water
• Apples, chopped and peeled
• Oranges, peeled and sectioned
• Black and white grapes
• Melon, chopped and macerated in sugar
• 300 grams of chopped pineapple
• 300 grams of sugar

Elaboration:

1. Wash and cut the fruits into small pieces.
2. Macerate the fruits in sugar for 12 hours.
3. Mix the white wine with the other ingredients.

Blanc Pescador

El Blanc Pescador is a success of aromatic wine with a refreshingly light spritz. One of the Top-selling Spanish white wines.

Daiquiri Cocktail

This cocktail with strawberry and lemon is an ideal appetizer for Christmas, and the presence of rum makes it refreshing.

Ingredients:

• Ice
• Lemon
• Sugar
• 200 grams of strawberries
• 50 cc white rum
• Fresh mint

Elaboration:

1. Put ice, lemon and sugar in the blender.
2. Blend until the ice is well crushed.
3. Add the strawberries into pieces.
4. Finally, add rum and blend until the mixture looks like granita.

Havana Club 3 Years 1L

Havana Club Añejo 3 Años is a white rum made in Cuba that presents an alcohol content of 40º.

Buy Havana Club 3 Years 1L

Christmas Appetizer Cocktail

This cocktail, in spite of being warm, may be paired with chilled champagne to give it a refreshing twist.

Ingredients

• 20 cc bitter liqueur
• 50 cc champagne
• 1 maraschino cherry

Elaboration

1. Mix the bitter liqueur with champagne.
2. Pour into a flute glass.
3. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

Campari 1L

Campari is the most contemporary and charismatic classic spirit and is the base for some of the most famous cocktails around the world.

Tutti Frutti Champagne

This recipe is great for the holidays, it is refreshing for after December abundant meals, and you can use ice cream with other flavours if you prefer.

Ingredients:

• 1 litre of champagne or cava of your choice
• 1 litre tutti frutti ice cream or your preference.

Elaboration:

1. Place the ice cream in the fridge and the champagne a day before.
2. When serving, place 2 scoops of ice cream and complete with champagne.

Pol Roger Brut Réserve

Champagne Pol Roger Brut Reserve is a balance between power and finesse. It combines wonderfully structure and vinosity, elegance and freshness.

Vanilla Punch

This cocktail is made with milk punch, cinnamon, vanilla and whiskey. It is creamy and very palatable.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1 litre of milk
• 6 tablespoons vanilla
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 vanilla pod
• 1/2 cup whiskey

Elaboration:

1. Proceed to heat the milk with cinnamon and the whiskey of your choice.
2. Beat the eggs with sugar until they begin to whiten.
3. When the milk is boiling, add the ?flanin? sachet dissolved in milk.
4. When the mixture begins to thicken, turn off and let stand in order to cool slightly the milk.
5. Mix the eggs gradually with the milk while to you stir constantly with a spoon.

Bell’s 1L

Bell’s signature malt is from Blair Athol, with part from the known Caol Ila, Glenkinchie, Dufftown and Inchgower. The result is a well-rounded and consistent character with a distinctive nutty and spicy flavour.

We truly hope that you enjoy these cocktails with your family and friends and… You can find all the products and more on our website: https://www.drinksandco.co.uk/

It’s three weeks until Christmas, just in case you haven’t noticed. All the lights on the streets, Christmas markets, the smell of mulled wine mixed with wet asphalt, that’s the holly jolly season in the city. But there’s one thing that really matters, and that’s wine. The right wine for your personal Christmas feast makes the difference. And it doesn’t even have to be just for one day, Christmas is a season and it started already.

At Drinks&Co, we have prepared a delicious selection of white, red and sparkling wines for under £12 for you that set the perfect framework from now until the big family dinner.

White Wines for under £12

Villa Sparina Gavi Di Gavi 2016

Villa Sparina Gavi Di Gavi 2016 stands out as the historic identity of Villa Sparina. The Italian winemaker creates a true classic from Piedmont with the autochthone Cortese grapes showing a vivid expression and a unique freshness. A gem on every Christmas menu.

El Grifo Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2017

El Grifo Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2017: a white wine from the region of Lanzarote based on Malvasía of 2017. According to Uvinum users, this white deserves an evaluation of 4 of 5 points. Perfect to warm up from the cold outside.

Red Wines for under £12

Marqués de Cáceres Crianza 2012

From the fertile lands of La Rioja comes this Marqués de Cáceres Allevamento, a special red that combines tradition and innovation.
Elaborated by Marques de Cáceres, a winery that has been producing quality wines for more than four decades. It was founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner and was a pioneer in the renewal of Rioja wines. Currently, the fifth generation of the family is in charge of the winery. 

