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The Tempus Christmas Gift Guide 2022: Food & Drink
By Gabriel Power | 7 November 2022 | Food & Drink
The first in our set of Christmas guides for 2022 sees us delve into the indulgent world of food and drink
With Christmas fast approaching, this week sees Tempus compile the best gifts to grab for a family member, a friend – or even yourself. Over the next few days, we will be looking at the best luxury gift items available in categories ranging from indulgent food and drink to stunning design pieces for your house. In this first instalment, we cover the wide world of food and drinks, and round up some of the best – and rarest – luxury items for the culinary enthusiast in your life.
Celebrating a special occasion with a sample of superb cheese or a dram of your rarest whisky is a tradition as old as time, and there are few better excuses to purchase such an ultra-indulgent item for a loved one than Christmas – who knows, they might end up sharing it with you!
Here, Tempus has collaborated with some of the most luxurious brands in the gastronomic business to bring you the rarest, most unique and most sought-after gifts for Christmas 2022.
Diageo Special Releases Whisky Collection
Starting off with perhaps the heaviest hitter in the spirit game, Diageo recently announced the hotly anticipated Elusive Expressions Special Releases Scotch Whisky Collection. Hand-selected by Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, this unusual collection of eight aged and finely finished whiskies delivers rarity, flavour and fantasy to capture the curiosity of today’s whisky explorers.
Pouring from some of our oldest whisky dynasties in Scotland, this year’s collection pushes the boundaries of flavour uncovering treasures and rare finds in limited quantities. This cask-strength whisky collection embraces prominent contrasts, experimenting with extended secondary maturation techniques and new cask finishes including Tawny Port and Red Muscato casks to impart different flavours for fans of the distilleries to enjoy.
Cambridge Distillery Truffle Gin
Gin and truffle are often seen as some of the most luxurious, indulgent ingredients in the culinary field — but have you ever considered combining the two? Well, award-winning ginmakers Cambridge Distillery has created what it calls the "world’s first digestif gin" in the form of Truffle Gin, a complex and decadent expression created with white truffle from Alba in Piedmont.
This is a bold and surprising gin where traditional juniper perfectly complements rich earthy notes that evoke fresh pine. With its extremely long, expressive finish and unique rewarding taste, Truffle Gin is a fitting accompaniment to the finest of dining.
METAXA AEN III
This Christmas, unique Greek spirit METAXA has unveiled METAXA AEN III, an exceptional spirit rooted in legacy and craftsmanship. With only 1,000 decanters of the rare spirit, METAXA is offering 2022’s most exclusive gift.
The wine distillates and sweet Muscat wines have magnified in intensity and flavour over the decades, before being brought together to formulate this exemplary offering. The scent is of the warmth of flowers and honeysuckle, bergamot, nutmeg and liquorice, and each sip further unveils the richness of blackberry, plum and fig, interwoven with tantalizing sweet chocolate and toffee notes, and a long, intense aftertaste.
Clarendelle Bordeaux Rouge 2016
Clarendelle offers perfectly aged blended wines which authentically reflect the world-renowned Bordeaux terroir with consistency and quality, displaying complexity, elegance, and balance.
To ensure immediate pleasure to the taster, Clarendelle wines are patiently cellared and only released to the market when they are deemed fully ready to be enjoyed, similarly to champagne. Young vintages can be decanted from 20-30min up to an hour, allowing the wine to soften and release its perfume.
Showstopper Christmas Hamper by Abel & Cole
Give the ultimate, organic Christmas gift to the ones you love most with The Showstopper Christmas Hamper, guaranteed to start festivities off right.
Abel & Cole has packed this luxurious hamper to the brim with some of our most special, sustainable treats, including organic artisan cheese such as a delicious hunk of Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton and a tangy Vintage Cheddar truckle from Godminster, as well as the Authentic Bread Company’s Fig & Walnut Biscuits and a glass of fruity Chateau Rochecolombe Côtes du Rhone.
Atlas Chai Gin
Atlas Gin, according to its own press release, "draws its inspiration from traditional tastes and flavours from around the world" by sourcing the finest botanicals and infuse them for 24 hours so that the flavours are fully released. As such, their Indian Chai Gin is perfect for the Christmas season: warming and spicy with a distinctive flavour of cinnamon.
Chai Gin is inspired by traditional Masala Chai, which is a part of everyday life in India. Whilst recipes vary from region to region, Atlas have based their blend on the core ingredients used in traditional recipes. Botanicals include juniper berries, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
Fettercairn 18 Years Old Single Malt
Fettercairn distillery recently announced the launch of its inaugural 18 Years Old Single Malt, the distillery's first ever whisky finished in locally sourced Scottish Oak.
Set to be an annual release, the whisky has been refined in American White Oak casks with a hand-crafted finish in 100% Highland Scottish Oak, creating a liquid that is natural in colour and non-chill filtered. With a character defined by richness and depth, it plays on mature fruit flavours, toasted oak, fresh patisserie aromas and rich mouthfeel with soft spice balances cacao and berry fruits.
The luxury steak christmas hamper by Farmison & Co.
