SPHERE's Food and Drink Christmas Gift Guide 2024

Food and drinks are a staple for the holiday season with diets on standby until the New Year. Indulgence is mandatory and a deserved treat at the end of a busy year. This luxurious selection covers all bases from hampers brimming with gourmet treats to spirits crafted for discerning palates. Each gift in this guide is designed to delight and impress. Whether you’re looking to spoil a loved one or enhance your own holiday table, our carefully curated selection offers a blend of tradition, elegance, and fun.

For the drinks on the go

It’s no secret that sommeliers agree—champagne is best enjoyed at its perfect temperature. But how do you maintain that ideal chill when dining al fresco or transporting your bottle between venues? Veuve Clicquot has the answer! Enter the Clicquot Cooler: a sleek, portable solution that keeps your champagne perfectly chilled wherever you go. Available in Veuve Clicquot’s iconic yellow and pink, designed to reflect their Brut and Rosé bottles, this cooler is as stylish as it is practical—perfect for champagne lovers on the move.

The Veuve Clicquot cooler is available for £65 for the Yellow label cooler and £70 for the Rosé cooler from John Lewis.

For a Christmas hamper

Elevate your festive celebrations with The Magic of Christmas Hamper, a carefully curated collection of seasonal luxuries. Inside, you’ll find warming Christmas Black Tea, Blend Coffee, and a fragrant Plum, Apple & Cinnamon Infusion, perfect for cosy moments by the fire. Satisfy your cravings with indulgent treats like the Christmas Merrilossus, Tea Biscuits, and a mini musical Biscuit Tin, while savoury highlights such as Figgy Mustard and Smoked Cheese Straws add the perfect touch to any holiday lunch. For a sweet finish, enjoy chocolate treats alongside Vegan Reindeer Carrot Sweets. If that wasn’t enough to fill you with the magic of Christmas, the charming Piccadilly House Christmas Tea Towel just might. Offering exceptional value, this luxurious hamper is the ultimate Christmas gift for those who appreciate the finer things.

The Magic of Christmas Hamper is available for £300 from Fortnum & Mason.

For the Rum collector

Introducing Ominira, the debut release in Equiano’s Legacy Blend series. Crafted from premium aged rums from Mauritius and Barbados, this rare blend pays homage to freedom fighter Olaudah Equiano. With only 3,000 bottles available, its 52% ABV is a nod to Equiano’s remarkable journey, making it a meaningful and memorable gift. Expect a luxurious experience with notes of ripe banana, molasses, vanilla, allspice and cedarwood, followed by rich flavours of dark chocolate, caramel, and tropical fruits. A perfect gift for rum lovers who appreciate history and craftsmanship in every sip.

Equiano’s Ominira vintage 2010 can be purchased for £180 from Equiano Rum.

For the sophisticated cook

If your gift recipient has a refined palate just as susceptible to the complexities of olive oil as their red or white, then the perfect choice has landed, as Mazen Assaf, otherwise known as The Olive Oil Guy, recently unveiled his finest range yet – The Sommelier’s Selection. Meticulously sourced from biodiverse-rich farms across the Mediterranean – from the sweet, zingy Manaki plucked from Peloponnese in Greece to the earthy, aromatic Souriani with its roots in Chouf, Lebanon – each drop holds as much story as it does flavour.

The Sommelier’s Selection can be purchased online as a tasting box of 2 bottles (£56), 4 bottles (£104) or 6 bottles (£156) at www.oliveoilguy.com.

FOR A GUILT-FREE SIPPER

To get your loved one spinning around for all the right reasons, Kylie Minogue’s range of sparkling wines offers a refreshing, elegant kick to be enjoyed with no hangover in sight. Recently adding an extra shimmer to her collection is the new 0% Sparkling Blanc, which accompanies the 0% Sparking Rosé already making a great splash among those in search of a more mindful tipple that delivers on taste. Just like her shows, Kylie’s pulled out all the stops for the vino production process, and these wines, also low-calorie and vegan, come from hand-picking some of Europe’s finest grapes and fermenting them with green tea from the Liu-Da Mountains of Yunnan.

Kylie Minogue Wines 0% Sparkling Rosé and Blanc are available at www.winedelivered.co.uk and www.kylieminoguewines.com from £7.

For a Christmas movie night

What could be better than cosying up on the sofa with a Christmas movie? This year, skip the popcorn and indulge in Biscuiteers’ Christmas Movie Collection Tin. Inside, you'll find 9 hand-crafted gingerbread biscuits, each beautifully decorated to represent the best-known references from your favourite holiday films. How many can you recognise? Take the Biscuiteers quiz to test your movie knowledge. Perfect as a gift for film lovers or as a festive treat to enjoy while you unwind, these delicious biscuits add a touch of sweetness to the festive season.