Pruno 2015

The most wanted red wine at Uvinum also come at the market’s best price. It’s one of the most appreciated and praised wines on the Spanish market: Pruno 2015. It has been qualified as one of the world’s best wines for its price-value-ratio in several vintages, spoiling our palate with its juicy aromas and fruity, smooth and enjoyable character once again.

Discover a wine, at under £10, that also conquered the heart of Robert Parker. Moreover, this vintage comes in a lot fewer bottles: Don’t miss out on yours!

E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2013

The E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône year after year remains faithful to its quality. A great classic, a know-how and an incomparable quality-price ratio. The E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2013 is an indispensable wine in its cellar which vintage after vintage is Nº1 of sales at Uvinum and many other wine merchants.

El Molar 2016

With El Molar 2016, Propiedad Vitícola Casa Castillo proves its high expertise once more. This Garnacha from Jumilla emphasises the appellation’s singularity. In a region with a hot and dry climate, where the brand’s winemakers mainly cultivate Monastrell grapes, El Molar 2016 stands out like a shiny diamond for its fruity touch. The previous vintage of 2015 already received high evaluations from nationally renowned wine guides and this vintage targets anew, excellent and well-earned critics. Don’t wait any longer and try a glass of this Jumilla gem.

Sparkling Wines for under £12

Parxet Brut

Parxet elaborates this Parxet Brut (£8.30), a sparkling wine from Cava vinified from Viura, Parellada, Pansa Blanca and Macabeo and has an alcohol content of 11.50%. The Parxet Brut finds an ideal companion in food like white meat and roast. The Uvinum community values the Parxet Brut with 3,7 of 5 points and also has the following ratings: peñín: 90. 

Col Vetoraz Prosecco Extra Dry

Col Vetoraz Prosecco Extra Dry is made with the Charmat method. This Prosecco Extra Dry wine has a persistent perlage. It’s a fruity sparkling, easy to drink, enjoyable. To be sipped with friends as an aperitif.

Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva

Over the decades, the Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva created its own identity thanks to the use of native grapes and the cultivation area’s mild climatic conditions. The Xarel.lo adds the sparkling’s distinctive character, flavour, and structure, the Macabeo cares for appreciated freshness and the Parrelada provides delicacy and elegance. Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva is a true masterpiece!

Aviva Gold

Just like the rose could be defined by the element of fire, this Aviva Gold might be perfectly equalled to liquid gold. Glowing, bright, magical, this sparkling wine is a pleasure for the sight as well as the palate. It is ideal to accompany desserts, sweets, chocolates, in a way which will delight the most glutton and will give your party the unique fun and bright touch that this sparkling wine can give. 

Cordon Negro Brut Magnum

Cordon Negro Brut is Freixenet’s most popular cava and is often referred to as the “Black Bottle Bubbly.”
Wine Spectator – “This shows more finesse than many of its peers, displaying a subtle juiciness, joined by aromatic apricot, quince, mandarin orange and almond notes. Finely meshed, with a lightly spiced finish.”

Thousands of families gather around a table to eat and drink and celebrate one of the most important festivities in the world, by the number of people who celebrate it. We’re talking about Thanksgiving Day, a celebration that takes place in the United States and Canada, held the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, it can vary by day and is the second Monday in October.

It originated in religious terms, but today is considered a civil and folk holiday. In North America, some of its origins are held by European traditions when they celebrated the good harvest that was gathered from the fields, and there are its beginnings to celebrate the end of harvest.

Therefore, the gastronomic celebrations are numerous and all members of the family concentrate around a table full of luscious delicacies where the protagonist is the turkey. It’s a party told in numerous books, series and movies, always in a festive and family atmosphere.

The roast turkey is usually eaten this day, usually at a dinner party, is filled with various ingredients, such as corn or sage. Accompanying the turkey there are vegetables such as potatoes, mashed potatoes or carrots, which are common dishes in the cuisines of these countries. Sweet also accompany the feast and the table that day, such as the popular pumpkin, pecan, apple pies or the chocolate cookies.

Rock Rose, a gin produced in Scotland, has launched a fully recyclable, bag-shaped container. Refill bags the size of an envelope are available to order online.

The Dunnet Bay distillery, creator of Rock Rose, has reported that the bags also significantly reduce the energy needed to ship the gin. The bags weigh just 65 grams compared to the original ceramic bottles weighing a whopping 700 grams.

The distillery describes the project as ”the first of its kind in the United Kingdom”. It is the result of more than a year of research and development. Martin Murray, co-founder of Dunnet Bay Distillers, explains: ”We prioritise sustainability and have been working hard on our first commercialisation of recyclable bags for over a year.”