Farmison & Co.'s most indulgent Christmas hamper, this offering is created with luxury gifting and fine festive dining in mind. At the heart of the selection is the brand's hand-trimmed centre cut fillet, serving four people, which promises tender texture and delicate flavour when finished with the Sublime truffle and parmesan butter.
The grass-fed beef pairs wonderfully with the rich red wine sauce and the satisfyingly smooth, luxury buttered mash. All presented in a keep-sake wicker hamper, this selection makes for a fantastic Christmas gift for the foodies in your life.
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey
While a reliable classic of the genre, the original Jack Daniel's recipe may be a little bit too familiar for most whisky drinkers to make for a unique Christmas present.
However, the recently launched Jack Daniel’s Bonded is rather more intriguing; it uses the brand's time-honored recipe of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye, but the barrels were hand selected for their unique and particular characteristics of deeper color, flavor, and aroma, which bring a darker, richer, and more oak-forward character to Jack Daniel’s Bonded. The result is a big, bold Tennessee Whiskey at 100 proof (50% abv) with layered notes of caramel, rich oak, and spice giving way to a pleasantly lingering finish.
Lot 40 Dark Oak Canadian Whisky
An intense profile for the seasoned whisky drinker and voted World’s Best Rye at the World Whisky Awards in 2021, Lot 40 Dark Oak is a rich and bold expression from Corby Spirit in Canada.
Made from 100% rye grain – an unusual feat in modern whisky production – the liquid is first distilled in a column still and then a copper pot still before being aged in new, lightly charred barrels then finished in heavily charred American oak barrels. The whiskies finish imparts additional complexities and intensity to the whisky with notes of vanilla, caramel and toasted bread.
Goslings Family Reserve Rum
This is an exceptional expression from the Gosling's range, which was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2005 San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Once produced exclusively for members of the Gosling family, the brand has since decided to share this fantastic top quality rum from Bermuda.
Christmas Covered by Cave Bristol
Founded by hospitality veteran and wine specialist, Martin Hagen, Cave Bristol is an online bottle shop specialising in selling a carefully curated selection of small producer-led, organic, biodynamic and low intervention wines, mixed discovery cases, premium store cupboard essentials and spirits. Taking its inspiration from Parisian ‘caves à manger’, which are renowned for serving deli-style dishes alongside well-sourced wines at affordable prices, Cave provides a platform for discovery.
And the brand has you covered this Christmas with their ‘Christmas Covered’ boxes. The Christmas Covered box will be available to enjoy at three price points, each exploring different styles, regions, grape types and quality. The box, which will include twelve wines crafted by small producers, will include four bottles of white wine, covering something crisp, something energetic and something rich, four reds, covering bright and juicy, something heavier and a fuller-bodied bottle. The box will be finished off with two exceptional sparkling wines and two sweet wines.
The Ultimate Eatalian Christmas by Eataly
Introducing Eataly's most indulgent Christmas hamper yet; an Italian feast to feed your family.
This year, Eataly is offering a hamper packed with truffle sauce, extra virgin olive oil, indulgent panettone and much more, including the brand's Pesto Genovese, hailed from Liguria as one of Italy’s most beloved sauces.
Clement 1976 Rhum
This is an extraordinary 1976-vintage Rhum Agricole from Clement, a distillery based on the Caribbean island of Martinique, an overseas protectorate of France.
The liquid has been matured in oak casks, creating aromas of vanilla, toasted almond, peppery oak and ginger. On the palate, meanwhile, drinkers can enjoy notes of warming baking spices, soft fruit, dry oak and caramel that linger in the finish.
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut is a Christmas tipple must this year. Made from 100 crus from the length and breadth of the Champagne region of France, it is designed to get the party started wherever you are.
This beautiful blend gives off intense yet gentle notes of fresh almonds, flavours of peach and orange blossom witha delicate hint of mint. It is lively and light with added depth from the Pinot Noir, creating a beautiful balance.
Mortlach Midnight Malt 30-Year-Old
The new Mortlach Midnight Malt 30-Year-Old makes for an ideal gift for the whisky connoisseur or the limited-edition enthusiast.
Aged 30 years, this exclusive whisky is the boldest, deepest and most intriguing expression of Mortlach malts. Distilled 2.81 times, this unique spirit was initially matured in a combination of refill American Oak and European Oak casks, split to finish in Bordeaux wine, Calvados and Guatemalan rum seasoned casks, then finally married in custom quarter casks.
Cowdray Estate Celebrate Christmas Hamper
The Cowdray Estate Celebrate Christmas Hamper is bursting with the very best artisan food and drinks Cowdray has to offer, including the finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars, a selection of cheese, biscuits and olives, selection of fine wines, Prestat chocolates and finished off with an award-winning Nyetimber Classic Cuvee – made with grapes grown just three miles from Cowdray.
This is accompanied by a Cowdray branded apron and a selection of Cowdray produce, all packaged in a wicker hamper.
Penfolds Grange 2018
Penfolds Grange 2018 is a pure Shiraz, with grapes coming from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Matured in new American oak hogsheads for 18 months, this wine offers red and black liquorice, soy and malt and burnt vanilla marshmallow flavours.