The Christmas Movie biscuit tin can be purchased for £39.95 from Biscuiteers.

For an elegant aperitif

Make this holiday season sparkle with the unparalleled sophistication of Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut. Presented in a polished gift box, this 75cl bottle is a statement of elegance and celebration. Whether you're hosting a lavish Christmas dinner or toasting to new beginnings, this exquisite champagne ensures satisfaction with every sip. With its vibrant blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay, this iconic champagne delights the palate with notes of crisp apple, citrus, and a hint of brioche. Make this holiday season unforgettable with a taste of true luxury.

The Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut gift box can be purchased for £52 from all major retailers and Harrods.

For the top-grade tipple

Mikolasch Single Farm Organic Vodka from Lviv, Ukraine, is the perfect gift for vodka enthusiasts this Christmas. Crafted from top-grade corn and Carpathian spring water, it celebrates Ukraine’s rich vodka heritage with a modern twist. Its transparent production process and refined flavour make it a standout addition to any holiday bar. With a smooth, clean taste, this vodka goes down like a dream.

Mikolasch Vodka is available for purchase at The Whisky Exchange for £24.50.

FOR PASTA LOVERS

If pasta is the way to your loved one’s heart, look no further than ATAVI’s ultimate luxury vortici (short pasta) collection. Created in partnership with esteemed Calan chef Albert Adrià, ATAVI aims to give customers the gift of top Mediterranean gastronomy, all cooked in the confinements of their own homes. In either Sourdough, replicate of freshly baked bread, or Smoked flavours, the fusilli-type pastas come with a depth and texture designed to hold sauce and provide a deep sensory experience. Mamma mia!

Purchase The Vortici pasta by ATAVI at £16 per 280g pack at Atavi.uk or at luxury retailer, Harrods, in-store and online.

For a shared drink

For the whisky enthusiast this Christmas, the Isle of Raasay Whisky Gift Pack is the ultimate treat. Featuring a bottle of their lightly peated Isle of Raasay Single Malt and two branded Glencairn glasses, it’s perfect for a shared celebration. Crafted on the remote Isle of Raasay, this whisky blends peated and unpeated spirits, matured in ex-Rye, Chinkapin oak, and Bordeaux casks, offering rich notes of dark fruit, toffee, spice, and a touch of smoke. Housed in a stunning decanter-style bottle, this gift is as visually striking as it is delightful to taste—a luxurious addition to any festive occasion.

The Isle of Raasay scotch whisky gift pack can be purchased for £65 from Isle of Raasay.

For the at home barista

A daily essential for many, coffee has become a staple for working, socialising and even living. A bad coffee can ruin your day whereas an excellent one sets you up for success. The Y3.3 Espresso & Coffee Machine from illy will ensure every day is a good coffee day from the comfort of your own home. Whether you prefer an espresso or an authentic illy coffee, the adjustable cup shelf allows flexibility, whilst the wide range of capsules guarantees blends to suit any tastes. Designed by Italian architect and designer, Piero Lissoni the design is sleek and easy to use, securing its place as the ideal gift for all.

Purchase the Y3.3 Espresso & Coffee Machine for £119 at illy.

FOR THE HOST COOKING EVERYTHING

Heading over to family this Christmas? Add an extra sparkle to the table by turning up with GAIL’s newly baked Panettone – which might be just the welcomed addition to the denser assortments of mince pies and fiery Christmas pudding. And if everyone has indulged too much on the day, they’ll be sorted for the rest of the holidays, as the delectable, pillowy treat makes for as good an accompaniment alongside a morning coffee or cuppa as it does a dessert wine. The only hard part might be selecting the recipient’s preferred choice of three tantalising flavours – pistachio and candied lemon peel with white chocolate, chocolate and mandarin with vanilla, sweet orange and hazelnuts, or a classic candied fruit with sweet citrus blends.

All Panettones are available at GAIL’s Bakery online and in-bakery for £35.00.

For bubbles for any occasion

Raise a glass with Bird in Hands new vintage Sparkling wine. With notes of strawberry and citrus blossom this ‘Sparkling 2024’ Pinot Noir brings freshness and crisp acidity with every sip. This delicate blend, produced in Southern Australia, was created with a commitment to sustainability in mind, allowing you to celebrate guilt free. An ideal addition to any festive gathering, this vintage promises to be a lively accompaniment no matter the venue.

Purchase your bottle of Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir 2024 for £15.99 from Waitrose.