Currently the refill packaging is only available to individual consumers. They can even return the packaging to the manufacturer to refill it. The Dunnet Bay Distillers plan to expand the program to bars, restaurants, and shops in the near future. The distillery is also working on including their other spirits in their sustainability project.

These new refill bags may seem to clash with the traditional glass bottle. But the goal of Rock Rose is to introduce a completely biodegradable refill bag by 2025. This is a sustainable step that combines well with the current focus on climate change and the goal of creating responsible consumption.

You may also be interested in …

It is a well-known fact that red wine has many beneficial effects on our health. However, not everyone knows that this beloved drink also seems to help prevent obesity. Today, on Obesity Day, the world day dedicated to the prevention and treatment of obesity, we give you all the information on this subject.

The Research of King’s College London

Researchers Dr. Caroline Le Roy and Prof. Tim Spector at King’s College London have led an interesting study. It shows that consumers of red wine develop a more diversified intestinal microflora. This is in comparison to consumers of other alcoholic beverages such as white wine and beer. The polyphenols in red wine act as a universal remedy for many beneficial bacteria and fungi found in the intestine. They help rebalance the relationship between ”good bacteria” and ”bad bacteria”. This results in important help to the immune system and it also helps control weight and bad cholesterol.

The research was published in the specialised journal Gastroenterology. It was carried out in a group of 458 pairs of twins from the United Kingdom. They were asked to drink beer, cider, red wine, white wine, and other alcoholic beverages. The beneficial effects in the intestinal microbiome were only verified in women who drank red wine. To reach their conclusion, the researchers also took other factors into account, such as age, weight, daily diet, and socioeconomic status.

However, do bear in mind that the research points to moderate consumption. This would be equivalent to a glass of red wine every two weeks or so. As we already know, excessive wine consumption can seriously compromise our health.

We are sure you already have plans to celebrate Halloween, but do you already have the drinks? At Uvinum we share a selection of drinks for Halloween with which you’ll have a terrifying time.

Wines, whiskies, vodkas and much more for a different Hallowine

Have a great time with the best selection of drinks for Halloween. Trick or treat?

Wines for Halloween

In addition to this magnificent selection of distillates, we offer you a few wines to drink on Halloween – they have funny names and high quality!

Choose the wine, vodka, gin or rum for Halloween that you like best and celebrate it in the funniest way!

Images: Uvinum and Ginny

Vodka continues to be one of the most popular spirits. This is partly because vodka brands are focusing on reinvention and how to add value to their products. You’ll now find bottles shaped like lipsticks or crystal skulls among others. In general, the focus on the visual experience is almost as important as the taste itself. Read on to learn more about the current vodka trends.

The Vodka Bottles of Yesteryear

Those responsible for the most popular vodka brands explain in more detail about how marketing used to be done. Previously the bottles were all transparent and with a red and gold label. There were only a few variations and as time passed, they became objects of desire to the consumers.

Flexibility and Modernity

Luckily, and over time, the vodka bottles have been transformed. This reflects the fact that the vodka industry shows greater flexibility and are aware of the need for innovation. In comparison, the wine market does not show the same level of interest in trendiness.

Limited Editions

Limited editions are another trend in the world of vodka. These special bottles and varieties attract the attention of consumers who value premium quality. The limited editions are usually exclusive bottles, perhaps created by fashion designers, and a relatively low number of bottles are sold. They are unique, numbered, and collectors are the prime target audience.

Neuromarketing

Every day we are bombarded with impressions everywhere we go. A lot of these enter through our eyes. Visual impressions also play a big part when it comes to selling alcoholic beverages. Professionals working in the vodka industry know that the consumers are sensitive to what they see and that they can recognise certain codes. Colours might, therefore, be a determining factor; green represents apple, pink is watermelon or strawberry, etc.

From Victoria’s Secret to Moschino

For the design of their bottles, some brands collaborate with strongly established firms that influence the world. Some brands have chosen to work with well-known companies such as e.g. Victoria’s Secret and Moschino. Connections like these can evoke a sense of extreme luxury to the customer. It also sends a signal that a particular vodka is exclusive and of high quality.

This distilled beverage does not have a clear origin, although its name is Russian. Vodka is generally produced through the fermentation of grains and other starchy plants such as rye and wheat. The best way to enjoy it is very cold. It usually has a very high alcohol content, although this depends on the type.

You could claim that going to the nearest pub for a few drinks is practically a national sport. Furthermore, friendships play a big part in our general wellbeing. So much so that we celebrate the annual World Friendship Day. And a mix of friends and drinks is a winning combination! Previously published research from Oxford University highlights that meeting our friends at the pub makes us more cheerful, healthy and happy.