Grange is the flagship wine for the Australian brand, having been the recipient of a perfect score 24 times.
Hennessy Hands
An exclusive to Harrods, ‘Hennessy Hands’ personalisation service sees the sculptural bottle of Hennessy Paradis given a custom inscription, initials or signature laser engraved on the bottle, as well as a customisable leather clip by for the bottle’s neck from French leather specialists, Tanneries Roux.
Available in an array of personalised and hand-crafted options and colours, including the famous Harrods green, embossed gold or silver initialling is added to the Hennessy Paradis bottle at boutique, and is available to order via phone for collection.
Coachbuilt Whisky
Coachbuilt Whisky, an expertly crafted Scotch blend whisky, launched earlier this year to rapturous applause from industry experts. Founded by renowned whisky expert, George Koutsakis, and Formula 1 World Champion, Jenson Button, Coachbuilt is a spectacular blend that encompasses the finest ingredients from all five whisky making regions in Scotland.
Coachbuilt offers whisky lovers and novices alike a chance to savour an exquisite dram guaranteed to keep their loved ones warm this Christmas. While the aromatic characteristics of fresh tropical fruit and candy invite you in, notes of subtle caramel, cinnamon, and dark chocolate simultaneously steer the palate. Led by winter spices and coffee, the concluding finale is long and dry.
Chateau Lassegue, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015
This is a spectacular, newly classified Grand Cru Classé wine from Bordeaux.The classification only takes place every ten years, and recognises the excellence of an estate’s terroir, vineyards, wines, reputation, and the estate’s management. With the recent announcement, Château Lassègue became one of 71 Châteaux in the St Emilion appellation classified as Grand Cru Classé.
Deep garnet-purple in colour, the Chateau Lassegue, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 initially shows expressive black forest cake, preserved plums and blackberry pie notes, but then an undercurrent of mocha, grilled meats, sandalwood and cigar box plus a waft of lavender reveals itself. The wine has medium to full body, is rich and densely packed with opulent layers of spiced black fruit preserves and chocolate box notions. The tannins are wonderfully plush yet firm complemented with lovely fresh acidity. The finish is long and fragrant.
Hallstein Water subscription
A monthly subscription of Hallstein water is the perfect for gift for the health-conscious, fitness enthusiasts, water aficionados or for someone that has it all.
Being naturally high in pH and low in sodium means Hallstein has become known for its anti-inflammatory properties; the benefits of these factors include assisting in the reduction of hypertension and inflammation, increased recovery time from extreme sports or illnesses and more profound hydration.
Hallstein are proud supporters of Operation Water, a non-profit, committed to providing sustainable water solutions to communities in Mozambique. The work with Operation Water is helping to restore and expand Gurué to serve water to 200,000 people.
The Last Drop Petite Champagne Cognac
The Last Drop Distillers, curators of some of the rarest spirits on Earth, has unveiled three outstanding liquids to enjoy this winter. Each of them is a perfect gift for discerning premium spirits drinkers to enjoy this Christmas and each presents an opportunity to own and consume a piece of liquid history, from the creation of one of American Whiskey’s most renowned distillers, to the bottling a high-age Cognac that will never be seen again, to an extremely rare liquid that been maturing for a century.
For our money, the highlight of the new releases is No. 26 Hors d’Age Petite Champagne Cognac, a 50-year-old single estate cognac from the esteemed Petite Champagne terroir that was crafted at a family-owned distillery on the banks of the Charente River during a pivotal time, when the Cognac region and Europe as a whole were recuperating after World War II. As one of the last barrels from the cellars of this permanently closed distillery, and with little of the family’s precious production ever released to the open market, this septuagenarian spirit offers a compelling window into the past.
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Collector's Edition
The Charle Heidsieck Collector’s Edition Brut Réserve is blended from more than 120 separately vinified wines from 60 of Champagne’s best villages. Up to 50% of these are reserve wines, held back and aged in Charles Heidsieck’s chalk cellars for up to 20 years, adding to the incredibly generosity and complexity of this remarkable non-vintage cuvée.
The wine is a radiant pale gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles, while the nose is characterised by complex pastry aromas, with an opulent combination of ripe apricot, mango, greengages, dried fruits, pistachio, and almond. The palate, meanwhile begins with a silky-smooth sensation, developing into ripe fleshy apricot, melon and enticing plum pastry notes and delicate spice.
Don Papa rum
Don Papa Rum, the premium single island rum, has unveiled its limited edition ‘Secrets of Sugarlandia’ gift canister for Christmas 2022, launched to raise awareness and support key conservation efforts on its island home of Negros Occidental, known locally as Sugarlandia.
The canister not only looks beautiful and would make for a stunning addition to the presents under the tree, but also contains the delicious Don Papa 7-Year-Old Rum. Distilled and aged for over seven years in American oak barrels on the island of Negros Occidental, the pure, original Negros sugar cane is the foundation for Don Papa Rum’s long, rich-textured finish and flavours of vanilla, honey, and candied fruits. The defined and sweet Spirit makes for a range of tasty and warming festive cocktails, from the Don Collins to the Negrense Sour, these serves will definitely bring a jolly evening of Christmas merrymaking.