The Pub: The Cathedral of Friendship

The pub is a natural meeting place and the social life in the pub provides a better quality of life for many. An important part of maintaining your social relationships is meeting face to face. The research from Oxford University did, in fact, indicate that persons who go to the local neighbourhood pub near their home or their workplace tend to have more close friends.

Solid friendships

It is said that going to pubs and bars helps to provide a solid social network. The social aspect helps to improve happiness and our health in general. The authors of the report stressed that it is better to make friends and maintain friendships when we meet physically. The social networks and the digital world are simply supplements that cannot replace human contact. When you meet up for a drink you strengthen the bonds of friendship.

On the other hand, researchers from the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford also found that the locality of the pub plays a role. Pubs and bars in local neighbourhoods or in small municipalities offer greater benefits than the pubs located in more central areas and in cities. The neighbourhood pubs often have a more familiar setting, while the bigger and more central pubs do not offer the same atmosphere for maintaining friendships.

Go to the pub, but drink in moderation

When the Oxford study was published it also highlighted that limited and moderate alcohol consumption improves our well-being and some (but not all) social skills. Therefore, it is worth remembering the benefits of drinking in moderation.

The cosy bars and pubs offer a social setting, where you can enjoy a drink with your friends in a responsible community environment. So maybe it is a good idea to leave the house and meet up with some friends at the pub for a drink. Silence the smartphones, gather around the table, and enjoy a moment of good old-fashioned friendship.

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Robert Mondavi Winery offers us this Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. It is a Californian red wine which is based on clusters of cabernet sauvignon from 2017. It has an alcohol content of 13 %.

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon 2017: The winery Feudo Arancio presents Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. It is a Sicilian red wine that is made from cabernet sauvignon 2017 and it has an alcoholic strength of 13.5 %.

Fruit cocktails? They are going out of fashion! The current trend is all about vegetable cocktails. They are beautiful to look at and look great on that perfect photo. In fact, it is an unwritten rule on social media that you must post a photo of your drink on Instagram before you take a sip. Vegetable cocktails are becoming increasingly fashionable in hipster environments and in the most popular bars.

However, this is probably not the first time you have come across a cocktail containing vegetables. For a while, it has been common to find cucumbers and celery in drinks (we’re looking at you, Gin and Tonic…). And of course, one of the most popular cocktails in the world is the famous Bloody Mary which contains tomato juice.

Therefore, today we have decided to look at 5 very easy recipes for vegetable cocktails. We can help you ensure that your aperitifs and your parties will be more ”green”.

Green Paradise

• 2 handfuls of fresh spinach
• 4 cl of vodka
• 3 cl of coconut milk
• 1.5 cl of Bénédictine
• 2 drops of absinthe

Wash the spinach and mix it with coconut milk, vodka and Bénédictine. Put two ice cubes in a beautiful old glass, pour the drink, and finish with two drops of absinthe. That’s it!

Red Bell Cocktail

• 40 g of red pepper
• 4 cl of gin
• 6 basil leaves
• One cup of lemon juice

Cut the red pepper into very thin strips. Put the strips in a cocktail shaker with lemon juice and basil. Grind the mix in a mortar to extract the juice. Then add it all with the gin and some ice in the shaker. Shake well, filter and pour the contents into a Martini glass.

Psycho Carrot Deluxe

• 4 cl of rum
• 1 cl of Triple Sec
• 3 carrots (6 cl of juice)
• 1 cl of coconut milk
• Nutmeg powder (2 pinches)

Juice the carrots (or use a good quality carrot juice). Put some ice cubes and all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and pour everything into a glass full of ice. Simple, right?

Zucchini Sake

• 2 zucchinis
• 2 tablespoons of lemon syrup
• 6 cl of sake

Wash and chop the zucchini, then squeeze the pulp to obtain a very liquid juice. Pour the zucchini water, lemon syrup, sake and ice into a shaker. Shake well and pour the entire contents into a glass, adding some ice cubes and a zucchini peel as decoration.

Beetroot cocktail

• 45 g beetroot
• 3 cl of lemon juice
• 4.5 cl of whiskey
• 17 g of sugar
• 1 cl of tonic
• Thyme

Crush the beet to extract its juice. Add the beet juice and sugar in a pan and heat over medium heat until the sugar has melted. Let it cool. You should have obtained about 30 ml of red turnip syrup. Add the syrup, whiskey, lemon juice, tonic, and some ice in a shaker. Shake and pour into an old fancy glass. Garnish with thyme.

The Cointreau is a fine liqueur originally from France in the mid-19th century, triple-filtered.

Grey Goose Vodka 1L

Grey Goose Vodka 1L is undoubtedly one of the most famous vodkas in the world.

Buy Grey Goose Vodka 1L